[lans-lit, lahns-] 
| any of several small, lancet-shaped burrowing marine animals of the subphylum Cephalochordata, having a notochord and bearing structural similarities to both vertebrates and invertebrates. |
| lance·let (lāns'lĭt) n. Any of various small, flattened marine organisms of the subphylum Cephalochordata, structurally similar to the vertebrates but having a notochord rather than a true vertebral column. Also called amphioxus. |
| lancelet (lāns'lĭt) Pronunciation Key
Any of various small, transparent, fishlike marine organisms of the subphylum Cephalochordata that are related to vertebrates but have a notochord instead of a true backbone. Unlike other primitive chordates, lancelets have a body divided into serially repeated muscular segments. Also called amphioxus. |
lancelet
any member of the subphylum Cephalochordata of the phylum Chordata. Small, fishlike marine invertebrates, they probably are the closest living relatives of the vertebrates. There are about 20 species in two families, each with a single genus. Branchiostoma was formerly called Amphioxus, a name that is retained as an informal term. The other genus is Epigonichthys, also called Asymmetron. The genus Asymmetron is sometimes retained for some species
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