- metasome
- In copepods, part of prosome consisting of free thoracic somites in front of major articulation; in amphipods first three abdominal somites bearing unmodified pleopods [Moore and McCormick, 1969].Part of prosome, consisting of free thoracic somites anterior to major articulation (Copepoda); or first three abdominal somites (Amphipoda, not general usage). (Syn. metasoma) [McLaughlin, 1980].Thoracic segments of a copepod posterior to those segments fused with the cephalasome [Brusca and Brusca, 2002].(Order Decapoda):Labium [Stachowitsch, 1992].(Order Amphipoda):Pleon [Stachowitsch, 1992].(Subclass Copepoda):The posterior part of the prosome comprising the free pedigerous somites [Boxshall and Halsey, 2004].(Class Ostracoda):One of three divisions (tagmata) of body (ceohalosome, metasome, urosome). Consists of free thoracic somites (thoracomeres) anterior to flexure point of body. Region comprising cephalosome and metasome ma be termed prosome [Stachowitsch, 1992].
Crustacea glossary. Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County. 2011.