What is paedomorphic?
Paedomorphosis, also spelled Pedomorphosis, retention by an organism of juvenile or even larval traits into later life.
What does Heterochrony mean in biology?
Heterochrony can be defined as change to the timing or rate of development relative to the ancestor. Many different life history traits arise from the operation of heterochronic processes, and these may sometimes be the targets of selection rather than morphological features themselves.
What is Neotenic development?
Neoteny (/niˈɒtəni/), also called juvenilization, is the delaying or slowing of the physiological (or somatic) development of an organism, typically an animal. Neoteny is found in modern humans (compared to other primates). In progenesis (also called paedogenesis), sexual development is accelerated.
What causes Pedomorphosis?
Progenesis has been suggested as the main cause of paedomorphosis in ophiuroids [34], based on the small size of strongly paedomorphic species. Distinguishing paedomorphic states from juvenile ones is not easy, and juveniles of known species have been described as new species.
What is meant by adaptive radiation?
Adaptive radiation is a rapid increase in the number of species with a common ancestor, characterized by great ecological and morphological diversity. The driving force behind it is the adaptation of organisms to new ecological contexts.
What is the difference between neoteny and Paedogenesis?
The key difference between neoteny and paedogenesis is that neoteny is the process of delaying the physiological development of an organism, while paedogenesis is the process of reproduction by an organism that has not achieved physical maturity.
What is an example of heterochrony?
Heterochrony is a change in the timing of developmental events. For example, a change in timing might slow down the development of the body, but not alter the maturation of the reproductive system. This change yields an adult organism with a form similar to the ancestral juvenile form.
What is the difference between Allometry and heterochrony?
As nouns the difference between allometry and heterochrony is that allometry is (biology) the science studying the differential growth rates of the parts of a living organism’s body part or process while heterochrony is (biology) the variation in ontogeny of individuals of a species that gives rise to evolution.
What is the meaning of Neotenic?
retention of juvenile characteristics
(nē-ŏt′n-ē) 1. The retention of juvenile characteristics in the adults of a species, as among certain amphibians. Also called pedomorphism, pedomorphosis.
Are humans Neotenic?
Neoteny in humans is the retention of juvenile features well into adulthood. Humans also retain a plasticity of behavior that is generally found among animals only in the young. The emphasis on learned, rather than inherited, behavior requires the human brain to remain receptive much longer.
What species are Paedomorphic?
Abstract. Paedomorphosis is an alternative process to metamorphosis in which adults retain larval traits at the adult stage. It is frequent in newts and salamanders, where larvae reach sexual maturity without losing their gills.
What salamanders are Paedomorphic?
Figure 1: Cave salamanders such as the Mexican axolotl (Ambystoma mexicanum) exist in paedomorphic forms due to hostile terrestrial habitats. Note the retention of gills which is normally a characteristic of larvae.
What is the meaning of the word paedomorphic?
Definition of paedomorphic. : of, relating to, involving, or exhibiting paedomorphosis or paedomorphism.
Why is the process of paedomorphosis important to evolutionary theory?
Paedomorphosis. Such shifts of reproductive capability would appear to have adaptive significance to organisms that exhibit it. In terms of evolutionary theory, the process of paedomorphosis suggests that larval stages and developmental phases of existing organisms may give rise, under certain circumstances, to wholly new organisms.
What is the alternative name for paedomorphosis?
Alternative Titles: paedomorphism, pedomorphosis. Paedomorphosis, also spelled Pedomorphosis, retention by an organism of juvenile or even larval traits into later life.