Nereidae

plural noun

Ne·​re·​idae

nə̇ˈrēəˌdē

: a large family of predaceous marine polychaete worms that have an elongated many-segmented body with large complex parapodia on most segments and a well-defined head with paired tentacles and palps, four prostomial eyes, eight peristomial cirri, and large jaws which bite transversely and that include burrowing and free-swimming forms see nereis

Word History

Etymology

New Latin, from Nereis, type genus + -idae

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