Brachyura

2 definitions found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Brachyura \Brach`y*u"ra\, n. pl. [NL., fr. Gr. brachy`s short +
     o'yra` tail.] (Zool.)
     A group of decapod Crustacea, including the common crabs,
     characterized by a small and short abdomen, which is bent up
     beneath the large cephalo-thorax. [Also spelt {Brachyoura}.]
     See {Crab}, and Illustration in Appendix.


     [1913 Webster] Brachyural

From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:

  Brachyura
       n : an order of crustaceans (including true crabs) having a
           reduced abdomen folded against the ventral surface [syn:
           {suborder Brachyura}]