ametabolic

Thân thiện

An insect that is ametabolic looks the same throughout its life.

Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Undergoing no (or only slight) metamorphosis: Describes an organism, typically an insect or other arthropod, that does not go through a significant change in form during its development from young to adult. The young resemble the adults closely.
   • Undergoing slight or no metamorphosis: This is a more general definition, emphasizing that any developmental change is minimal or absent.

Usage Examples

• Adjective:
  • Silverfish are ametabolic insects; their young look like small versions of the adults.
  • The ametabolic development of some primitive arthropods contrasts with the complete metamorphosis seen in butterflies.

Advanced Usage

• Scientific Context: The term is primarily used in entomology and zoology to classify developmental patterns. It is the opposite of "holometabolic" (undergoing complete metamorphosis) or "hemimetabolic" (undergoing incomplete metamorphosis).
  • The study compared the ametabolic species with those exhibiting complex life cycles.

Variants and Related Words

• Ametabolism (n): The state or condition of being ametabolic; development without metamorphosis.
  • Ametabolism is a characteristic of certain ancient insect orders.
• Ametabolous (adj): A synonym for "ametabolic," used interchangeably in scientific literature.
  • Ametabolous insects, like bristletails, molt even after reaching sexual maturity.

Synonyms

• Ametabolous: Having no metamorphosis.
• Direct-developing: Developing without a larval stage or significant metamorphosis.

Antonyms

• Metabolic: Relating to or undergoing metamorphosis.
• Holometabolic: Undergoing complete metamorphosis (e.g., egg, larva, pupa, adult).
• Hemimetabolic: Undergoing incomplete or partial metamorphosis.

Học thuật

Adjective

1. undergoing no (or only slight) metamorphosis
2. undergoing slight or no metamorphosis

Từ đồng nghĩa

• ametabolous