Lancelet

3 definitions found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  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 [gcide]:

  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]

From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:

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