In paleontology, a fossil or specimen that shows development characteristics intermediate between the original type and a more evolved form.
From Greek hemi- (half) + ortho- (straight, correct) + type (form), describing a specimen that is halfway between two defined fossil types.
Hemiorthotypes are paleontology's middle children—they're too specialized to be the ancestral form but not specialized enough to be the descendant, making them invaluable for understanding evolutionary pathways.
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