cercus

American  

[sur-kuhs, ker-] / ˈsɜr kəs, ˈkɛr- /

noun

• cerci
  plural

1. one of a pair of appendages at the rear of the abdomen of certain insects and other arthropods, serving as tactile organs.

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cercus British  

/ ˈsɜːkəs /

noun

1. one of a pair of sensory appendages at the tip of the abdomen of some insects and other arthropods

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• cercal
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• cerci
  plural

Etymology

Origin of cercus

1820–30; < New Latin < Greek kérkos tail

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

cerci

When the median caudal filament and two cerci were included, the total length reached 49.66 millimeters.

From Science Daily ● Aug. 27, 2026

Anal fork: applied to the cerci of Coleopterous larvae.

From Explanation of Terms Used in Entomology by John. B. Smith

The appendages of the abdomen are called cerci, stylets and gonapophyses.

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

Whether cerci, stylets and gonapophyses are developed from these rudiments has been much debated.

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

The stylets, when present, are placed on the ninth segment, and in some Thysanura exist also on the eighth segment; their development takes place later in life than that of the cerci.

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