noun
- A slender, tail-like appendage found at the rear end of the abdomen in certain arthropods, such as insects and crustaceans.
Usage: technical; zoology; plural: cerci
Examples
- The mayfly nymph has two prominent cerci extending from its abdomen.
- Insects use their cerci to sense vibrations and movement in the air.
- The cerci of the cricket are sensitive organs that detect predators.
- Under the microscope, the cerci appeared as delicate, hair-like structures.
- Entomologists examine the cerci to help identify different insect species.