lancelet - Hutchinson encyclopedia article about lancelet Printer Friendly
Dictionary, Encyclopedia and Thesaurus - The Free Dictionary
3,577,973,569 visitors served.
forum Join the Word of the Day Mailing List For webmasters
?
Dictionary/
thesaurus
Medical
dictionary
Legal
dictionary
Financial
dictionary
Acronyms
 
Idioms
Encyclopedia
Wikipedia
encyclopedia
?

lancelet

   Also found in: Dictionary/thesaurus, Encyclopedia, Wikipedia 0.01 sec.

lancelet

Any of a variety of marine animals about 2.5 cm/1 in long. They have no skull, brain, eyes, heart, vertebral column, centralized brain, or paired limbs, but there is a notochord (a supportive rod) which runs from end to end of the body, a tail, and a number of gill slits. Found in all seas, lancelets burrow in the sand but when disturbed swim freely. (Genus Amphioxus, phylum Chordata, subphylum Cephalocordata.)

Taxonomically they are significant since the notochord may be regarded as the precursor of the backbone (spinal column).
How to thank TFD for its existence? Tell a friend about us, add a link to this page, add the site to iGoogle, or visit webmaster's page for free fun content.
?Page tools
Printer friendly
Cite / link 		Feedback
?Sign in SSL protected
Email:
Password:
Register

Mentioned in?  References in periodicals archive?   Hutchinson browser?   Full browser?
 
They are now convinced the 2in-long Florida lancelet anchovy, which has hardly changed in more than 500million years, is descended from the earliest chordates, the group from which we are all descended.
LIFE IS AN ANCIENT ANCHOVY; Sea creature is 'missing link' by Daily Record (Glasgow, Scotland)
The lowly lancelet makes a living by burying itself in the sand, sticking out its mouth, and filtering tiny critters from seawater.
Hints of primitive antibodies. (First Line of Defense) by Marzuola, C. / Science News
It is regarded as one of the top five general medical journals in the world - the others being the New England Journal of Medicine, Journal of the American Medical Association, The Lancelet and the British Medical Journal.
A World Leading Medical Journal Publishes Trial Showing Breakthrough ... by Business Wire
 
 
 
Hutchinson Encyclopedia
?

Terms of Use | Privacy policy | Feedback | Copyright © 2012 Farlex, Inc.
Disclaimer
All content on this website, including dictionary, thesaurus, literature, geography, and other reference data is for informational purposes only. This information should not be considered complete, up to date, and is not intended to be used in place of a visit, consultation, or advice of a legal, medical, or any other professional.