chelicera (redirected from chelicerae)

che·lic·er·a  (k-lsr-)

n. pl. che·lic·er·ae (--r)

Either of the first pair of fanglike appendages near the mouth of an arachnid, such as a spider, often modified for grasping and piercing.

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[New Latin : chela + Greek keras, horn; see ker-¹ in Indo-European roots.]

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chelicera [kɪˈlɪsərə]

n pl -erae [-əˌriː]

(Life Sciences & Allied Applications / Zoology) one of a pair of appendages on the head of spiders and other arachnids: often modified as food-catching claws

[from New Latin, from French chélicère, from chél- see chela¹ + -cère from Greek keras horn]

cheliceral  adj

Thesaurus

Noun

1.

chelicera - either of the first pair of fang-like appendages near the mouth of an arachnid; often modified for grasping and piercing appendage, extremity, member - an external body part that projects from the body; "it is important to keep the extremities warm"