Chelae

For other uses, see Chelae (disambiguation).

A chela (/ˈkiːlə/) – also called a claw, nipper, or pincer – is a pincer-shaped organ at the end of certain limbs of some arthropods. The name comes from Ancient Greek χηλή (khēlḗ), through Neo-Latin chela. The plural form is chelae. Legs bearing a chela are called chelipeds. Another name is claw because most chelae are curved and have a sharp point like a claw.

Chelae can be present at the tips of arthropod legs as well as their pedipalps. In some pseudoscorpions, the chelate pedipalps can be venomous. Chelae can be functionally overlapping with chelicerae, which specifically refers to appendages used as mouthparts in Chelicerata. In spiders those usually contain venom glands, but in other chelicerate allies the chelicerae can be chelate without venom glands.

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