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metazoan Definition

meta·zoan (met′ə zō′ən)

noun

in some systems of classification, any of the very large subkingdom (Metazoa) made up of all animals whose bodies, originating from a single cell, are composed of many differentiated cells arranged into definite organs

Etymology: < ModL Metazoa (< meta- + -zoa) + -an

adjective

of the metazoans

metazoan Usage Examples

Modifies a noun

  • fossil: A chance to study Pre-Cambrian rocks and search for Charnia Supergroup metazoan fossils.
  • sequence: Currently, only the metazoan mitochondrial sequences are considered " reviewed " ( manually curated ).