proboscis

(noun)

an elongated tube from the head or connected to the mouth, of an animal

Related Terms

Examples of proboscis in the following topics:

  • Phylum Nemertea

    • Nemertea, or ribbon worms, are distinguished by their proboscis, used for capturing prey and enclosed in a cavity called a rhynchocoel.
    • A unique characteristic of this phylum is the presence of a proboscis enclosed in a rhynchocoel.
    • The proboscis serves to capture food and may be ornamented with barbs in some species.
    • The proboscis may be extended or retracted by the retractor muscle attached to the wall of the rhynchocoel.
    • This image shows the internal structures of a basic nemertean, including the proboscis and the rhynchocoel: 1: Proboscis 2: Rhynchocoel 3: Dorsal commissure of brain 4: Rhynchodeum 5: Proboscis pore 6: Ventral commissure of brain 7: Mouth 8: Foregut 9: Stomach

  • Evolution of Gymnosperms

    • It has been suggested that during the mid-Mesozoic era, pollination of some extinct groups of gymnosperms was performed by extinct species of scorpionflies that had a specialized proboscis for feeding on pollination drops.