telson

American  

[tel-suhn] / ˈtɛl sən /

noun

1. the last segment, or an appendage of the last segment, of certain arthropods, as the middle flipper of a lobster's tail.

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telson British  

/ ˈtɛlsən, tɛlˈsɒnɪk /

noun

1. the last segment or an appendage on the last segment of the body of crustaceans and arachnids

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Other Word Forms

• telsonic adjective

Etymology

Origin of telson

First recorded in 1850–55, telson is from the Greek word télson boundary, limit

Example Sentences

The “growing point” of the trunk is, in fact, situated in front of this region, and, when the full number of somites has been reached, the unsegmented part remaining forms the telson of the adult.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 7, Slice 7 "Crocoite" to "Cuba" by Various

In Hemiptera this telson is absent, and the anal orifice is placed quite at the termination of the eleventh segment.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 13, Slice 4 "Hero" to "Hindu Chronology" by Various

T, telson, having the uropods or appendages of the last abdominal somite spread out on either side of it, forming the “tail-fan.” l, labrum, or upper lip. m, metastoma, or lower lip.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 7, Slice 7 "Crocoite" to "Cuba" by Various

The median length of the carapace was taken, from the tip of the rostrum to the posterior edge, and the length of the abdomen was taken from this point to the edge of the telson.

From Harvard Psychological Studies, Volume 1 Containing Sixteen Experimental Investigations from the Harvard Psychological Laboratory. by Münsterberg, Hugo

The eleventh abdominal segment is the telson, usually small and soft; it carries the anus.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 2, Slice 6 "Armour Plates" to "Arundel, Earls of" by Various