uropod

appendage

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Last updated

July 14, 2026

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A uropod is a paired appendage found on the posterior-most segment of the abdomen in many crustaceans. It is typically biramous, meaning it has two branches. In swimming crustaceans like shrimps and lobsters, the uropods, along with the telson, form a tail fan used for rapid propulsion. In bottom-dwelling or subterranean species, uropods are often slender and elongated, serving a tactile function. The structure and function of uropods can vary significantly among different crustacean groups.12

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2 Britannica Sources

crustacean - Appendages
malacostracan - Size range and diversity of structure

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crustacean
Appendages
…others and is called the uropods. In shrimps and lobsters the uropods together with the telson form a tail fan.
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…others and is called the uropods. In shrimps and lobsters the uropods together with the telson form a tail fan.
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malacostracan
Size range and diversity of structure
…(and the first and second uropods of some amphipods) may be modified as claspers for holding the female during mating. The last abdominal segment (of all but the leptostracans) bears a pair of biramous uropods and a median plate, or telson. The uropods are usually setose and paddle-shaped in swimming…
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…(and the first and second uropods of some amphipods) may be modified as claspers for holding the female during mating. The last abdominal segment (of all but the leptostracans) bears a pair of biramous uropods and a median plate, or telson. The uropods are usually setose and paddle-shaped in swimming…
Read More