pleopod

English - English

Definition of pleopod in English English dictionary

In decapods such as lobsters, pleopods are legs mainly used for swimming but sometimes used for brooding eggs or catching food. In some species certain pleopods of an animal may have been adapted to special functions such as reproduction

One of the abdominal legs of a crustacean

under Crustacea

swimmeret: one of the paired abdominal appendages of certain aquatic crustaceans that function primarily for carrying the eggs in females and are usually adapted for swimming

Hyphenation

ple·o·pod

Etymology

() ple- (“supernumerary”) + -o- + -pod (“foot”)