What is "acephala"

Lamellibranchia \La*mel`li*bran"chi*a\, Lamellibranchiata \La*mel`li*bran`chi*a"ta\, n. pl. [NL. See lamella, and Branchia, Branchiate.] (Zo["o]l.) An earlier name for the class of Mollusca including all those that have bivalve shells, as the clams, oysters, mussels, etc., now called Pelecypoda or Bivalvia.

Note: They usually have two (rarely but one) flat, lamelliform gills on each side of the body. They have an imperfectly developed head, concealed within the shell, whence they are called {Acephala}. Called also Conchifera, and Pelecypoda. See Bivalve.

Acephala \A*ceph"a*la\, n. pl. [NL., fr. Gr. ?, adj. neut. pl., headless. See Acephal.] (Zo["o]l.) That division of the Mollusca which includes the bivalve shells, like the clams and oysters; -- so called because they have no evident head. Formerly the group included the Tunicata, Brachiopoda, and sometimes the Bryozoa. See Mollusca.

Acephala, Latin for "without a head", may refer to:

• Acephala group, a cultivar group of Brassica oleracea (cabbage) that grows without a central "head", including many varieties of kale, collard greens, and spring greens
• Acephala, Georges Cuvier's name for the class Bivalvia (which lack a head)
• Acephala (band), an Argentinian rock band formed in 2004