sclerite

A chitinous or calcareous plate or similar part of an invertebrate, especially one of the hard outer plates forming part of the exoskeleton of an arthropod.

One of the elements which by union or coalescence form the skeleton of a coral.

In zoology:

Any separate skeletal element or definite hard part of the integument of arthropods; a piece of the chitinous skeleton or crust, as of an insect, in any way distinguished from other parts.

A sclerodermatous spicule in the substance of a polyp, especially of an alcyonarian.

A sponge-spicule; a sclere.

A hard chitinous or calcareous process or corpuscle, especially a spicule of the Alcyonaria.

A hardened body part, especially in arthropod exoskeletons.

hard plate or element of the exoskeleton of some arthropods