dipleurula

noun

di·​pleu·​ru·​la

dīˈplu̇r(y)ələ

plural dipleurulas

-ləz

or dipleurulae

-ˌlē

1

: a hypothetical bilaterally symmetrical echinoderm larva sometimes regarded as a common ancestor of echinoderms and chordates

2

: a larval echinoderm (such as a bipinnaria or an echinopluteus)

—not used technically

Word History

Etymology

New Latin, from dipleura bilaterally symmetrical organisms (from di- + -pleura) + -ula

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