APHRODITA, in zoology, an insect of the order of vermes mollusca. The body of the aphrodita is oval, with many small tentacula or protuberances on each side, which serve as so many feet: The mouth is cylindrical, at one end of the body, and capable of being retracted, with two bristly tentacula. There are four species of this insect, viz. 1. The aculeata, with 32 tentacula, or feet, an inhabitant of the European seas, and often found in the belly of the cod-fish. See Plate XXIII. fig. 4. This figure is taken from the life. It was found on the shore of the frith of
Aphronitres of Forth, about a mile east from Leith, by Dr Let-
som, and by him communicated to the proprietors of
this work. Johnston, Seba, and other authors, have
given figures of the aphrodita; but they are not so
accurate as could be wished. 2. The scabra, of an ob-
long shape, scabrous on the back, with about 20 ten-
tacula. 3. The squamata, with 24 feet, and scaly on
the back. 4. The imbricata, is very like the former,
only its scales are more glabrous.