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Paedomorphosis |
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paedomorphosis [‚pēd·ə′mȯr·fə·səs]
(evolution) Phylogenetic change in which adults retain juvenile characters, accompanied by an increased capacity for further change; indicates potential for further evolution. Paedomorphosis the resemblance of an adult individual to its juvenile form. Paedomorphosis is observed when the adult (imago) and juvenile forms exist under the same conditions. It especially characterizes animals with little capacity for movement. Organisms marked by paedomorphosis include the caterpillar-like female casebearers of the family Coleophoridae (although there is a pupal stage between the larval and imago stages) and the wingless females of the orders Embiodea and Grylloblattida. Paedomorphosis may be associated with neoteny. Want to thank TFD for its existence? Tell a friend about us, add a link to this page, add the site to iGoogle, or visit the webmaster's page for free fun content. |
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