mouthpart
Insect chewing structure
Mouthparts are the appendages around an animal's mouth used for feeding—mandibles, maxillae, proboscises, and similar structures.
The term appears almost exclusively in entomology and zoology: The mosquito's mouthparts are adapted for piercing skin.
Usually plural, since most arthropods have several working together.
Lower facial bone
- maxillaUpper jaw bone
- labiumLip-like anatomical structure
- labrumSocket-encircling fibrocartilage
- proboscisElongated animal head appendage
palp · hypopharynx · rostrum · stylet · mentum
Crushing food orally
- piercingPenetrating or very sharp
- suckingDrawing by mouth
- siphoningDrawing liquid through tube
- lappingFine abrasive finishing process
biting · rasping · filtering · gnawing · scraping · grasping · cutting · grinding
Animal being hunted
- nectarFloral sugar water
- bloodBody's oxygen carrier
- sapPlant circulatory fluid
- pollenFloral reproductive grains
detritus · carrion · herbivore · carnivore · parasite · host · proboscis · mandible
Broadcast signal receiver
- thoraxCentral body cavity
- abdomenTorso's lower cavity
- exoskeletonExternal skeletal structure
- compound eyeMulti-lensed arthropod organ
spiracle · trachea · metamorphosis · larva · pupa · imago · instar · entomology
Aquatic arthropod with exoskeleton
- arachnidEight-legged wingless arthropod
- myriapodMulti-legged segmented invertebrate
- cephalothoraxFused cranial-trunk section
- carapaceProtective dorsal exoskeleton
gill · fang · stinger · pincer · claw · segment · jointed · invertebrate
Fitting to new conditions
- homologyStructural similarity through descent
- phylogenyEvolutionary relationships among organisms
- morphologyStudy of structural forms
- specializationConcentrated expertise in one field
diversification · fossil · comparative anatomy · convergent · ancestral · derived · selection · modification
mandible
Lower facial bone
chewing
Crushing food orally
lapping · biting · rasping · filtering · gnawing · scraping · grasping · cutting · grinding · tearing
prey
Animal being hunted
pollen · detritus · carrion · herbivore · carnivore · parasite · host · proboscis · mandible · filter-feeder
antenna
Broadcast signal receiver
- thoraxCentral body cavity
- abdomenTorso's lower cavity
- exoskeletonExternal skeletal structure
compound eye · spiracle · trachea · metamorphosis · larva · pupa · imago · instar · entomology · segmentation
crustacean
Aquatic arthropod with exoskeleton
- arachnidEight-legged wingless arthropod
- myriapodMulti-legged segmented invertebrate
- cephalothoraxFused cranial-trunk section
carapace · gill · fang · stinger · pincer · claw · segment · jointed · invertebrate · trilobite
adaptation
Fitting to new conditions
- homologyStructural similarity through descent
- phylogenyEvolutionary relationships among organisms
- morphologyStudy of structural forms
specialization · diversification · fossil · comparative anatomy · convergent · ancestral · derived · selection · modification · vestigial