noun
- one of the paired appendages on the last segment of the abdomen in crustaceans, used for swimming or forming part of the tail fan
Usage: zoology
Examples
- The lobster’s uropods help it swim backward when escaping predators.
- Marine biologists examined the uropods to identify the crustacean species.
- The shrimp’s uropods form a distinctive fan-shaped tail structure.
- Damage to the uropods can affect the crab’s ability to maneuver in water.
- The researcher counted the segments and uropods to classify the specimen.
- Each uropod consists of a base and two flattened branches.