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Oligochaeta

plural noun
Ol·​i·​go·​chae·​ta | \ ˌälə̇gōˈkētə, əˌligəˈ-\

Definition of Oligochaeta

: 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

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History and Etymology for Oligochaeta

New Latin, from olig- + Greek chaitē long hair

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