zoeal

Variant of zoea

zoea definition

zoea (zō ē′ə)

noun pl. zoeae zo·e′ae′ (-ē′ē′) or zoeas zo·e′as

an early, free-swimming larval stage of various decapod crustaceans, characterized by long, curved anterior and dorsal spines on the carapace

Etymology: ModL < Gr zōē, life, akin to zōion (see bio-) + -ea < L, fem. of -eus, -eous

Related Forms:

  • zoeal zo·e′al adjective

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2005 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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