scutella

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   a small horny plate or scale on a bird's foot or toe

   The researcher counted each scutella along the upper surface of the pigeon's toe.

2. 2
   noun

   a small shield-shaped plate or structure in an animal or plant

   Under magnification, the scutella appeared as a row of overlapping protective plates.

From New Latin scutella, a small shield-shaped structure, related to Latin scutum, 'shield.' Scientific English has used both scutella as a singular with scutellae as its plural and scutellum with scutella as its plural; Darwin's glossary defines scutellae as the horny plates covering birds' feet.

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External links

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• Cambridge Dictionary
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