Category:Proboscis

Pro*bos"cis, n.; pl. Proboscides. Etym: [l. fr. Gr.

1. (zoöl.)

Defn: a hollow organ or tube attached to the head, or connected with The mouth, of various animals, and generally used in taking food or Drink; a snout; a trunk.

Note: the proboscis of an elephant is a flexible muscular elongation Of the nose. The proboscis of insects is usually a chitinous tube Formed by the modified maxillæ, or by the labium. See illusts. of Hemiptera and lepidoptera.

2. (zoöl.)

Defn: by extension, applied to various tubelike mouth organs of the Lower animals that can be everted or protruded.

Note: the proboscis of annelids and of mollusks is usually a portion Of the pharynx that can be everted or protruded. That of nemerteans Is a special long internal organ, not connected with the mouth, and Not used in feeding, but capable of being protruded from a pore in The head. See illust. in appendix.

3. The nose. [jocose] proboscis monkey. (zoöl.) See kahau.