Shoeworm

Japanese: クツコムシ

A general term for arthropods belonging to the order Ricinulei in the class Arachnida. The word "kutsuko" (mouthpiece) comes from the fact that they have a mouthpiece-shaped chitin plate at the front end of their head. Body length is 5-10 mm. They are not found in Japan. They live in the soil (mainly under fallen leaves) and in caves in tropical regions. Their feeding habits are not yet well understood. The protuberance of the tarsus of the male's third walking leg is partially hollow, where semen is temporarily stored and then inserted into the female's reproductive organs to inject the semen.

Source: Heibonsha World Encyclopedia, 2nd Edition Information

Japanese:

蛛形（ちゆけい）綱クツコムシ目Ricinuleiに属する節足動物の総称。クツコは口籠（くちご）の意味で頭部前端に口籠状のキチン板をもつことに由来する。体長5～10mm。日本には分布しない。熱帯地方の土壌中(おもに落葉下)や洞窟内に生息している。食性についてはまだよくわかっていない。雄の第3歩脚の跗節（ふせつ）の突起が一部中空となっており，ここに精液を一時蓄え，この突起を雌の生殖器に挿入して精液を注入する。

出典　株式会社平凡社世界大百科事典第２版について　情報

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