noun
- Plural of chaeta; bristle-like structures found on the bodies of certain invertebrates, especially annelid worms and arthropods.
Usage: biology; zoology; technical term
Examples
- The polychaete worm uses its chaetae to anchor itself in the seafloor.
- Under the microscope, the chaetae of the earthworm appeared as fine, hair-like projections.
- Marine biologists identified the species by examining the arrangement and structure of its chaetae.
- The chaetae help the annelid move through soil and sediment.
- Different types of chaetae serve various functions, from locomotion to sensory perception.