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Definition of loriciferan

loriciferan

/ˌlɔːr.əˈsɪf.ər.ən/
lo · ri · cif · er · an
Plural:loriciferans
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loriciferan Lexical Profile

• noun

1

A microscopic marine invertebrate belonging to the phylum Loricifera, characterized by a complex head and a protective outer casing called a lorica, typically living in marine sediments.

Example

"During the deep-sea expedition, marine biologists discovered a remarkable species of loriciferan capable of surviving in entirely anoxic environments."

• Rhymes for loriciferan

• Nearby Words

lore
loria snake
loricariid
loriciferan
lorikeet
loris
loropetalum

Word Origin & Etymology

Coined in the early 1980s by zoologist Reinhardt Kristensen from the Modern Latin phylum name Loricifera, deriving from Latin 'lorica' (corset, armor) and 'ferre' (to bear), combined with the English suffix '-an'.

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Loriciferan. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/loriciferan
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