noun
- Plural of obelia; small marine hydrozoans of the genus Obelia, typically forming branching colonies with bell-shaped polyps.
Usage: biology; zoology; technical
Examples
- The obelias in the tide pool formed delicate, feathery colonies.
- Marine biologists studied the obelias to understand hydrozoan reproduction.
- Under the microscope, the obelias displayed their characteristic bell-shaped medusae.
- Obelias are commonly used as model organisms in developmental biology research.