pygidium

American  

[pahy-jid-ee-uhm] / paɪˈdʒɪd i əm /

noun

Zoology.

plural

pygidia

1. any of various structures or regions at the caudal end of the body in certain invertebrates.

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pygidium British  

/ -ˈɡɪd-, paɪˈdʒɪdɪəm /

noun

1. the terminal segment, division, or other structure in certain annelids, arthropods, and other invertebrates

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Other Word Forms

• pygidial adjective

Etymology

Origin of pygidium

1840–50; < New Latin < Greek pȳg ( ḗ ) rump + -idion diminutive suffix

Example Sentences

The trilobite spans 146 meters from cephalon to pygidium, or head to tail, and is carved into the shape of a spiny Ceraurus trilobite instead of the plainer state fossil, Calymene.

From Science Magazine

The trilobite spans 146 meters from cephalon to pygidium, or head to tail, and is carved into the shape of a spiny Ceraurus trilobite instead of the plainer state fossil, Calymene.

From Science Magazine

“This is part of his thorax. And we have a thoracic vertebrae here. And at the end here, they call it the pygidium. I call it the trilobutt.”

From Washington Times

Seen from above, it presents three divisions from front to rear:—first, a cephalic shield or head-piece; secondly, a thorax, divided into several segments movable upon each other; and thirdly, a tail-piece or pygidium, which, when brought against the head by the rolling up of the body segments, effectually covers the lower parts.

From Project Gutenberg

Anus: the end of the digestive tract, through which the food remnants are passed: the posterior part of the individual: specifically, in Coccidae, a more or less circular opening on the dorsal surface of the pygidium, varying in location as regards the circumgenital gland orifices: = anal orifice.

From Project Gutenberg