costal break
- Pronunciation
- /koh-stuhl breyk/
- Category
- Anatomy
- Singular
- costal break
- Plural
- costal breaks
Definition
A notch or interruption in the costal region of a lepidopteran wing, often used as a taxonomic characteristic.
Etymology
From Latin 'costalis', meaning 'rib' or 'side', and 'break', from Old English 'brecan', meaning 'to break'.
Example
The presence of a costal break in the wing can help differentiate between species in certain moth families.
Synonyms
- costal notch
- wing notch
Related Terms
- costal vein
- lepidopteran
- wing morphology
Usage Notes
Costal breaks can be crucial for the identification of certain species and are often studied in detail by taxonomists.