chy·trid (kītrĭd)
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Tweet n. Any of various usually aquatic and often parasitic or saprophytic fungi in the division Chytridiomycota, having flagellated gametes. The parasitic chytrid Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis is thought to be responsible for a worldwide decline in amphibian populations. [From New Latin Chytridium, type genus of the division, from Greek khutridion, little pot (the genus being so called after the potlike structure containing the unreleased spores of the fungi), diminutive of khutris, khutrid-, pot, diminutive of khutrā, pot; see gheu- in the Appendix of Indo-European roots.] |
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