: a male copulatory structure:
a
: one of a pair of external anal processes of an insect that are used to grasp a female
b
: one of a pair of organs that are extensions of the pelvic fins of cartilaginous fishes
Examples of clasper in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The presence of these claspers meant that Dr. Azar and Dr. Nel had stumbled upon a seeming impossibility: male mosquitoes with mouth parts made for bloodsucking.
—
Kate Golembiewski, New York Times, 4 Dec. 2023
Analysis on the ostracod samples, which date from the Cretaceous period, also revealed rare details of the crustacean's internal and reproductive organs, including the male clasper, sperm pumps, hemipenes, eggs and female seminal receptacles with giant sperm.
—Amy Woodyatt, CNN, 17 Sep. 2020
The discovery of clasper limbs in a fossil suggests that some species of the ancient arthropods reproduced much like modern horseshoe crabs.
—New York Times, 6 May 2022
The structure and placement of these clasper-like appendages on the trilobite are slightly different from those of living horseshoe crabs.
—New York Times, 6 May 2022
Male sharks internally fertilize females with one of their two sperm-transfer organs, called claspers.
—National Geographic, 27 May 2017
Claspers are penis-like organs male sharks use to transfer seminal fluid into the vent of a female.
—National Geographic, 14 Jan. 2017
In some species, the claspers are held in place by spiny projections.
—National Geographic, 14 Jan. 2017
In males the pelvic claspers, used in mating, glow.
—David Gruber, National Geographic, 25 Apr. 2016
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Kate Golembiewski, New York Times, 4 Dec. 2023
Analysis on the ostracod samples, which date from the Cretaceous period, also revealed rare details of the crustacean's internal and reproductive organs, including the male clasper, sperm pumps, hemipenes, eggs and female seminal receptacles with giant sperm.
—Amy Woodyatt, CNN, 17 Sep. 2020
The discovery of clasper limbs in a fossil suggests that some species of the ancient arthropods reproduced much like modern horseshoe crabs.
—New York Times, 6 May 2022
The structure and placement of these clasper-like appendages on the trilobite are slightly different from those of living horseshoe crabs.
—New York Times, 6 May 2022
Male sharks internally fertilize females with one of their two sperm-transfer organs, called claspers.
—National Geographic, 27 May 2017
Claspers are penis-like organs male sharks use to transfer seminal fluid into the vent of a female.
—National Geographic, 14 Jan. 2017
In some species, the claspers are held in place by spiny projections.
—National Geographic, 14 Jan. 2017
In males the pelvic claspers, used in mating, glow.
—David Gruber, National Geographic, 25 Apr. 2016
Cite this Entry
“Clasper.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/clasper. Accessed 9 Jul. 2025.
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