Aerobranchia

/ˌɛroʊˈbræŋkiə/ noun

Definition

Gills or respiratory structures adapted for breathing air or extracting oxygen from air, found in certain aquatic animals.

Etymology

From 'aero-' (air) plus Latin 'branchia' (gill). This zoological term describes gill-like organs modified to function in air or air-water interfaces.

Kelly Says

Some fish like lungfish have aerobranchia that let them breathe air—this adaptation was CRUCIAL in evolution because it allowed our ancient ancestors to leave the ocean and colonize land!

Related Words

Explore More Words

Get the Word Orb API

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