/ˌmɛtəˌkɪliə/ (MEE-tuh-KIL-ee-uh)

Definitions

1. noun

A condition in which the limbs of a developing embryo fail to develop and become absorbed into the body wall, a feature seen in some invertebrate animals.

“The scientist studied the unusual case of metacoelia in a type of worm, where its limbs had completely disappeared.”