collophore

[ kol-uh-fawr, -fohr ]

noun

, Entomology.

1. a ventral tubelike structure on the abdomen of a springtail.

Word History and Origins

Origin of collophore¹

1875–80; < Greek koll ( a ) glue + -o- + -phore

Example Sentences

Other scientists later disputed this explanation of the collophore’s function.

From New York Times

He found that a springtail’s collophore was involved in all parts of the jump.

From New York Times

Dr. Ortega Jiménez said the springtails’ control largely came from their most distinctive and enigmatic feature, the collophore, a tube sticking out of their abdomens.

From New York Times

Chests out, the springtails landed, and the watery collophore gave them a more stable base and a sticky adherence to the surface.

From New York Times

Saad Bhamla, a biomechanics researcher at the Georgia Institute of Technology who also worked on the research, said that, though there were probably other functions of the collophore, its role in jumping — during takeoff, flight and landing — seemed to be crucial.

From New York Times