XIPHOSURA Meaning and
Definition
-
Xiphosura is a noun that refers to a small subclass of marine arthropods, which includes the horseshoe crabs. These creatures are characterized by their unique body structure and distinctive features. The word "xiphosura" originates from the Greek words "xiphos," meaning "sword," and "ura," meaning "tail," due to their long, pointed tails.
Members of the subclass Xiphosura have a horseshoe-shaped carapace covering their cephalothorax, generally made up of chitin, a hard protective material found in the exoskeleton of arthropods. The carapace serves as a protective shield for their bodies and is responsible for their distinctive horseshoe-like appearance. They possess a pair of large compound eyes on the sides of their carapace, along with a series of simple eyes on the upper surface.
Xiphosura have jointed appendages that function as walking legs as well as feeding organs called chelicerae. These chelicerae are used for capturing and grinding their prey, which mainly consists of worms and small crustaceans. Despite their name, the tails of xiphosura do not have a defensive or offensive purpose, but rather serve as a means of steering and maneuvering.
These fascinating creatures are considered living fossils, as they have an extensive evolutionary history dating back hundreds of millions of years. Xiphosura play a vital role in marine ecosystems, contributing to nutrient cycling and acting as indicators of the health of coastal environments.
-
A division of the crustaceans, in which the last segment of the body forms a long, sharp pointed weapon, as in the king-crab.
Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.
Common Misspellings for XIPHOSURA
- ziphosura
- ciphosura
- diphosura
- siphosura
- xuphosura
- xjphosura
- xkphosura
- xophosura
- x9phosura
- x8phosura
- xiohosura
- xilhosura
- xi-hosura
- xi0hosura
- xipgosura
- xipbosura
- xipnosura
- xipjosura
- xipuosura
Etymology of XIPHOSURA
The etymology of the word "xiphosura" comes from Ancient Greek. It is derived from the Greek words "xiphos" (ξίφος), meaning "sword", and "ouros" (ουρά), meaning "tail". The term "xiphosura" is used to refer to a group of marine arthropods known as horseshoe crabs due to their long, sword-like tail.
