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collophore

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

noun

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


Etymology

Origin of collophore

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

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

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

From New York Times • Nov. 7, 2022

Chests out, the springtails landed, and the watery collophore gave them a more stable base and a sticky adherence to the surface.

From New York Times • Nov. 7, 2022

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 • Nov. 7, 2022

The underside of the springtail has a long tube called a collophore that grabs a drop of water as the springtail takes off.

From Science Magazine • Jan. 13, 2022

“Both geckos and springtails are deforming their bodies and using a specialized structure—the tail in geckos, the collophore in springtails—to facilitate a perfect landing,” Ortega-Jimenez explains.

From Science Magazine • Jan. 13, 2022