A family of marine worms, commonly called scale worms, that have overlapping scales and live on the ocean floor.
From Greek Aphrodite + -idae (Linnaean suffix for biological families). Naturalists named this worm family after the goddess, possibly due to the iridescent, shell-like beauty of their scale coverings.
Scientists gave this humble ocean worm a goddess's name because of its shimmering scales—proving that even after centuries of rational science, we still can't resist naming beautiful creatures after mythological icons!
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