Anarthropod

/ænˈɑrθrəpɒd/ noun

Definition

A hypothetical or obsolete term for an organism lacking jointed legs or arthropod characteristics, opposite of an arthropod.

Etymology

From Greek 'an-' (not) + 'arthron' (joint) + 'pod' (foot), literally 'without jointed feet.' The term rarely appears in modern biology, being supplanted by more specific classifications.

Kelly Says

Anarthropod is basically a negation word—'not-an-arthropod'—and it shows how early biologists tried to organize life by defining what things weren't before science had better classification systems. Today we just say 'non-arthropod animals' instead.

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