HETEROMETABOLOUS Meaning and
Definition
-
Heterometabolous is an adjective that refers to a type of complete metamorphosis exhibited by some insects during their developmental stages. It describes a particular characteristic of the life cycle of insects where there are distinct and significant changes in their appearance, physiology, and behavior as they progress through different stages.
During heterometabolous metamorphosis, the insect undergoes three distinct stages: the egg, the nymph or larvae, and the adult. Each stage is vastly different from the others in terms of morphology and biology. For example, the nymph or larvae stage often has a worm-like appearance, with a different set of mouthparts and specific functions such as feeding and growing. In this stage, the insect may molt several times in order to reach its final form.
The heterometabolous life cycle contrasts with the gradual or incomplete metamorphosis seen in other insects, where there is a less dramatic change from immature forms to adults. In heterometabolous insects, the process of transformation is more abrupt and involves a complete reorganization of the organism's body structure and function.
Heterometabolous life cycles are observed in various insect orders, including hemipterans (such as true bugs), odonates (such as dragonflies and damselflies), and orthopterans (such as grasshoppers and crickets). This type of metamorphosis allows insects to occupy different ecological niches as they adapt to different lifestyles and ecological demands throughout their life cycle.
Common Misspellings for HETEROMETABOLOUS
- geterometabolous
- beterometabolous
- neterometabolous
- jeterometabolous
- ueterometabolous
- yeterometabolous
- hwterometabolous
- hsterometabolous
- hdterometabolous
- hrterometabolous
- h4terometabolous
- h3terometabolous
- hererometabolous
- heferometabolous
- hegerometabolous
- heyerometabolous
- he6erometabolous
- he5erometabolous
- hetwrometabolous
Etymology of HETEROMETABOLOUS
The word "heterometabolous" is derived from two Greek roots: "hetero", meaning "different" or "other", and "metabolos", meaning "changing" or "transforming". In the context of biology, the term "heterometabolous" refers to a type of insect metamorphosis where the immature stages (nymphs or larvae) have a different form and function from the adult stage. These insects go through an incomplete or partial metamorphosis, as opposed to insects with complete metamorphosis, such as butterflies. Hence, the term "heterometabolous" describes the contrasting developmental stages of such insects.
Similar spelling word for HETEROMETABOLOUS
Infographic
Add the infographic to your website:
