cercus
/ˈsəːkəs
/noun (plural cerci /ˈsəːkʌɪ/) Zoology
Either of a pair of small appendages at the end of the abdomen of some insects and other arthropods.They have no eyes, antennae, or caudal cerci but have a telson tail, which is common in crustaceans but absent in other hexapods....
- By analogy with modern arthropods this zone was inferred to lie at the anterior of a terminal ventral body segment-the telosoma and the antenniform cerci of Olenoides serratus might be interpreted as belonging to that segment.
- These species are notable for the plesiomorphic retention of venation (albeit already quite reduced) in their tegmina, segmented cerci, and pentamerous tarsi.
Origin
Early 19th century: from modern Latin, from Greek kerkos 'tail'.