pseudoproct

English

Etymology

From Ancient Greek ψευδής (pseudḗs, “false, lying”) + Ancient Greek πρωκτός (prōktós, “anus”).

Noun

pseudoproct (plural pseudoprocts)

1. (biology) The anal opening on the pseudembryo of an echinoderm.
   • 1865, Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London, page 524:

     The pseudostome and pseudoproct become obscure and are shortly obliterated, the sarcoid forming a thick, smooth, uniform layer over the stem and over its terminal disk.

   • 1866, The Record of Zoological Literature, page 759:

     The pseudembryo moves rapidly in the water, rolling round and swinging from side to side ; as a rule, and especially when at rest, the surface bearing the pseudostome and pseudoproct is turned downwards.

   • 1878, Thomas Spencer Baynes, The Encyclopedia Britannica:

     The pseudembryo or echinopzrdium, at first cilisted and spheroidal, becomes after a time wedge-shaped; at its broad end appears the mouth or psaudostome, and at the other the anus or pseudoproct.

   • 1888, British Association for the Advancement of Science, Report, page 735:

     The larva now fixes itself by the 'pseudoproct.'

2. (biology) A false osculum or secondary opening which replaces the original osculum of a sponge.

Synonyms

(false osculum of a sponge): pseudostome, pseudoscule.