lancelet

from WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006)

lancelet
    n 1: small translucent lancet-shaped burrowing marine animal;
         primitive forerunner of the vertebrates [syn: {lancelet},
         {amphioxus}]

from The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48

Lancelet \Lance"let\, n. [Lance + -let.] (Zool.)
   A small fishlike animal ({Amphioxus lanceolatus}), remarkable
   for the rudimentary condition of its organs. It is the type
   of the class Leptocardia. See {Amphioxus}, {Leptocardia}.
   [1913 Webster]

from The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48

Amphioxus \Am`phi*ox"us\, n. [NL., fr. Gr. 'amfi` + ? sharp.]
   (Zool.)
   A fishlike creature ({Amphioxus lanceolatus}), two or three
   inches long, found in temperature seas; -- also called the
   {lancelet}. Its body is pointed at both ends. It is the
   lowest and most generalized of the vertebrates, having
   neither brain, skull, vertebr[ae], nor red blood. It forms
   the type of the group {Acrania}, {Leptocardia}, etc.
   [1913 Webster]

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