A taxonomic group of aquatic animals characterized by having gills; a division of mollusks or other creatures with branchiae.
From Latin 'branchiata' (having gills), the neuter plural of branchiatus. Used as a taxonomic category in zoological classification systems, though less common in modern biology.
Scientists once classified ocean creatures into branchiata (gill-breathers) and other groups, but modern DNA analysis has completely reshuffled these categories—showing that gills evolved multiple times independently.
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