Orthonectida

plural noun

Or·​tho·​nec·​ti·​da
: an order or other division of Mesozoa comprising a number of rare parasites of the tissues and cavities of various invertebrates that alternate between an asexual plasmodial generation and a sexual generation resembling the nematogens of dicyemids but having numerous internal cells compare dicyemida

Word History

Etymology

New Latin, from orth- + nect- + -ida

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Cite this Entry

“Orthonectida.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Orthonectida. Accessed 15 Dec. 2024.

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