lancelet

[ lans-lit, lahns- ]

noun

1. any of several small, lancet-shaped burrowing marine animals of the subphylum Cephalochordata, having a notochord and bearing structural similarities to both vertebrates and invertebrates.

lancelet

/ ˈlɑːnslɪt /

noun

1. any of several marine animals of the genus Branchiostoma (formerly Amphioxus ), esp B. lanceolatus, that are closely related to the vertebrates: subphylum Cephalochordata (cephalochordates) Also calledamphioxus

lancelet

/ lăns′lĭt /

1. Any of various small, transparent, fishlike marine organisms of the subphylum Cephalochordata that are related to vertebrates but have a notochord instead of a true backbone. Unlike other primitive chordates, lancelets have a body divided into serially repeated muscular segments.
2. Also called amphioxus

Word History and Origins

Origin of lancelet¹

First recorded in 1565–75; lance ² + -let

Word History and Origins

Origin of lancelet¹

C19: referring to the slender shape

Example Sentences

Along with tunicates and lancelets, these include hagfish, lampreys and marine worms called hemichordates.

From Nature

Now, he hopes researchers can study more distant relatives, including invertebrates like lancelets and acorn worms, to learn about the evolution of the spinal chord.

From Nature

A few living invertebrates, such as worm-like animals called lancelets, are closely related to vertebrates, but our ancestors split off from theirs more than 600 million years ago.

From New York Times

Aglow under the sea In 2007, a different group of researchers found a fluorescent protein in the lancelet, a tiny somewhat eel-like marine creature closely related to vertebrates.

From Scientific American

The lancelet, one of the closest living vertebrate cousins, gets by with only one.

From Scientific American