tagma

(noun)

a specialized grouping of arthropodan segments, such as the head, the thorax, and the abdomen with a common function

Related Terms

Examples of tagma in the following topics:

  • Subphyla of Arthropoda

    • Hexapods are characterized by the presence of a head, thorax, and abdomen, constituting three tagma.
    • Unlike that of the Hexapoda, the head and thorax of most crustaceans is fused to form a cephalothorax, which is covered by a plate called the carapace, thus producing a body structure of two tagma.
    • Hexapods are characterized by having three distinct tagma, or body segments.

  • Phylum Arthropoda

    • A unique feature of animals in the arthropod phylum is the presence of a segmented body and fusion of sets of segments that give rise to functional body regions called tagma.
    • Tagma may be in the form of a head, thorax, and abdomen, or a cephalothorax and abdomen, or a head and trunk.