paragastern.
/ˌparəˈɡastə/, U.S. /ˌpɛrəˈɡæst(ə)r/ Zoology.
A central cavity in a sponge, open to the exterior through ostia.
ΘΚΠ
the world > animals > invertebrates > subkingdom Parazoa > phylum Porifera > [noun] > member of > parts of > gastric cavity
paragaster1887
1887 W. J. Sollas in Encycl. Brit. XXII. 413/2 The simple paragaster of Ascetta may become complicated in a variety of ways.
1940 G. S. Carter Gen. Zool. Invertebr. xix. 384 Large sponges may have numerous paragasters and oscula.
1993 E. N. K. Clarkson Invertebr. Palaeontol. & Evol. (ed. 3) iv. 83/1 In the larger modern sponges shrimps, ophiuroids or other commensal animals may live in the paragaster.
Derivatives
paraˈgastral adj.
ΘΚΠ
the world > animals > invertebrates > subkingdom Parazoa > phylum Porifera > [adjective] > relating to a sponge > of parts of sponge > relating to the gastric cavity
paragastric1887
paragastral1888
1888 W. J. Sollas in Rep. Sci. Results Voy. H.M.S. Challenger: Zool. XXV. p. xxvi If endodermal, then the cavity of the vase forming the sponge must be paragastral.
1950 W. S. Bullough Pract. Invertebr. Anat. (1951) ii. 41 These canals converge to enter the base of one of the main paragastral cavities.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, June 2005; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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n.1887