In biology, exuviae are the remains of an exoskeleton and related structures that are left after ecdysozoans have moulted. The exuviae of an animal can be important to biologists as they can often be used to identify the species of the animal and even its sex.

What does exuviae mean in literature?

: sloughed off natural animal coverings (such as the skins of snakes)

What is the Exuvia?

An exuvia (plural exuviae) is the cast-off outer skin of an arthropod after a moult. In some species the exuvia is eaten soon after the moult although in other species it is left. For example, the exuviae of cicadas can often been seen on the surface of trees.