Uropod

Anatomical structure in Crustacea From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Uropods are posterior appendages found on a wide variety of crustaceans. They typically have functions in locomotion.

The tail of Nephrops norvegicus – the uropods flank the telson; a diaeresis is visible on the exopod (outer part) of each uropod.

Definition

Uropods are often defined as the appendages of the last body segment of a crustacean.[1] An alternative definition suggested by Frederick R. Schram restricts the term to those structures arising from the segment before the anal segment (the segment which carries the anus).[1] Under this latter definition, the appendages of the anal segment are caudal rami, which are analogous to uropods.[1]

Form

Uropods are typically biramous – comprising an endopod and an exopod. The exopod is typically the larger, and may be divided in two by a transverse suture known as the diaeresis.[2][3] The uropods may work in concert with the telson to form a "tail fan".[4]

References

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