aulacophore

English

Etymology

From Latin aulax (“furrow”) or its etymon Ancient Greek αὖλαξ (aûlax, “furrow”) + -phore (“bearer, carrier”).

Noun

aulacophore (plural aulacophores)

1. (paleontology) A tail-like longitudinally differentiated appendage found in mitrates and cornutes, originally believed to be used for feeding, but now believed to be used for locomotion.
   • 1997 October, R[onald] L. Parsley, “The echinoderm classes Stylophora and Homoiostelea: non Calcichordata”, in The Paleontological Society Papers, volume 3, Cambridge, Cambridgeshire: Cambridge University Press, →DOI, →ISSN, →OCLC, page 225:

     Stylophorans are divided into two orders the Cornuta and Ankyroida: cornutes have asymmetrical thecae, aulacophores with stylocones and cover plates over the food groove that open widely; ankyroids have essentially bilaterally symmetrical thecae, aulacophores with styloids and in most the cover plates do not open widely.

Related terms

• Aulacophora