hectocotylus

Noun

Meaning

One of the arms of the male of most kinds of cephalopods, which is specially modified in various ways to effect the fertilization of the eggs. In a special sense, the greatly modified arm of Argonauta and allied genera, which, after receiving the spermatophores, becomes detached from the male, and attaches itself to the female for reproductive purposes.

Source: Webster's dictionary

Synonyms

nautilus octopod octopus cephalopod mollusk kraken devilfish squid sea monster cuttlefish poulpe inkfish seasnake eight-armed cephalopod marine invertebrate
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Derivatives

hectocotyli

Close letter words and terms

hectocorn hectocotylised hectocotylized hectogon hectogram hectogramme