cryptobranchiate
/ˌkrɪptə(ʊ)ˈbraŋkɪeɪt/ /ˌkrɪptə(ʊ)ˈbraŋkɪət/Zoology
adjective
1Designating aquatic invertebrates with concealed gills, especially certain nudibranch molluscs that are able to completely retract their gills; of or relating to such invertebrates.
2= cryptobranch. rare.
Origin
Mid 19th century; earliest use found in Richard Owen (1804–1892), comparative anatomist and palaeontologist. From crypto- + -branchiate. With sense 1 compare French cryptobranche.