claspers

British  

/ ˈklɑːspəz /

plural noun

1. a paired organ of male insects, used to clasp the female during copulation

2. a paired organ of male sharks and related fish, used to assist the transfer of spermatozoa into the body of the female during copulation

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Example Sentences

But apart from the denticles on their pelvic claspers, spotted ratfish are largely smooth-skinned.

From Science Daily • Oct. 16, 2025

Dermal denticles, including the ones on the spotted ratfish's pelvic claspers, do not have a dental lamina.

From Science Daily • Oct. 16, 2025

They use gripping appendages, called claspers, to hook themselves onto a female’s spines, giving males an inside track to fertilize the female’s eggs as soon as she releases them from a compartment in her head.

From New York Times • May 6, 2022

In today’s cartilaginous fish, there are tell-tale claspers behind the pelvic fins.

From The Guardian • Jan. 24, 2018

Here a silken carpet is spun as before described; but the caterpillar, instead of clinging with all its claspers, suspends itself in a vertical position by its hindermost pair only.

From Butterflies and Moths (British) by Furneaux, William S.