paedomorphismpedomorphismn.
/ˌpiːdə(ʊ)ˈmɔːfɪz(ə)m/, U.S. /ˌpɛdəˈmɔrˌfɪz(ə)m/, /ˌpidəˈmɔrˌfɪz(ə)m/ Biology.
= paedomorphosis n.
ΘΚΠ
the world > life > biology > biological processes > evolution > [noun] > morphogenesis > derivation or appearance of characters
acquired1794
neomorph1886
paedomorphism1892
neotenia1896
habitat form1902
caenogenesis1909
fetalization1922
paedomorphosis1922
hominization1953
synapomorphy1966
synapomorph1969
1892 Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Philadelphia 1891 208 Dr. Harrison Allen spoke of the disposition occasionally exhibited in adult mammals, for the proportions of different parts of the body to remain as they were in the immature individuals... Dr. Allen proposed for this peculiarity the term pedomorphism.
1950 Man 50 161 Man's generalized status is largely attributable to the tendency to pædomorphism and even fœtalization..retention into adulthood of characters elsewhere transient during infancy or fœtal life.
1973 B. J. Williams Evol. & Human Origins vii. 98/1 Paedomorphism is said to occur when certain developmental processes are retarded in such a way that important features of the larval or infantile form are maintained into sexual maturity.
1996 Amer. Naturalist 147 110 Since Gould's..book was published, the role of paedomorphism (progenesis) in the evolution of major morphological changes in numerous taxa has been widely accepted.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, March 2005; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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n.1892