larvalike

Larvalike is an adjective used to describe organisms, structures, or forms that resemble a larva. It denotes a morphology or life-stage that is elongated and worm-like, typically lacking some specialized adult features. The term can refer to actual larval forms, to juvenile life stages that closely resemble larvae, or to adults that retain larval traits through processes such as neoteny or paedomorphosis.

Etymology: The word combines larva, from Latin for “ghost” or “mask,” with the suffix -like, meaning resembling. It is mainly used in zoology, developmental biology, and paleontology.

In biology, larvalike descriptions are common in discussions of development and evolution. For example, neotenic species such as the axolotl retain larval features like external gills into adulthood, making their adult appearance larval-like. Many crustaceans pass through larval stages (such as nauplius and zoea), and in some descriptions these juvenile forms are noted as larvalike. In paleontology, fossils may be described as larval-like or larvaliform when the specimen preserves a larval body plan.

Non-biological usage: the term can also be used metaphorically to describe something that is underdeveloped, simplistic, or not fully formed, such as a design, concept, or project.

See also: larva, larval, neoteny, paedomorphosis, larvaliform.