Abranchial

/eɪˈbræŋkiəl/ adjective

Definition

Lacking gills or gill structures; describing organisms without branchia or gills.

Etymology

From Greek 'a-' (without) + 'branchia' (gills). A scientific term combining the negation prefix with the anatomical term for gills.

Kelly Says

Some aquatic animals are abranchial—they breathe through their skin or lungs instead—which seems impossible for water creatures, but it works brilliantly for certain salamanders and snails.

Related Words

Explore More Words

Get the Word Orb API

Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.