Amphioxididae

A family of small, fish-like marine animals with a notochord (a flexible rod-like structure) instead of a true backbone, also known as lancelets.

From Greek 'amphi' (both/around) + 'oxys' (sharp) + '-idae' (family suffix). The scientific family name describes these creatures' sharp-pointed bodies at both ends. Named in the 1800s when scientists classified these primitive chordates.