Definitions
from The Century Dictionary.
- noun The single known genus of the cirriped group Apoda. p. bivincta is about one fifth of an inch long, and resembles the larva of an insect. It is a parasite of another eirriped, Alepas cornuta.
Etymologies
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Examples
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Now the saving of a large and complex structure, when rendered superfluous by the parasitic habits of the proteolepas, though effected by slow steps, would be a decided advantage to each successive individual of the species; for in the struggle for life to which every animal is exposed, each individual proteolepas would have a better chance of supporting itself, by less nutriment being wasted in developing a structure now become useless.
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This is the case with the male Ibla, and in a truly extraordinary manner with the proteolepas: for the carapace in all other eirripedes consists of the three highly-important anterior segments of the head enormously developed, and furnished with great nerves and muscles; but in the parasitic and protected proteolepas, the whole anterior part of the head is reduced to the merest rudiment attached to the bases of the prehensile antennae.
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