pteropod
noun
ptero·pod
ˈter-ə-ˌpäd 
: any of the opisthobranch mollusks comprising two orders (Thecosomata and Gymnosomata) and having the anterior lobes of the foot expanded into broad thin winglike swimming organs
Examples of pteropod in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Tiny swimming sea snails called pteropods that make up 40 percent of the diet of juvenile pink salmon already are showing extensive shell corrosion in both the Gulf of Alaska and Bering Sea.
—
Anchorage Daily News, 24 Mar. 2020
Early victims of ocean acidification include pteropods, microscopic floating snails that make up a huge portion of the diets of juvenile pink salmon.
—Anchorage Daily News, 15 Oct. 2019
Mucous-mesh grazers include salps, pyrosomes, doliolids, pteropods and appendicularians.
—Kelly Sutherland, Smithsonian, 3 May 2018
Already, the shells of some animals are thinning, plankton are having trouble growing, and sea animals ranging from scallops to pteropods are dying out.
—Sena Christian, Newsweek, 19 Nov. 2015
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Anchorage Daily News, 24 Mar. 2020
Early victims of ocean acidification include pteropods, microscopic floating snails that make up a huge portion of the diets of juvenile pink salmon.
—Anchorage Daily News, 15 Oct. 2019
Mucous-mesh grazers include salps, pyrosomes, doliolids, pteropods and appendicularians.
—Kelly Sutherland, Smithsonian, 3 May 2018
Already, the shells of some animals are thinning, plankton are having trouble growing, and sea animals ranging from scallops to pteropods are dying out.
—Sena Christian, Newsweek, 19 Nov. 2015
Dictionary Entries Near pteropod
Cite this Entry
“Pteropod.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pteropod. Accessed 21 Dec. 2024.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share