siphuncle

English

Etymology

From Latin sīphunculus (“little tube”).

Noun

siphuncle (plural siphuncles)

1. (zoology) A strand of tissue passing longitudinally through the shell of a cephalopod, used primarily in emptying water from new chambers as the shell grows.
   • 2017, Danna Staaf, Squid Empire, ForeEdge, →ISBN, page 37:

     An extra-salty siphuncle naturally absorbs water from the phragmocone chambers, and the empty space left behind is filled with gases diffusing out from the blood.

2. A nectary.

Derived terms

• endosiphuncle
• siphuncular

Anagrams

• sulphenic, uncleship