urotergite
- Pronunciation
- /yoo-roh-TUR-jite/
- Category
- Anatomy
- Singular
- urotergite
- Plural
- urotergites
Definition
A dorsal sclerite of an abdominal segment, particularly in insects and some arachnids.
Etymology
From Greek 'oura', meaning 'tail', and 'tergum', meaning 'back' or 'dorsum'.
Example
The urotergite of the male cockroach is more pronounced than that of the female, aiding in species identification.
Synonyms
- Dorsal abdominal segment
Related Terms
- Sternite
- Tergite
- Exoskeleton
- Abdomen
Usage Notes
Urotergites are critical in the study of insect morphology and can often aid in distinguishing between similar species.