paedomorphoses
/ˌpiːdəˈmɔːrfəsiːz/
noun
- Plural of paedomorphosis; multiple evolutionary changes that result in adults retaining juvenile traits.
- Paedomorphoses can occur when a species adapts to a new environment.
- The fossil record shows several paedomorphoses in ancient marine reptiles.
- Biologists compare paedomorphoses in different lineages to study evolutionary patterns.