Definition:

Dactyl: (DA-ktill) A tooth-like structure on the leg of a mole cricket. Gryllotalpa and Neocurtilla mole crickets have a row of four of these structures on each tibia, but Neoscapteriscus mole crickets have only two. These tibial dactyls are important in identification. Additionally, two dactyls occur on each tarsus. See insect legs. Although Neoscapteriscus mole crickets are commonly called two-clawed mole crickets because they have two tibial dactyls, the dactyls really are not claws (claws occur at the ends of the legs, at the extremity of the tarsus).

dactyl photograph

mole cricket drawing