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

The cerci in Japyx are not, as usual, jointed feelers, but strong, curved appendages forming a forceps as in earwigs.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 2, Slice 3 "Apollodorus" to "Aral" by Various

Prominent, unjointed cerci, male with genital armature on second abdominal segment.

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

With very few exceptions, the larva in this group is active and campodeiform, with cerci and elongate legs as in the Adephaga, but the leg has only four segments and one claw.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 6, Slice 6 "Cockaigne" to "Columbus, Christopher" by Various

The carabid larva is an active well-armoured grub with the legs and cerci variable in length.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 6, Slice 6 "Cockaigne" to "Columbus, Christopher" by Various

In some cases, however, it can be shown that the cerci really belong to an eleventh abdominal segment which usually becomes fused with the tenth.

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