Definitions
Caudal ramus
- One of paired appendages constituting caudal furca, usually rodlike or bladelike, sometimes filamentous and multiarticular.
(syn. caudal filament, caudal style, cercus, cercopod, furcal ramus, stylet) [McLaughlin, 1980] - Single appendage of terminal abdominal somite paired with another to form caudal furca, both articulated with telson; usually rod-like or blade-like but may be filamentous and multiarticular (caudal filament).
(syn. cercus, cercopod, caudal style, stylet) [Moore and McCormick, 1969] - (Taxon-specific: ) One of two relatively short, claw-shaped projections at end of postabomen. May bear up to three series (pectens) of minute spines. Both caudal rami together are termed caudal furca. (denticulate, pectinate, with/without basal spine, with/without pectin).
(syn. claw, postabdominal claw, terminal claw) [Stachowitsch, 1992] - One of two posteriorly directed projections of last segment (telson). Long and segmented ( = annulate, multiarticulate). Both caudal rami together are termed caudal furca. (unarmed, armed with minute spinules and setae).
(syn. furca ramus) [Stachowitsch, 1992] - One of two relatively short, posteriorly directed of projections of telson. Both caudal rami together are termed caudal furca. (claw-like, styliform) (See also uropod).
(syn. cercopod, furcal claw) [Stachowitsch, 1992] - (Taxon-specific: Family Pycnogonidae) One of two posteriorly directed projections of last segment (telson). Unsegmented, typically fringed with setae. (freely movable/variously fused with last segment; thin and slender, broadly leaf-like or plate-like).
(syn. furcal ramus, cercopod) [Stachowitsch, 1992] - One of two posteriorly projections of last body segment (telson). Consists of single element with terminal setae (ramal setae, caudal setae). Both rami together are termed caudal furca. If telson is interpreted as representing anal somite, then caudal ramus may be termed uropod. (length relative to telson width: equal to or less than, less than twice, equal to twice). [Stachowitsch, 1992]
- (Taxon-specific: Class Secernentea) One of two posteriorly directed projections of last body segment (telson). Both rami together termed caudal furca. (dorsoventrally flattened and leaf-like, rod-like) (see also uropod).
(syn. furcal ramus) [Stachowitsch, 1992] - (Taxon-specific: Order Monhysterida) Pair of minute projections between posterior lobes of abdomen; rami flank anus. (basal, lateral, subbasal, subterminal, terminal).
(syn. anal furca, anal papilla) [Stachowitsch, 1992] - (Taxon-specific: Order Rhabditida) In ascothoracican, one of two posteriorly directed projections of last segment of abdomen. Both caudal rami together termed caudal furca. [Stachowitsch, 1992]
- (Taxon-specific: Family Cyatholaimidae) One of two posteriorly directed projections of last abdominal segment (anal somite); typically bears a number of setae (caudal setae). (length greater than, equal to, or less than width; margins: hairy, smooth, spinulose).
(syn. furcal ramus) [Stachowitsch, 1992] - (Taxon-specific: Family Cyatholaimidae) The appendage of the posterior abdominal somite of a copepod. It does not have a propodal/ramal configuration and its homologies to serially repeated limbs of the cephalon and thorax have not been determined. The caudal ramus bears setae in a pattern similar to an exopod. Its axial orientation is not known. [Ferrari and Dahms, in press]
- (Taxon-specific: Family Cyatholaimidae) The paired, setiferous and usually articulated structures carried on the anal somite. [Boxshall and Halsey, 2004]
- One of two relatively large, posteriorly directed projections of last segment (telson). Claw-shaped, with serrate inner margin and bearing several major setae. Both rami together are termed caudal furca.
(syn. furcal ramus, furcal claw) [Stachowitsch, 1992] - One of two projections of posterior end (thorax/abdomen) of body; extends anteroventrally due to curvature of body. (paired, unpaired; symmetrical, asymmetrical; lemelliform, rod-shaped, claw-like).
(syn. furcal ramus) [Stachowitsch, 1992] - One of two unbranched processes projecting posteriorly from anal segment; each ramus bears setae along median margin and terminally. (shorter than, longer than anal segment). [Stachowitsch, 1992]
- In bathynellacean, one of two small protuberances at end of telson. Both caudal rami together termed caudal furca. May also be interpreted as representing lobes of telson.
(syn. furcal ramus) [Stachowitsch, 1992]