A plural term for chlamydozoans; microscopic organisms that were once classified as a distinct group based on their protective coverings.
From Greek chlamys (cloak) + zoa (plural of zoon, meaning animals). This taxonomic term emerged in the 19th-20th centuries when scientists grouped organisms by visible structures before DNA analysis became possible.
Chlamydozoa is a perfect example of how biological classification changed completely—organisms once sorted by their appearance are now reorganized by genetic analysis, making many old group names scientifically outdated.
Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.