Onychophora

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A phylum of soft-bodied, velvet-like animals primarily found in tropical regions, exhibiting characteristics similar to both annelids and arthropods
2. A group of segmented invertebrates known for their unique body structure and ability to inhabit moist environments, linking traits of worms and insects
3. An assemblage of primarily terrestrial creatures distinguished by their elongated bodies and numerous legs, often referred to as "velvet worms" due to their soft texture

Etymology: Onychophora is a scientific coinage, not an ancient word, and its parts are plain Greek. "Onyx" is the Greek for "claw" or "nail" (the word was later used for the banded stone, which is a separate story), and "phoros" comes from "pherein," meaning "to bear" or "to carry." Put together, the name means "claw-bearers," a reference to the small claws at the ends of the animal's legs. The name was given to the group in 1826 by the French naturalist Pierre Blainville, who was describing these creatures, known in English as velvet worms, that had been poorly understood until then. Because the name was built in the 19th century from Greek roots, no ancient Greek writer ever used it. The "-phora" element is the same one that appears in words like "metaphor" and "semaphore," where it carries the sense of bearing or transferring something.

Synonyms: velvet worms, onychophorans