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Larva

Juvenile form of an animal undergoing metamorphosis.

A larva is a juvenile form of an animal undergoing metamorphosis, such as an insect or amphibian.

Pronunciation

/ˈlɑːrvə/

Etymology

From Latin larva, meaning 'ghost' or 'mask'.

Explain Like I’m 5

A larva is like a baby butterfly or caterpillar - it's the stage an animal goes through when it's changing into its adult form.

Fun Facts

Some larvae, like caterpillars, eat a lot to grow
Many aquatic insect larvae breathe underwater using gills
Some larvae can completely change their body shape during metamorphosis

FAQ

What is a larva? It's the juvenile form of an animal undergoing metamorphosis
What animals have larvae? Insects, amphibians, and some fish do
How long does the larval stage last? It varies greatly depending on the species

Synonyms — Similar or Related Terms

larval stage

Hypernyms — Broader Categories

animal life cycle stage

Hyponyms — Specific Examples

caterpillar tadpole maggot

Holonyms — Wholes or Groups

metamorphosis

Indexes

biological

Related

Built by Tim Jones