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Chaetopterus

noun
Chae·​top·​ter·​us

Definition of Chaetopterus

: a genus (the type of the small family Chaetopteridae) of large marine polychaete worms that inhabit parchmentlike U-shaped tubes open at both ends, are highly bioluminescent, and have one pair of large lateral appendages and several broad fanlike membranous folds by which they maintain a current of water within the tube

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History and Etymology for Chaetopterus

New Latin, from chaet- + -pterus

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