turpe

Turpe, also known as rudiment or remnant, refers to a vestigial anatomical structure that has lost its original function through evolution. These structures are often reduced in size and complexity compared to their ancestral counterparts. Examples of turpe include the human appendix, wisdom teeth, and the tailbone (coccyx). In other animals, flightless birds often have reduced wings, and snakes possess rudimentary hind limb bones. The presence of turpe can provide evidence for evolutionary relationships and the process of natural selection, as it indicates a lineage where a particular structure was once functional but became unnecessary due to environmental changes or shifts in lifestyle. Over long periods, these structures may eventually disappear entirely or persist in their reduced form. Scientists study turpe to understand the evolutionary history of species and the mechanisms of adaptation.