Glossary of Scientific Terms
Extracted principally from Professor Owen’s learned work entitled, “Lectures on the
Comparative Anatomy and Physiology of the Invertebrate Animals.”
Ambulacra (L. ambulacrum, an avenue, or place for walking). The perforated series of plates in the shell of the Sea-star, or Sea-urchin, through which the sucking-feet are protruded.
Acalepha (Gr. akalephe, a nettle). The class of radiated animals with soft skins which have the power of stinging like a nettle. Commonly called Sea-nettles or Jelly-fish.
Actinæ (Gr. aktin, a ray). The genus of Polypes which have many arms radiating from around the mouth.
Alternate generation. That modification of generation in which the young do not resemble the parent, but the grandparent; so that the successive series of individuals seem to represent two species, alternately reproduced, in which also parthenogenesis alternates with the ordinary engendering by impregnation.
Algæ (sea-weeds). A large class of cryptogamic plants inhabiting salt and fresh water.
Anomoura (Gr. anomos, irregular, and oura, a tail). A section of crustaceous animals distinguished like the Hermit crabs, by the irregular form of the tails.
Annelid. The Anglicised singular of annelleta.
Adductor muscles, are those which hold together the shell of a bivalve, such as the Oyster, Mussel, &c.
Animalcules. Those extremely small animals which are invisible to the naked eye.
Antenna (from the Latin for yard-arm). Applied to the jointed feelers or horns upon the head of insects and crustacea.
Balanoids (Gr. balanos, an acorn). A family of Sessile cirripeds, the shells of which are commonly called Acorn-shells.
Bivalve. When a shell consists of two parts, closing like a double door. The mollusca so protected are commonly called bivalves, as the Mussel.
Brachyura (Gr. brachus, short; oura, tail). The tribe of crustacea with short tails, as the Crabs.
Branchiæ The gills or respiratory organs which extract the oxygen from air contained in water, as in fishes and other aquatic animals.
Buccal (L. bucca, mouth). Belonging to the mouth.
Byssus (Gr. byssos, fine flax). A term applied to the silken filaments or ‘beard’ of the Mussel and Pinna.
Carapace. The upper shell of the Crab, &c.
Calcareous. Composed more or less of lime.
Carnivorous (L. caro, flesh; voro, I devour). The animals which feed on flesh.
Caudal (L. cauda, the tail). Belonging to the tail.
Cephalópoda (Gr. kephale, a head; pous, a foot). The class of Molluscous animals in which long prehensile processes, or feet, project from the head, as in the Cuttle-fish.
Ciliogrades (L. cilium, an eyelash; gradior, I walk). The order of the acalephæ (as the Beröe) which swims by action of cilia.
Cilia (L. cilium, an eyelash). The microscopic hair-like bodies which cause, by their vibratile action, currents in the contiguous fluid, or a motion of the body to which they are attached.
Cirri (L. cirrus, a curl). The curled filamentary appendages, as at the feet of the Barnacles.
Cirripedes, or Cirripedia (L. cirrus, a curl; pes, a foot). A class of articulate animals having curled, jointed feet; sometimes written Cirrhipedia and Cirrhopoda.
Conchifera (L. concha, a shell; fero, I bear). Shell-fish; usually restricted to those with bivalve shells.
Comminuted. Broken or ground down into small pieces.
Conchology. The department of science which treats of shells.
Convoluted (L. convolutus). Rolled together.
Cornea (L. corneus, horny). The transparent horny membrane in front of the eye.
Crinoid (Gr. krinon, a lily; eidos, a discourse). A family of Star-fishes which bear some resemblance to the form of a lily. The fossils called Stone-lilies, or Encrinites, are examples.
Crustacea (L. crusta, a crust). The class of articulate animals (which includes the Crab, Lobster, &c.) with a hard skin or crust, which they cast periodically.
Decapoda (Gr. deca, ten; pous, a foot). The crustaceous and molluscous animals, which have ten feet, such as the Crab, Cray-fish, &c.
Digitate (L. digitus, a finger). When a part supports processes like fingers.
Effete. Barren, worn out.
Elytra (Gr. elytron, a sheath). The sheath or wing covers of coleopterous insects (Beetles).
Entomostraca (Gr. entoma, insects; ostracon, a shell). The order of small crustaceans, many of which are enclosed in an integument like a bivalve shell.
Entomology (Gr. entoma, insects; logos, a discourse). The branch of science treating of insects.
Exuvium, Pl. exuviæ (L. exuo, I cast off). The shell or skin of an animal which is shed in moulting.
Epizoa (Gr. epi, upon; zoon, an animal). The class of low organized parasitic crustaceans which live upon other animals.
Fissiparous (L. fissus, divided; pario, I produce). The multiplication of a species by the self-cleavage of the individual into two parts.
Frond (L. frons, a leaf). A term applied to that part of flowerless plants resembling true leaves.
Fucivorous (L. fucus, sea-weed; voro, I devour). Animals which subsist on sea-weed.
Flora. The plants which belong to a country or district.
Foliaceous (L. folium, a leaf). Shaped or arranged like leaves.
Gasteropoda (Gr. gaster, stomach; pous, a foot). That class of animals which (like the Snail) have the locomotive organ attached to the under part of the body.
Gemmiparous (L. gemma, a bud; pario, I produce). Propagation by the growth of the young like a bud from the parent.
Habitat. The locality in which an animal habitually resides.
Hinge. That part of a shell at which the valves cohere.
Hyaline (Gr. hualos, crystal). The pellucid substance which determines the spontaneous fission of cells.
Hydra (Gr. hudra, a water serpent). The modern generic name of certain fresh water polypes.
Hydrogen (Gr. hydor, water; gemmæ, I produce). A gas forming one of the components of water and atmospheric air.
Infusoria. The class of animalcules which abound in vegetable and animal infusions.
Lamellibranchiata (L. lamella, a plate; branchiæ, gills). The class of acephalous molluscs, with gills in the form of membraneous plates, of which the oyster and mussel are familiar examples.
Larva (L. larva, a mask). Applied to an insect in its first active state, which is generally different from, and, as it were, masks the ulterior form.
Ligament. A membrane close by the hinge which connects the valves.
Mantle. The external soft, contractile skin of the mollusca, which covers the viscera and a great part of the body like a cloak.
Macroura (Gr. makros, long; oura, a tail). A tribe of ten-footed crustacea (as the Lobster, Cray-fish), which have long tails.
Medusæ. A genus or family of soft radiated animals or Acalephæ, so called because their organs of motion and prehension are spread out like the snaky hair of the fabled medusa.
Molecules. Microscopic particles of matter.
Mollusc—Mollusca (L. mollis, soft). The primary division of the animal kingdom. It contains most shell-fish, slugs, &c.
Monograph (Gr. monos, one; grapho, I write). A written description of a single thing, or class of things.
Multivalve (L. multus, many; valvæ, folding doors). Shells composed of many pieces or valves, as the Chiton.
Nudibranchiate (L. nudus, naked; branchiæ, gills). An order of gasteropods, in which the gills are exposed, as the Eolis, Doris, &c.
Oxygen. A gas which is one of the constituent parts of water and of atmospheric air. It is essential to animal life.
Oviparous (L. ovum, an egg; pario, I bring forth). The animals which bring forth eggs.
Operculum (from the Latin for lid). Applied to the horny or shelly plate which closes certain univalve shells, as the Whelk, Periwinkle, &c.
Papillæ (L. papilla, a nipple). Soft prominences which resemble in form the teats of animals.
Palpi (L. palpo, I touch). The organs of touch commonly called ‘feelers,’ developed from the lablum and maxillæ of insects.
Pectinated (L. pecten, a comb). Toothed like a comb.
Physograde (Gr. physis, air; gradior, I advance). The acalephes that swim by means of air-bladders.
Phytophagous (Gr. phuton, a plant; phago, I eat). Plant-eating animals.
Pulmonigrade (L. pulmo, a lung; gradior, I walk). The tribe of Medusæ which swim by contraction of the respiratory disc.
Rotifera (L. rota, a wheel; fero, I bear). The name of a class of infusorial animalcules, characterized by the vibratile and apparently rotating ciliary organs upon the heads.
Rhodospermes. The red-coloured sea-weeds.
Serrated (L. serra, a saw). Toothed like a saw.
Sessile. Attached by a base.
Silicious (L. silex, a flint). Flinty.
Setæ. Bristles, or similar parts.
Spicula (L. spiculum, a point or dart). Fine-pointed bodies, like needles.
Tuberculate. Warty, or carved with small rounded knobs.
Testacea (L. testa, a shell). Molluscs with a shelly covering, as the Oyster, Whelk, &c.
Univalve (L. unus, one; valvæ, doors). A shell composed of one calcareous piece, as the Periwinkle.
Umbones. The base of a shell about the hinge.
Viviparous (L. vivus, alive; pario, I bring forth). The animals which bring forth their young alive. See Oviparous.
Whorl. The spiral turn of a shell.
Zoology (Gr. zoon, animal; logos, a discourse). That branch of science that treats of the habits, structure, and classification of animals.
Zoologist. One who is acquainted with the science of Zoology.
Zoophyte (Gr. zoon, an animal; phyton, a plant). The lowest primary division of the animal kingdom, which includes many animals that are fixed to the ground and have the form of plants.
Footnotes
1 Ehrenberg states that Infusoria are in a higher state of organization when taken from pure streams than from putrid waters.
2 The above mentioned Actinia is extremely abundant on the shores of the Frith of Forth. Sir J. Dalyell terms it A. explorator. Local amateur naturalists frequently reject the specific name of ‘Troglodytes,’ and adopt the more musical appellation of ‘Daisy-Anemone.’ Such error seems very pardonable, when we remember the close resemblance which the creature when expanded bears to the daisy of the field. In no single instance have I met with specimens of the true A. bellis at the above named locality, nor do I think any have ever been found by previous naturalists.
3 Bell’s Brit. Crus.
4 Illustrations to Paley’s Natural Theology.
5 This affords an important hint to the young aquarian to watch the Patella, and occasionally to touch its conical house, to make sure the proprietor is alive and well.
6 A drawing of this crab will be found on Plate 3.
7 The fact of the exuvium of the Hermit-Crab being cast off in two pieces, and at different periods, I have since confirmed ‘many a time, and oft.’
8 Vide author’s ‘Seaside and Aquarium.’
9 Since writing the above, I have received the following interesting epistle from Mr. Edward Capern, the celebrated ‘poet and rural postman’ of Bideford, who kindly sought out the information I desired, relative to the present state of the bridge above alluded to:—
Bideford, January 27, 1859.
Dear Sir,—I have inquired of the bridge warder, and he informs me that the feoffees of the bridge command mussels to be brought up by the cart-load, to protect the foundation, which is laid on rubble.
I am pleased that it has been in my power to procure this information for you—I am, dear sir, faithfully yours,
Edward Capern.
10 Cephalic, belonging to the head.
11 My first introduction to the Hyaline stylet as above narrated, occurred in October 1858.
12 Specimens of this species, I may mention, have always formed the subject of my experiments, and therefore are alone alluded to in the following remarks.
13 Mr. Clark says, ‘M. Deshayes, in his comment on Pholas, in the last edition of Lanarck, mentions the hinge as scarcely existing, and not being a veritable ligament.’ How different from the fact; and I will observe, that ‘if there is a genus better provided than any other of the bivalves with ligamental appendages, it is Pholas.... The Pholas is iron-bound as to ligament, which in it is far more powerful in securing the valves, than is the shell of any other group of the acephala, of similar fragility and tenuity!’
14 In the Athenæum (Nos. 1632 and 1636), were kindly published two letters from the author on the above subject, under the respective dates January 26th, and February 28th, 1859.
15 The above remark holds good, even although (as is frequently the case) the animal wilfully deviates from the straight path, and bores its tunnel in a curved form.
16 British Star-fishes.
17 In a specimen that I examined, and then carefully took to pieces, there were exactly 1780 plates.
[18] The ‘Aquarian Naturalist,’ p. 224.
19 This splendid work, which was published in five volumes, between the years 1802-8, contains 120 exquisite illustrations, all, with the solitary exception, unfortunately, of the Montague Sucker-Fish, accurately drawn and coloured from living specimens, procured at vast trouble by the author.
20 Vide author’s “Sea-side and Aquarium.”
21 The arch was cut from one of the waste pieces, of which there are always a large number, lying in a marble mason’s yard, and cost but a few pence. The ‘chippings’ may be had in most cases for the trouble of carrying them away.
22 Mr. Walter Hardie of Edinburgh, who has been my companion in many a delightful excursion among the rock-pools of the shores of the Frith of Forth, and to whom I feel myself greatly indebted for much valuable information relative to the subject of marine zoology.