cephalothorax

American  

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

noun

Zoology.

• cephalothoraxes,
  plural
• cephalothoraces
  plural

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

Derived Forms

• cephalothoracic
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• cephalothoraces
  plural
• cephalothoraxes
  plural

Etymology

Origin of cephalothorax

First recorded in 1825–35; cephalo- + thorax

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

cephalothorax

"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 author already quoted believes that the Pompilius seizes its captive by the pedicle which unites the abdomen to the cephalothorax, and that it triturates this point between its jaws.

From The Industries of Animals by Frédéric Houssay