Branchiostoma

/ˌbræŋkioʊˈstoʊmə/ noun

Definition

A genus of small, primitive fish-like animals called lancelets that have gill slits but no true jaws.

Etymology

From Greek branchia (gill) + stoma (mouth), referring to these creatures' gill openings; this is a scientific genus name.

Kelly Says

Lancelets (Branchiostoma) are living fossils that show us what our own evolutionary ancestors looked like 500 million years ago—they're basically the missing link between simple worms and fish!

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