paedomorphosis Definition
- 1the retention of juvenile characteristics in the adult form of an organism
- 2the attainment of sexual maturity by an organism while it is still in a larval or juvenile state
Using paedomorphosis: Examples
Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "paedomorphosis" can be used in various situations through the following examples!
Example
The axolotl is a salamander that exhibits paedomorphosis, retaining its gills and aquatic lifestyle into adulthood.
Example
Paedomorphosis is a common phenomenon in domesticated animals, such as dogs and cats, where they retain juvenile features like floppy ears and shorter snouts.
Example
The evolutionary advantage of paedomorphosis is that it allows organisms to adapt to new environments without undergoing drastic changes in their body plans.
paedomorphosis Synonyms and Antonyms
Synonyms for paedomorphosis
- neoteny
- juvenilization
Phrases with paedomorphosis
a type of paedomorphosis where the organism retains juvenile traits that are normally lost during metamorphosis
Example
The axolotl exhibits neotenic paedomorphosis, retaining its gills and aquatic lifestyle into adulthood.
progenesis
a type of paedomorphosis where the organism attains sexual maturity while still in a juvenile state
Example
Some species of salamanders exhibit progenesis, where they become sexually mature while still in their larval stage.
pedomorph
an organism that exhibits paedomorphosis
Example
The axolotl is a pedomorph salamander that retains its juvenile features into adulthood.
Origins of paedomorphosis
from Greek 'paideia', meaning 'child-rearing' and 'morphosis', meaning 'formation'
Summary: paedomorphosis in Brief
Paedomorphosis [pee-doh-mawr-fuh-sis] refers to the retention of juvenile characteristics in the adult form of an organism. It can also refer to the attainment of sexual maturity by an organism while it is still in a larval or juvenile state. Examples include the axolotl, which retains its gills and aquatic lifestyle into adulthood, and domesticated animals like dogs and cats, which retain juvenile features like floppy ears and shorter snouts. Paedomorphosis allows organisms to adapt to new environments without undergoing drastic changes in their body plans.
