‖ Polyzoa, n. pl. Zool.
(pɒlɪˈzəʊə)
Sing. polyzoon (-ˈzəʊɒn).
[mod.L., f. Gr. πολυ-, poly- + ζῷον an animal.]
A class of compound or ‘colonial’ aquatic (chiefly marine) invertebrate animals (sometimes reckoned as a group of Mollusca), of small size and various forms, often plant-like; popularly called moss-animalcules, sea-mosses, sea-mats, etc. Also called Bryozoa.
| [1830 J. V. Thompson Zool. Res. & Illustr. v. 89 (heading) On Polyzoa, a new animal discovered as an inhabitant of some zoophites. Ibid. 92 The Polyzoa will probably be found in many dissimilar Genera of the Zoophytes.] 1842 Brande Dict. Sc., etc., Polyzoons, Polyzoa, a class of compound animals, resembling in their organs of support the Sertularians, but in their internal organization approaching nearly to the compound Ascidians. 1847 G. Johnston Brit. Zooph. (ed. 2) I. 256 The Polyzoa or ascidian polypes the Creator has cast in the mould not of the Radiata, but of the Mollusca. 1877 Huxley Anat. Inv. Anim. viii. 468 The resemblance of the larval Brachiopod to a Polyzoon, and especially to Loxosoma, is striking. 1901 Cambr. Nat. Hist. II. 475 The name Polyzoa being employed by the majority of English writers..while Bryozoa is employed by practically all the Continental writers. |
b. A name for the colonial radiolarians, also called Polycyttaria: see polycyttarian.
Hence polyˈzoal a. = next, a.
| 1856 G. J. Allman Monogr. Fresh-Water Polyzoa 3 The investigations of Trembley and Baker..clearly demonstrated..all the essential characters of polyzoal structure. |