Zool. Pl. zoaria. [mod.L., in form ad. Gr. ζωάριον, dim. of ζῳον animal, but taken as if f. ζῳον + -ARIUM: cf. POLYZOARY.] The common supporting structure of a colony of polyps, or the colony or compound organism as a whole (esp. in the Polyzoa or moss-animalcules): = POLYZOARY. Hence Zoarial a., pertaining to or constituting a zoarium.
1880. Saville-Kent, Infusoria, I. 338. The zoarium of the polyzoic genera Aulopora or Hippothoa.
1896. J. W. Gregory, Catal. Fossil Bryozoa, Introd. 16. In typical Diastopora the zoarium consists of two layers of zoœcia, one on each side of the zoarial lamina.
