prosternum

Classification · Identification · See Also

Classification

Kingdom Animalia (Animals)

Phylum Arthropoda (Arthropods)

No Taxon (Glossary)

No Taxon (P)

No Taxon prosternum

Identification

prosternum noun, adjective prosternal - the under surface of the prothorax; the front-most prominent sclerite on the underside of the thorax.

The presence and/or form of a process or spine on the prosternum is important in the identification of some beetles (coleoptera) and orthoptera (e.g., spur-throated grasshoppers).

Photos illustrating the prosternum:

See Also

sternum, sternite

Divisions of thorax (front | middle | rear):

prothorax | mesothorax | metathorax

Dorsal surface of thorax (notum):

pronotum | mesonotum | metanotum

Lateral (pleural) surface of thorax:

propleuron | mesopleuron | metapleuron

Ventral surface of thorax:

prosternum | mesosternum | metasternum

Contributed by Cotinis on 2 January, 2008 - 3:33am
Last updated 2 January, 2008 - 5:53am

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