Caudal Filaments
- Pronunciation
- /KOW-dahhl fil-uh-MENTZ/
- Category
- Anatomy
- Singular
- Caudal Filament
- Plural
- Caudal Filaments
Definition
Long, slender thread-like structures located on the posterior end of some insects, particularly in the orders Ephemeroptera (mayflies) and Zygentoma (silverfish).
Etymology
From Latin 'cauda', meaning 'tail', and 'filamentum', meaning 'thread'.
Example
The long caudal filaments of a mayfly nymph are used for swimming.