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Glite Dictionary
chelicera

chelicera

9.9
A small part near the mouth of spiders and scorpions that holds and pierces prey
  • noun
  • /kəˈlɪsərə/
  • Specialized
translation icon : quelícera
  • The spider uses its chelicera to catch prey.

Examples

  • Spiders inject venom through their chelicerae when subduing prey.

  • The scientist used a microscope to study the structure of the tick's chelicera.

  • A scorpion's chelicerae look like small pincers near its mouth.

  • Did you know that a scorpion's chelicerae can be quite powerful?

  • The spider used its chelicera to grasp its prey before injecting venom.

  • The chelicera of the scorpion are designed to pierce and hold onto its food.

  • Dangerous arachnids like tarantulas often have large and powerful chelicerae.

Synonyms

fang
vschelicera
  • Specialized
4 4.9

A sharp pointed part on animals like spiders or scorpions that injects venom

serves mainly to grasp or pierce rather than inject venom

Surface Forms

chelicera singular
chelicerae plural

Etymology

Chelicera comes from old Greek parts chele 'claw' and keras 'horn', so a chelicera is like a 'claw-horn' near the mouth of spiders and scorpions, used to hold or pierce their prey.