2. (Biol.) A method of asexual reproduction among the lowest (unicellular) organisms by means of a
process of self-division, consisting of gradual division or cleavage of the into two parts, each of which
then becomes a separate and independent organisms; as when a cell in an animal or plant, or its germ,
undergoes a spontaneous division, and the parts again subdivide. See Segmentation, and Cell division,
under Division.
3. (Zoöl.) A process by which certain coral polyps, echinoderms, annelids, etc., spontaneously subdivide,
each individual thus forming two or more new ones. See Strobilation.
Fissipalmate
(Fis`si*pal"mate) a. [L. fissus (p. p. of findere to split) + palma palm.] (Zoöl.) Semipalmate
and loboped, as a grebe's foot. See Illust. under Aves.
Fissipara
(||Fis*sip"a*ra) n. pl. [NL. See Fissiparous.] (Zoöl.) Animals which reproduce by fission.
Fissiparism
(Fis*sip"a*rism) n. [See Fissiparous.] (Biol.) Reproduction by spontaneous fission.
Fissiparity
(Fis`si*par"i*ty) n. (Biol.) Quality of being fissiparous; fissiparism.
Fissiparous
(Fis*sip"a*rous) a. [L. fissus (p. p. of findere to split) + parere to bring forth: cf. F. fissipare.]
(Biol.) Reproducing by spontaneous fission. See Fission. — Fis*sip"a*rous*ly, adv.
Fissipation
(Fis`si*pa"tion) n. (Biol.) Reproduction by fission; fissiparism.
Fissiped
(Fis"si*ped Fis*sip"e*dal) , a. [Cf. F. fissipède.] (Zoöl.) Having the toes separated to the base.
[See Aves.]
Fissiped
(Fis"si*ped), n. (Zoöl.) One of the Fissipedia.
Fissipedia
(||Fis`si*pe"di*a) n. pl. [NL., fr. L. fissus (p. p. of findere to cleave) + pes, pedis, a foot.]
(Zoöl.) A division of the Carnivora, including the dogs, cats, and bears, in which the feet are not webbed; —
opposed to Pinnipedia.
Fissirostral
(Fis`si*ros"tral) a. [Cf. F. fissirostre.] (Zoöl.) Having the bill cleft beyond the horny part, as
in the case of swallows and goatsuckers.
Fissirostres
(||Fis`si*ros"tres) n. pl. [NL., fr. L. fissus (p. p. of findere to cleave) + rostrum beak.]
(Zoöl.) A group of birds having the bill deeply cleft.
Fissural
(Fis"sur*al) a. Pertaining to a fissure or fissures; as, the fissural pattern of a brain.
Fissuration
(Fis`su*ra"tion) n. (Anat.) The act of dividing or opening; the state of being fissured.
Fissure
(Fis"sure) n. [L. fissura, fr. findere, fissum, to cleave, split; akin to E. bite: cf. F. fissure.] A
narrow opening, made by the parting of any substance; a cleft; as, the fissure of a rock.
Cerebral fissures (Anat.), the furrows or clefts by which the surface of the cerebrum is divided; esp.,
the furrows first formed by the infolding of the whole wall of the cerebrum. — Fissure needle (Surg.),
a spiral needle for catching together the gaping lips of wounds. Knight. — Fissure of rolando (Anat.),
the furrow separating the frontal from the parietal lobe in the cerebrum. — Fissure of Sylvius (Anat.),
a deep cerebral fissure separating the frontal from the temporal lobe. See Illust. under Brain. — Fissure
vein (Mining), a crack in the earth's surface filled with mineral matter. Raymond.
Fissure
(Fis"sure) v. t. To cleave; to divide; to crack or fracture.
Fissurella
(||Fis`su*rel"la) n. [NL., dim. of L. fissura a fissure.] (Zoöl.) A genus of marine gastropod
mollusks, having a conical or limpetlike shell, with an opening at the apex; — called also keyhole limpet.
