Heterotricha

/ˌhɛtəroʊˈtrɪkə/ noun

Definition

A class of ciliated protozoans that have cilia arranged in bands and covering different parts of the body for movement and feeding.

Etymology

Latin/Greek plural form from 'heterotrich,' with the suffix '-a' making it a taxonomic class name used in biological classification systems.

Kelly Says

When scientists first classified these creatures under microscopes in the 1800s, they noticed the cilia came in multiple styles—hence the name 'different-haired'—making heterotrichs the hipsters of the microscopic world!

Related Words

Explore More Words

Get the Word Orb API

Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.