noun
- Plural of cephalothorax; the fused head and thorax region of arachnids and some crustaceans.
Usage: zoology; technical
Examples
- The spider's cephalothoraces were examined under the microscope to identify the species.
- Arachnids are characterized by their cephalothoraces, which bear the legs and mouthparts.
- The biologist dissected several cephalothoraces to study the internal anatomy of the crustaceans.
- In horseshoe crabs, the cephalothoraces are covered with a hard exoskeleton.
- The cephalothoraces of scorpions contain the venom glands used for hunting prey.