antennate

Antennate is an adjective used in biology to describe an organism or anatomical structure that bears antennae. The term is derived from antenna, the sensory or feeler-like appendage found in many animals, with the suffix -ate indicating a characteristic.

In taxonomic and descriptive contexts, antennate indicates the presence of one or more antennae, typically paired sensory appendages located near the head and used for touch, smell, and environmental sensing. The word is primarily descriptive and does not itself designate a taxonomic group. It is often employed to contrast antenna-bearing forms with those that lack antennae or have reduced or nonfunctional sensory appendages.

In crustaceans, many species have two main anterior appendage systems—the antennae and the antennules—and such taxa are described as antennate. In insects, the term may be used in keys and descriptions to emphasize the prominence and structure of the antennae, which are common diagnostic features. The term is less commonly applied to groups where antenna-like structures are not clearly distinguished from other appendages, but it may appear in broader descriptive literature.

Related terms include antenniform, used for structures that resemble antennae but are not true antennae, and antennule, a specific type of small antenna found in crustaceans. Overall, antennate is a descriptive, non-technical label used to note the presence of antennae in a species or specimen.