Online Dictionary of Invertebrate Zoology: Complete Work - Best Text

Online Dictionary of Invertebrate Zoology 281mesoglea or stolons (or both) or in the coenenchyma connectingthe polyps.dermoskeleton n. [Gr. derma, skin; sketeto, dried hard] Theexoskeleton.descending a. [L. de, away from; scandere, to climb] Directeddownwards or caudad; detrorse.desclerotization n. [L. de, away from; Gr. skleros, hard] Areduction of sclerotin in sclerotized parts or structures.description n. [L. describere, to delineate] In taxonomy, amore or less complete formal statement of the charactersof a taxon without delimiting it from coordinate taxa. seedelimitation, diagnosis, differential diagnosis.desegmentation n. [L. de, away from; segmentum, piece]The fusion of segments formerly separated.deserticolous a. [L. desertum, a waste place; colere, to inhabit]Desert-inhabiting.desiccate v. [L. desiccare, to dry up] To dry up; a process ofpreserving.desiccation n. [L. desiccare, to dry up] An inactive dry state ofvarious invertebrates, directly referable to extreme, dryconditions.desma n.; pl. -mata [Gr. desmos, bond] (PORIF:Demospongiae) In Lithistida, branched, irregular interlockingmegascleres consisting of layers of silica irregularly depositedon ordinary spicules.desmacyte n. [Gr. desmos, bond; kytos, container] (PORIF)Long slender cells in the cortex and around the internalchannels; fiber cells.desmen n.pl. [Gr. desmos, bond] (NEMATA: Adenophorea)Transverse rings around the bodies of Desmoscolecida;concretion rings.desmergate n. [Gr. desmos, bond; ergates, worker] (ARTHRO:Insecta) A form of ant intermediate between the typicalworker and the soldier; can also be used to designate theintermediate forms between the large and small workers incertain genera.desmoneme n. [Gr. desmos, bond; nema, thread] (CNID: Hy-