Ametabolous (Adjective)
Meaning
Undergoing slight or no metamorphosis.
Classification
All adjective clusters.
Examples
- Ametabolous insects, such as silverfish and bristletails, exhibit little to no change in form as they mature.
- The ametabolous development of some insect species means they resemble miniature adults from an early age.
- Ametabolous arthropods typically undergo a series of molts as they grow, but their overall body structure remains relatively unchanged.
- In ametabolous species, the young often look like smaller versions of the adults, with the same basic body shape and features.
- The ametabolous nature of certain insect groups has led scientists to reevaluate the evolutionary relationships between these organisms and their more complex, metamorphic counterparts.