Anamorphosis (biology)

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  Anamorphic development in Nemasoma

Anamorphosis (biology)

Anamorphosis in biology refers to a developmental process in certain organisms where the organism undergoes a series of morphological changes as it matures. This term is often used in the context of arthropods, particularly in the development of myriapods such as millipedes and centipedes.

Developmental Process

In the context of myriapods, anamorphosis describes the process by which these organisms add body segments and legs as they grow. Unlike epimorphosis, where the organism hatches with a full complement of body segments, anamorphic development involves the sequential addition of segments during successive molts.

Myriapods

In myriapods, such as millipedes, the young hatch with only a few segments and legs. As they molt, they add additional segments and legs until they reach the adult form. This process can vary significantly between species, with some adding segments throughout their life, while others complete their segment addition after a certain number of molts.

Millipedes

Millipedes are a classic example of anamorphic development. They typically hatch with only three pairs of legs and a few body segments. With each molt, they add more segments and legs until they reach their species-specific adult form. This process allows millipedes to adapt to their environment as they grow, increasing their mobility and ability to forage for food.

Centipedes

Centipedes also exhibit anamorphic development, although the process differs from that of millipedes. Centipedes generally hatch with more segments than millipedes, and the number of segments added during each molt can vary. The development of centipedes is less predictable than that of millipedes, with some species showing considerable variation in the number of segments and legs added during growth.

Comparison with Epimorphosis

Anamorphosis is distinct from epimorphosis, where the organism hatches with a complete set of body segments and does not add new segments during growth. Epimorphic development is seen in many insects and other arthropods, where the juvenile form resembles the adult form but is smaller and may lack certain adult features such as wings.

Related Pages

• Arthropod
• Myriapod
• Millipede
• Centipede
• Epimorphosis

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