cephalothorax

American  

[sef-uh-loh-thawr-aks, -thohr-] / ˌsɛf ə loʊˈθɔr æks, -ˈθoʊr- /

noun

Zoology.

plural

cephalothoraxes, cephalothoraces

1. the anterior part of the body in certain arachnids and crustaceans, consisting of the coalesced head and thorax.

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cephalothorax British  

/ ˌsɛfələʊθəˈræsɪk, ˌsɛfələʊˈθɔːræks /

noun

1. the anterior part of many crustaceans and some other arthropods consisting of a united head and thorax

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cephalothorax Scientific  

/ sĕf′ə-lə-thôr′ăks′ /

1. The combined head and thorax of arachnids, such as spiders, and of many crustaceans, such as crabs.

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Other Word Forms

• cephalothoracic adjective

Etymology

Origin of cephalothorax

First recorded in 1825–35; cephalo- + thorax

Example Sentences

"The abdomen and cephalothorax of spiders are closely attached, while in ants the equivalent of these body parts are separated by a narrow segment called the petiole," Poinar said.

From Science Daily • Mar. 22, 2024

An illustration of a midsagittal cross section of a crayfish shows the carapace around the cephalothorax, and the heart in the dorsal thorax area.

From Textbooks • Jan. 1, 2015

Tagma may be in the form of a head, thorax, and abdomen, or a cephalothorax and abdomen, or a head and trunk.

From Textbooks • Jan. 1, 2015

Fused segments may form a head, thorax, and abdomen, or a cephalothorax and abdomen, or a head and trunk.

From Textbooks • Apr. 25, 2013

The Wasp's abdomen then extends its arc and drives the needle behind the fourth pair of legs, on the median line, almost at the junction of the belly and the cephalothorax.

From More Hunting Wasps by Teixeira de Mattos, Alexander