a. Zool. [f. L. cadūcus falling + branchiæ gills, whence in mod.L. Caducibranchia, Latreille’s name for the Batrachians.] Of Amphibians: Losing their gills before reaching maturity (like the frog). Also as sb.
[1835. Kirby, Hab. & Inst. Anim., II. xxii. 412. Caducibranchia, or the proper Batrachians.]
1835–6. Todd, Cycl. Anat. & Phys., I. 99/2. The early condition of the lungs in the caducibranchiate genera … is that of a mere rudimentary sac. Ibid. (1839–47), III. 448/2. The urodelous kinds of Caducibranchiates.
1870. Rolleston, Anim. Life, Introd. p. lxvii.
