external skeleton

Frequency: 6.25.7 per million words

A rigid external covering for the body in some invertebrate animals.

skeletonADJECTIVE + skeleton

Categories:

external

Examples (10)

  • Crabs have a hard external skeleton that protects their soft bodies.
  • The insect's external skeleton provides support and prevents water loss.
  • Many arthropods are characterized by their rigid external skeleton.
  • Lobsters shed their external skeleton as they grow in a process called molting.
  • Without its tough external skeleton, the beetle would be vulnerable to predators.
  • Scientists study the structure of the external skeleton in various invertebrates.
  • The evolution of an external skeleton was a key adaptation for terrestrial life.
  • This ancient fossil clearly shows the intricate patterns of the creature's external skeleton.
  • A snail's shell functions as its external skeleton, offering protection.
  • The flexibility of some parts of the external skeleton allows for movement.