limulus
Definition
Noun: 1. A genus of marine arthropods: Limulus is the type genus of the family Limulidae, comprising horseshoe crabs. These are ancient, hard-shelled creatures with a distinctive horseshoe-shaped carapace and a long, pointed tail spine (telson).
Usage Examples
- Noun:
- The Limulus is often called a living fossil due to its ancient lineage.
- Scientists study the blue blood of Limulus for its medical applications.
- A common species within this genus is Limulus polyphemus, the Atlantic horseshoe crab.
Advanced Usage
- In scientific/biological context: The word is used precisely to refer to the taxonomic genus. It is often italicized in scientific writing.
- The morphology of Limulus has remained relatively unchanged for millions of years.
Variants and Related Words
- Limulidae (n): The family to which the genus belongs.
- Horseshoe crab (n): The common name for species in the genera and .
- Xiphosuran (n): A member of the order Xiphosura, which includes horseshoe crabs.
Synonyms
- Horseshoe crab (common name)
- King crab (a less precise, regional common name that can cause confusion with true king crabs)
Related Terms & Phrases
- Limulus amebocyte lysate (LAL): A substance derived from the blood cells () of , used to detect bacterial endotoxins in medical equipment and pharmaceuticals.
- The sterility of the vaccine was confirmed using the Limulus amebocyte lysate test.
Noun
-
type genus of the family Limulidae
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