Oligochaeta

plural noun

Ol·​i·​go·​chae·​ta

ˌälə̇gōˈkētə,

əˌligəˈ-

: a class or in former classifications an order of Chaetopoda comprising hermaphroditic terrestrial and aquatic annelids distinguished from the polychaetes by possession of compact localized gonads and simple direct life histories without formation of a trochophore and by lack of parapodia and head specialization see archioligochaeta , neoligochaeta

Word History

Etymology

New Latin, from olig- + Greek chaitē long hair

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