scutellum
noun
scu·tel·lum
skü-ˈte-ləm 
skyü-
plural scutella
skü-ˈte-lə
skyü-
1
: a hard plate or scale (as on the thorax of an insect or the tarsus of a bird)
2
: the shield-shaped cotyledon of a monocotyledon (such as a grass)
Examples of scutellum in a Sentence
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Shield Bugs Found globally, these insects are named for their outsized scutellum, from the Latin word scutum, meaning shield.
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National Geographic, 23 June 2018
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National Geographic, 23 June 2018
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“Scutellum.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/scutellum. Accessed 22 Nov. 2024.
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