premolt
noun
pre·molt
ˌprē-ˈmōlt
variants
or less commonly pre-molt
: the period before an animal molts its skin, exoskeleton, shell, etc.
Secretion of a crustacean's new exoskeleton begins during premolt while the animal is still stuffed inside the old one, filling available space to capacity.—Mark W. Denny and Steven Dean Gaines
premolt
adjective
or less commonly pre-molt
the premolt phase
premolt tarantulas
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Merriam-Webster unabridged
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