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orthonectid
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Sea otter (Enhydra lutris), also called great sea otter, rare, completely marine otter of the northern Pacific, usually found in kelp beds. Floats on back. Looks like sea otter laughing. saltwater otters
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Lion (panthera leo)
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The bearded vulture (Gypaetus barbatus) is seen in Switzerland on December 2024
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mesozoan
invertebrate
Eumetazoa
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orthonectid

animal
Also known as: Orthonectida
Written and fact-checked by
Britannica Editors
Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree....
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History

orthonectid, any of a class (Orthonectida) of rare wormlike parasites of various marine invertebrates, including bivalved mollusks and polychaete annelids; they are usually included in the phylum Mesozoa, a group regarded as intermediate between protozoans (single-celled animals) and metazoans (multicellular animals) in organization. See mesozoan.

This article was most recently revised and updated by John P. Rafferty.