exuviae

American  

[ig-zoo-vee-ee, ik-soo-] / ɪgˈzu viˌi, ɪkˈsu- /

plural noun

1. the cast skins, shells, or other coverings of animals.

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exuviae British  

/ ɪɡˈzjuːvɪˌiː /

plural noun

1. layers of skin or cuticle shed by animals during ecdysis

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Other Word Forms

• exuvial adjective

Etymology

Origin of exuviae

First recorded in 1645–55; from Latin, derivative of exuere “to remove, strip off, divest oneself of,” from ex- ex- ¹ + -uere “to put on”

Example Sentences

On a recent pondside walk, Brand came upon various dragonfly exuviae — the outer casings of young dragonflies.

From Seattle Times

Unlike us, insects molt as they grow up, producing a series of crinkly silhouettes of their outgrown exoskeletons, also called exuviae.

From New York Times

The cast skin is often called the exuviae.

From Project Gutenberg

The whole surface is covered with the small, round, green exuviae of these destructive invaders.

From Project Gutenberg

Pellicles: the exuviae or cast larval skins of many insects: in Coccidae more especially applied to the hardened larval skin attached to the puparia of Diaspinae.

From Project Gutenberg