zōˈäfəd.ə noun plural
Usage: capitalized
Etymology: New Latin, from Greek zōophyta, plural of zōophyton
in former classifications : an extensive artificial and heterogenous group of invertebrates mostly incapable of locomotion that commonly includes all or many of the forms distinguished as coelenterates, sponges, bryozoans, echinoderms, protozoans, and worms but is sometimes restricted to coelenterates and sponges or to anthozoans alone