exuviae
1
9.9
Old skins and shells that animals such as snakes and insects leave when they grow
- noun
- /ɛkˈsuːviˌeɪ/
- Specialized
:
exuvias
- After the snake shed its skin, the exuviae were left behind.
Examples
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After molting, the snake left behind its exuviae in the grass.
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Scientists studied the exuviae of the cicada to understand its life cycle.
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After molting, the snake left its exuviae in the grass.
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Researchers collected the exuviae of cicadas to study their life cycles.
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The dragonfly's exuviae clung to the reed near the pond's edge.
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The exuviae of the molted crab were found on the beach.
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The aquarium cleanup revealed several exuviae from the recently molted shrimp.
Surface Forms
Etymology
The word exuviae comes from the Latin verb exuere, which means 'to take off', and the Latin exuvia meant 'things taken off'. So exuviae are the 'taken off' skins or shells animals leave behind after they shed their skin.