scyphoid

Scyphoid is an adjective meaning cup-shaped, derived from the Greek skyphos, or “cup,” with the suffix -oid signaling likeness. It is a descriptive term used across disciplines to denote a form that resembles a cup or bell.

In biology, scyphoid most often describes a cup- or bell-shaped morphology. The term is commonly applied to the mature, free-swimming medusa stage of jellyfish in the class Scyphozoa, which are sometimes referred to as scyphoid medusae. This usage highlights the characteristic umbrella-like body of these jellyfish and distinguishes the medusa from other life-cycle stages, such as the polyp.

Beyond jellyfish, scyphoid has appeared in historical or descriptive literature to denote other cup-shaped structures in fossils, shells, or anatomical features that resemble a cup. However, such uses are context-dependent and less standardized, reflecting descriptive morphology rather than a formal taxonomic category.

Because scyphoid is a descriptive rather than taxonomic term, its application varies by field and author. It remains a concise way to convey a cup-like shape when relevant to morphology or comparative anatomy.

See also: skyphos, scyphozoa.