Epimorphosis

/ˌɛpɪmɔrˈfoʊsɪs/ noun

Definition

A type of growth or regeneration in which new body parts or segments are added at the end of an organism during development or healing.

Etymology

From Greek epi- (upon) + morphosis (formation, growth). The term describes sequential body formation in arthropods and some other invertebrates.

Kelly Says

When a crab loses a leg, it grows a new one through epimorphosis—nature's way of rebooting a limb by adding it segment by segment, not all at once.

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