clitellum

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clitellum

(klī-tĕl′əm)
n. pl. cli·tella (-tĕl′ə)
A glandular swelling of the epidermis of certain annelid worms, such as earthworms, that secretes a viscous fluid to form a cocoon in which the eggs are deposited.
The American Heritage® Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2007, 2004 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

clitellum

a saddle-like structure present around part of the anterior half of some ANNELID worms which contains glands that secrete mucus, forming a sheath round copulating animals and a cocoon round the eggs.
Collins Dictionary of Biology, 3rd ed. © W. G. Hale, V. A. Saunders, J. P. Margham 2005
References in periodicals archive ?
These collagenous matrices are likely transient structures associated with reproduction, based on their absence in clitella of immature specimens or midbody segments.
Phylogeny and clitellar morphology of the giant Amazonian earthworm, Rhinodrilus priollii (oligochaeta: glossoscolecidae)
Although examined individuals reveal external and internal maturity, having well developed clitella, tubercula pubertatis and spermathecae, iridescence was observed in tiny parts of the ampullae in only two individuals.
No iridescent was observed in the spermathecae, although all examined individuals have clitella. Setae in four regular rows.
Pre-testical spermathecal pores and unusual setal arrangement in the South African endemic microchaetid earthworms of presumed Gondwanan origin (Oligochaeta: Microchaetidae)
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