1. The plural of glochidium; microscopic, hook-bearing larval stages of freshwater mussels that attach to fish gills or skin as parasites before developing into adults.
Usage: biology; zoology; technical term; plural form

Examples

• The glochidia of the mussel species attach to passing fish to complete their life cycle.
• Researchers studied how glochidia infect host fish in the river ecosystem.
• The tiny glochidia are barely visible to the naked eye without magnification.
• Fish populations can be affected by heavy infestations of glochidia during breeding season.
• The mussel releases thousands of glochidia into the water column each year.