Plural of amphioxus; small, translucent, fish-like marine creatures belonging to the class Cephalochordata that are important model organisms in biological research.
From 'amphi-' (both) + Greek 'oxys' (sharp/pointed), referring to the creature's pointed ends. The Latin plural 'amphioxi' reflects its scientific classification, first formally described in the 18th century.
Amphioxi are like the evolutionary missing link between worms and fish—they have a notochord (proto-spine) but no real backbone, making them absolutely crucial for understanding how vertebrates evolved from simpler creatures.
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