metastoma
English edit
Alternative forms edit
Etymology edit
From Ancient Greek μετά (metá, “behind”) + στόμα (stóma, “mouth”).
Noun edit
metastoma (plural metastomas or metastomata)
- (zoology) A median elevation behind the mouth in the arthropods.
- (zoology) A ventral single plate located in the opisthosoma of some non-arachnid chelicerates in the extinct genus Houia which is involved in feeding and manipulating food.
- (botany) A structure found in some mosses and liverworts that covers the mouth of the capsule from which spores are released.