anourous

Definition

Adjective (Zoology): - Lacking a tail: "anourous" describes animals, particularly amphibians like frogs and toads, that are tailless in their adult stage. The term is derived from Greek roots meaning "without a tail."

Usage Examples

• (Adult frogs lack tails, unlike their tadpole stage.)
• (The tailless state is a defining feature of this animal group.)

Advanced Usage

• "anourous amphibians": a scientific term used to refer to frogs, toads, and related species that are tailless as adults.
  • Anourous amphibians undergo a dramatic transformation from aquatic, tailed larvae to terrestrial, tailless adults. (These animals lose their tails as they mature.)

Variants and Related Words

• Anourous (adj): the standard spelling.
• Anurous (adj): an alternative spelling with the same meaning.
  • The anurous frog leapt from the lily pad. (The tailless frog jumped.)

Synonyms

• Tailless: lacking a tail.
• Ecaudate: a formal scientific synonym meaning without a tail.
  • The ecaudate condition is typical of adult frogs. (The tailless state is normal for adult frogs.)

Related Idioms

Phrasal Verbs