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The Crayfish of Nebraska

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134 GLOSSARY ABDOMEN – the flexible 'tail' of the crayfish ACUMEN – the pointy tip of the rostrum. ANNULUS VENTRALIS – the blind pocket on the underside and between the hind legs of the female that is used to store sperm. Also known as "seminal receptacle". ANTENNAE – the two long sensory filaments or 'feelers'. ANTENNULES – the two pair of short sensory filaments between the antennae. AUREOLA – the area on the top rear half of the thorax (the rear half of the carapace) that looks like a pair of curved grooves AUTONOMY – where a crayfish sheds or self-amputates a limb. This can be a survival strategy to escape a predator or can happen during a molt. CARAPACE – the hard covering of the head and thorax. CENTRAL PROJECTION – one of the terminal elements of the first pleopod or gonopod of the male. In mature males, this is hardened and a yellow color. CEPHALOTHORAX – see "carapace". CERVICAL GROOVE – the angled groove wrapping around the carapace which marks the separation between the thorax and the head. CHELA – the pincer or claw (plural = CHELAE). The chela consists of the base (palm) and fixed finger with a separate moveable finger (dactyl). CHELIPED – the first periopod which has the chela, used in mating, defense and feeding. DACTYL – the moveable finger of the chela. EYE STALK – the moveable stalk that supports the compound eye. FIXED FINGER – the finger on the chela that is fixed to the base or palm FORM I – the mature, breeding form of the male; identified by the tips of the gonopod being hardened and yellowish color. In females, where the glair glands under the tail are visible, full and white. FORM II – the immature, non-breeding form the male; identified by the tips of the gonopod being soft and white. In females, where the glair glands under the tail are not visible.

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