cryptozoa

plural noun

cryp·​to·​zoa

ˌkriptəˈzōə

1

: the animals that live a cryptobiotic life among the organic debris of a forest floor

2

: structures in Precambrian rocks thought to be the remains of primitive life compare cryptozoon

Word History

Etymology

New Latin, from crypt- + -zoa

First Known Use

1911, in the meaning defined at sense 1

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