1. The anterior body region of crustaceans, bearing the walking legs and typically consisting of eight segments.
Usage: zoology; technical term used in crustacean anatomy

Examples

• The pereion of the crab is covered by a protective carapace.
• In decapod crustaceans, the pereion bears five pairs of walking legs.
• The pereion segments are fused together in many crustacean species.
• Researchers examined the pereion structure to classify the specimen.