Appendicularian

/əˌpɛndɪkjuˈlɛriən/ noun

A tiny, transparent marine animal with a tadpole-like body that lives in ocean plankton and builds a special mucus house for filtering food.

From Latin appendicula (small appendage) + -arian (one who belongs to). Named for the appendage-like structures on these creatures, which are actually degenerate versions of a notochord.

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