Aporrhaoid

/ˌæpərˈheɪɔɪd/ adjective

Definition

Resembling or relating to aporrhais snails, or describing organisms with similar shell characteristics.

Etymology

From 'aporrhais' plus the Greek suffix '-oid' (resembling). Used in malacology (the study of mollusks) to classify shells and organisms similar to the aporrhais genus.

Kelly Says

In biology, adding '-oid' to a word means 'looks like but isn't exactly'—so 'aporrhaoid' shells look like aporrhais shells but might belong to completely different species, which helps scientists organize the confusing diversity of sea snails.

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