collophore

American  

[kol-uh-fawr, -fohr] / ˈkɒl əˌfɔr, -ˌfoʊr /

noun

Entomology.

1. a ventral tubelike structure on the abdomen of a springtail.

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Etymology

Origin of collophore

1875–80; < Greek koll ( a ) glue + -o- + -phore

Example Sentences

Dr. Ortega Jiménez said the springtails’ control largely came from their most distinctive and enigmatic feature, the collophore, a tube sticking out of their abdomens.

From New York Times

He found that a springtail’s collophore was involved in all parts of the jump.

From New York Times

Saad Bhamla, a biomechanics researcher at the Georgia Institute of Technology who also worked on the research, said that, though there were probably other functions of the collophore, its role in jumping — during takeoff, flight and landing — seemed to be crucial.

From New York Times

Other scientists later disputed this explanation of the collophore’s function.

From New York Times

In the 20th century, the most widely accepted functional explanation for the collophore — the only part of the springtail’s body that attracts water — was as a way to suck up nutrients.

From New York Times