Definitions

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • noun biology A proposed archetype of the form of all animals, based not on a shared body plan but on conserved molecular homologies.
  • noun An animal totem; an animal (or animal figure) that is taken as symbolic of a deeper abstraction.

Etymologies

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

From zoo- +‎ type. In the biological sense, by analogy with phylotype.

Support

Help support Wordnik (and make this page ad-free) by adopting the word zootype.

Examples

    Sorry, no example sentences found.

Comments

Log in or sign up to get involved in the conversation. It's quick and easy.

  • Animal serving as a type; figure of an animal used to represent a deity. (from Phrontistery)

    May 24, 2008