| 释义 |
ˈking-crab
[f. king + crab n.1]
1. A large arthropodous animal of the genus Limulus, having a convex carapace somewhat of the shape of a horseshoe; the horseshoe or Molucca crab.
Formerly classed among the Crustacea, but now generally placed under the Arachnida or Spiders; in structure it differs considerably from the typical form of both classes, and is considered to be the nearest living representative of the extinct Trilobites.
1698J. Petiver in Phil. Trans. XX. 394 A King Crab of the Molucos Island. 1782Andre ibid. LXXII. 440 The Monoculus Polyphemus, or King Crab..frequently grows to a very large size. 1847Ansted Anc. World ix. 188 The prawns and the king-crabs of the existing seas.
2. The British thornback-crab (Maia squinado).
1890in Cent. Dict. |