alloscutum

English dictionary entry

Meanings

noun
  1. the flexible part of the dorsal body wall behind the rigid scutum in a hard tick, particularly a female — the alloscutum is the part of the body wall that must stretch to accommodate the blood that the tick swallows when it engorges in preparation for laying eggs.

Word forms

alloscutum alloscuta

Etymology

From Ancient Greek ἄλλος (állos, “other”) and from Latin scūtum (“shield”).

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