zoo-, zoa-, zo-, -zoic, -zoid, -zoite, -zoal, -zonal, -zooid, -zoon, -zoa, -zoan

The youngest, or most recent, of the eras or major subdivisions of geologic time extending from the end of the Mesozoic Era to the present: The Cenozoic began about 65 million years ago during which modern plants and animals evolved.

In biology, a reference to plants which protect themselves from herbivorous animals by the production of noxious chemical substances: Chemozoophobous vegetation prevents its consumption by producing a poisonous taste if eaten.

Protozoa that grow in fecal matter, but do not necessarily thrive in feces within the intestine: Cathy learned in her biology class at school that minute acellular or unicellular organisms that are formed in the excreta of animals, or coprozoa, only live outside the body of the organism that discharged it.

A reference to organizms that live in fecal material: Coprozoic forms of life, such as protozoans, can be found in the manure, dung. or excrement of animals and can merge into parasites or into inhabitants of damp earth.

An organism that lives on or in fecal material: Tommy watched a documentary on TV about coprozoites that feed on dung, or that can also be parasites that live in manure.

An imaginary creature that supposedly came to the Earth from an unknown region: It is hypothetically said that cosmozoans presumably came to earth and seeded life, for example UFOs, microbe-bearing comets, or meteoroids from other star systems, known as "panspermia".

The hypothesis goes on to say that cosmozoans, in the form of cosmic germs, came to the earth from some outer-space sources.

Concerning the theory that life forms originally came from outer space: Thomas read a book about cosmozoic theories that stated that cosmic germs from outer sources started life on earth and the theories seemed to be quite realistic and believable!

A theory or conception that the universe consists of microscopic life in the form of "germs": Some believe that cosmozoism as a whole consists of those elements of animal life which were transported to the Earth.

Cosmozoism has been in existence since Cudworth.

In geology, the geologic time interval for which the corresponding rocks show limited evidence of primitive life forms [see the excerpts that follow].

The earliest rocks on earth with elaborate fossils are said to belong to the "Cambrian age"; and the entire four-billion-year history of our planet that preceded it has been, until recently, dismissed as the "pre-Cambrian age". Now that the traces of life have unmistakably been found in it, the more appropriate name Cryptozoic eon (hidden life) is used, while the last 600 million years make up the "Phanerozoic eon" (visible life).

The Cryptozoic eon is even divided into two sections:
The earlier "Archeozoic era" (ancient life), to which the first traces of unicellular life belong, and the later "Proterozoic era" (early life).

A reference to small terrestrial animals, or cryptozoa: Cryptozoic creatures, such as scorpions, inhabit crevices, or live under stones, in soil, or in dark or concealed places such as in caves or in holes.

A reference to small terrestrial animals, or cryptozoa: Cryptozoic creatures, such as scorpions, inhabit crevices, or live under stones, in soil, or in dark or concealed places such as in caves or in holes.

A malarial parasite at the state in its life cycle when it is present in the host's body tissue: Important to know is that the expoerythrocyte stage of growth of the cryptozoite effected by an infected mosquito occurs before it invades the red blood cells.

The study of animals whose existence has yet to be proven: Cryptozoology includes the investigation or research of legendary creatures like the Loch Ness (Nessie), the Yeti, jackalope (half jackrabbit, half antelope), Bigfoot, Sasquatch, Ogopogo, etc.

Referring to a parasite living within a cell: A cytozoic organism is a certain tiny form of life that thrives inside a body cell.

1. A polyp with tentacles: A dactylozooid, such as a Physalia physalis or "Portuguese Man-of-War", is a large siphonophore which has a bladderlike float that resembles a jellyfish and lives in warm waters. It has a transparent gas-filled float and long stinging, often poisonous appendages that sting with a neurotoxin.
2. A hydroid modified for catching prey, long, with tentacles or short knobs, with or without a mouth: In Jane's biology book, she read about dactylozooids which have the function of protecting the colony and she was astounded that some such creatures didn't even have an oral cavity!