zooxanthella

[ zoh-uh-zan-thel-uh ]

noun

, plural zo·o·xan·thel·lae [zoh-, uh, -zan-, thel, -ee].

1. any of various symbiotic yellow-green or yellow–brown algae in the cytoplasm of certain radiolarians and marine invertebrates.

Word History and Origins

Origin of zooxanthella¹

First recorded in 1880–85; from New Latin; zoo- ( def ) + xantho- ( def ) + -ella ( def )

Example Sentences

They host a microscopic symbiotic algae called zooxanthella that photosynthesizes just like plants, providing food to the coral.

From Salon

Absent zooxanthella, corals not only take on a ghostly pallor, hence the term bleaching, but they are also more susceptible to death.

From New York Times

During bleaching events, overheated seawater causes corals to part ways with symbiotic plantlike organisms called zooxanthella that live inside of them.

From New York Times

In addition to giving coral reefs their bright colors, zooxanthella also provide corals with oxygen, waste filtration, and up to 90 percent of their energy.

From New York Times

Far more has been lost through gradual starvation, after the coral expelled the colourful algae zooxanthella, which turns sunlight into food.

From BBC