ClimateAugust 17, 2026
siphonophore
SY-fuh-nuh-for
Definition
A marine invertebrate colony consisting of multiple specialized individual organisms, called zooids, that function together as a single unit.
Etymology
The word is derived from the Greek 'siphon' meaning 'tube' and 'phoros' meaning 'bearing', referring to the tubular or siphon-like structures found in these organisms.
In the news
The article uses the term to clarify that the Portuguese man-o'-war is not a single jellyfish but a complex siphonophore, highlighting its unique biological structure.
Portuguese man-o'-war, a highly venomous marine organism, returns to beaches in southwestern France
Read the full article ↗Le Monde.fr