In zoology, a subclass or group of organisms (especially sea stars) characterized by pincer-like appendages or pedicellariae.
From Latin forcipula (diminutive of forcipes, meaning small pincers) + -ata (suffix denoting possession of a feature). Used in Linnaean taxonomic classification.
Sea stars have thousands of tiny pincer-like structures called pedicellariae that work like microscopic forceps to clean their skin and manipulate food—so beautiful that taxonomists named an entire group after these invisible tools.
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