nematophore Zool.
(ˈnɛmətəfɔə(r))
Also -phor.
[f. nemato- + -phore.]
A special cup-shaped process of the cœnosarc in certain hydrozoans, having nematocysts at the extremity.
| 1859 Huxley Oceanic Hydrozoa (Ray Soc.) 11 These nematophores..are cæcal processes of the cœnosarc. 1861 J. R. Greene Man. Anim. Kingd., Cœlent. 34 The nematophores probably serve as organs of offence. They are most numerous in the genus Plumularia. 1898 Sedgwick Text-bk. Zool. I. 126 Nematophores are probably nutritive, catching food as an Amœba does. |
| Comb. 1871 Allman Gymnoblastic Hydroids (Ray Soc.) i. 28 The nematophore-bearing genera. Ibid. 115 The contents of the nematophore-sheaths. |
Hence
nemaˈtophorous a., of the nature of a nematophore.
| 1878 Bell Gegenbaur's Comp. Anat. 102 Among the Siphonophora all the medusiform persons want the marginal filaments..; as for example, in the nematophorous enlargements of the protective persons. |