chela

thumb|Fiddlers crabs like Minuca pugnax, and other members of the family [[Ocypodidae, have chelae of different sizes: a large left chela and a small right chela.]]

A chela ()also called a claw, nipper, or pinceris a pincer-shaped organ at the end of certain limbs of some arthropods. The name comes from Ancient Greek χηλή (khēlḗ), through Neo-Latin '. The plural form is chelae. Legs bearing a chela are called chelipeds'. Another name is claw because most chelae are curved and have a sharp point like a claw. thumb|Arthropod chela mechanics thumb|Restoration of the Cambrian arthropod [[Tokummia, one of the oldest arthropods to bear chelae.]] Chelae can be present at the tips of arthropod legs as well as their pedipalps. In some pseudoscorpions, the chelate pedipalps can be venomous. Chelae can be functionally overlapping with chelicerae, which specifically refers to appendages used as mouthparts in Chelicerata. In spiders those usually contain venom glands, but in other chelicerate allies the chelicerae can be chelate without venom glands.