A group of vertebrate animals lacking an amnion, including fish and amphibians, representing a major evolutionary division.
From Greek an- 'without' + amnion 'membrane' + Latin -a (plural suffix). This combines Greek and Latin elements in typical scientific nomenclature, referring to major vertebrate groups.
Anamniota is less commonly used now because modern genetic research groups organisms differently than embryological features alone—it's a reminder that scientific classification is a work in progress constantly refined by new discoveries.
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