Coenocyte

A coenocyte (/ˈsiːnəˌsaɪt/) is a multinucleate cell which can result from multiple nuclear divisions without their accompanying cytokinesis, in contrast to a syncytium, which results from cellular aggregation followed by dissolution of the cell membranes inside the mass.^[1] The word syncytium in animal embryology is used to refer to the coenocytic blastoderm of invertebrates.^[2] A coenocytic colony is referred to as a coenobium (pl.: coenobia), and most coenobia are composed of a distinct number of cells, often as a multiple of two (4, 8, etc.).^[3]

Research suggests that coenobium formation may be a defense against grazing in some species.^[4]