adjective
- having different forms or shapes at different stages of development or in different conditions
Usage: biology; technical
Examples
- The butterfly exhibits heteromorphic development from caterpillar to adult.
- Many insects show heteromorphic life cycles with distinct larval and adult forms.
- The plant species displays heteromorphic leaves depending on environmental conditions.
- Heteromorphic alternation of generations is common in certain algae.
- The researcher studied heteromorphic variations in the coral species.
- Some fungi have heteromorphic spores that differ in size and shape.