Spurious claw
- Pronunciation
- /SPYUR-ee-uhs klaw/
- Category
- Anatomy
- Singular
- Spurious claw
- Plural
- Spurious claws
Definition
A vestigial or secondary claw found in some arachnids, often non-functional or reduced in size compared to the primary claws.
Etymology
From Latin 'spurius' meaning 'false' or 'illegitimate' and 'claw' from Old English 'clawu'.
Example
In some spider species, the spurious claw can be observed next to the primary claws, though it serves little to no functional purpose.
Synonyms
- Vestigial claw
Related Terms
Usage Notes
The presence and prominence of spurious claws can vary significantly among different species of arachnids.