actinopod
noun
Meaning
A protozoan characterized by having stiff, radiating, needle-like cytoplasmic projections used for feeding and locomotion.
Examples
- The marine biologist identified the specimen as an actinopod due to its distinctive radial symmetry.
- Many species of actinopod inhabit the upper layers of the ocean, where they drift as part of the plankton.
Synonyms: protozoan, radiolarian, heliozoan