1. a hardened plate or segment that forms part of the external skeleton of an arthropod
Usage: biology

Examples

• The beetle’s exoskeleton is composed of numerous sclerites joined by flexible membranes.
• Each sclerite provides protection while allowing the insect to move freely.
• The thoracic sclerites of the grasshopper are clearly visible under magnification.
• Entomologists study the arrangement of sclerites to identify different species.
• The hardened sclerites give the crab’s shell its protective strength.
• During molting, arthropods shed their old sclerites and grow new ones.