noun
- Plural of chitin; hard, protective substances that form the outer skeleton of insects, crustaceans, and other arthropods.
Usage: Typically used in scientific or biological contexts.; Chitin is a polysaccharide polymer.
Examples
- The chitins of beetles provide excellent protection against predators.
- Scientists study chitins to understand how arthropods grow and molt.
- Crustacean shells are composed largely of chitins and minerals.
- The exoskeletons of insects contain multiple layers of chitins.
- Researchers are developing biodegradable materials from chitins found in shellfish waste.