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.

---

cephalothorax British  

/ ˌsɛfələʊθəˈræsɪk, ˌsɛfələʊˈθɔːræks /

noun

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

---

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.

---

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

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

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

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

From Textbooks • Apr. 25, 2013

Small tarantulas, with beautiful wine-colored cephalothorax, made their home deep in the nest, guarded, perhaps, by their dense covering of hair; slender scorpions sidled out from the ruins.

From Edge of the Jungle by Beebe, William