Vestigial

Vestigial

Remaining in a species only in a much reduced or useless state. Vestigial body parts or organs are evidence of parts that the ancestors of an animal had, but that the modern animal no longer needs or uses. For example, the Rosy Boa bears vestigial traces of the legs of its lizard ancestors.

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Part of Speech: noun
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Industry/Domain: Animals
Category: Reptiles
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Related terms

vestigial

Archaeology; Evolution

Any structures that have been greatly reduced in size and function over evolutionary time to the extent that they now appear to have little or no current function.

vestigial

Anatomy; Gross anatomy

Relating to a body part that has evolved so that it no longer has a practical use. Snakes have vestigial legs.

vestigial

Plants; Botany

Reduced from the ancestral condition and no longer functional. Cf. Obsolete, rudimentary.

vestigial

Anthropology; Physical anthropology

Referring to body parts that are remnants of parts that were more fully developed and functional in an earlier stage of evolution in the species.

vestigial

Animals; Reptiles

Remaining in a species only in a much reduced or useless state. Vestigial body parts or organs are evidence of parts that the ancestors of an animal had, but that the modern ...

vestigial

Animals; Insects

Poorly developed, degenerate or atrophied, more fully functional in an earlier stage of development of the individual or species.

alligator

Animals; Reptiles

A large aquatic reptile that resembles a giant lizard. There are two alligator species in the world—a large type found in the Southern United States and a small type found in East ...

chameleon

Animals; Reptiles

A small lizard that changes color and appears to blend in with its surroundings and they have large eyes that are able to move separately from each other.