noun
- Animals that possess a true body cavity (coelom) lined with mesoderm; members of the group Coelomata.
Usage: biology; plural form of coelomate; used in zoological classification
Examples
- Coelomates include most familiar animals such as mammals, birds, fish, and insects.
- The presence of a true coelom distinguishes coelomates from simpler organisms.
- In evolutionary biology, coelomates represent a major advancement in animal body organization.
- Vertebrates are all coelomates with well-developed body cavities.
- The coelom in coelomates allows for greater organ complexity and specialization.