zoantharian

noun

zo·​an·​thar·​i·​an ˌzō-ən-ˈther-ē-ən 

: any of a subclass (Hexacorallia synonym Zoantharia) of anthozoans having tentacles or septa or both that are typically six or a multiple of six in number and including most of the recent corals and sea anemones

zoantharian adjective

Examples of zoantharian in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

But S. exilis, discovered off the coast of a southern Japanese island and described in ZooKeys in July, is one of only four solitary-living zoantharians. —Gemma Tarlach, Discover Magazine, 20 Dec. 2016

Word History

Etymology

New Latin Zoantharia, order name, Latinization of French zoanthaires (from New Latin Zoanthus, a genus—from zo- zo- + Greek ánthos "flower"— + French -aires, plural of -aire -ary entry 1) + -an entry 1 — more at antho-

Note: French zoanthaires was apparently introduced by the zoologist Henri-Marie Ducrotay de Blainville (1777-1850) in Manuel d'actinologie (Paris, 1834), p. 308. The genus name Zoanthus is used, if not described, by Georges cuvier in Leçons d'anatomie comparée, tome 1 (Paris, An X [1801-02]), neuvième tableau ("Classification des zoophytes").

First Known Use

1887, in the meaning defined above