Naked Science Forum

Life Sciences => Plant Sciences, Zoology & Evolution => Topic started by: EvaH on 26/05/2020 15:45:17

Title: Do any animals lose legs as they grow as a part of normal development?
Post by: EvaH on 26/05/2020 15:45:17

Teigen wants to know:

Some animals, like frogs, are born without legs but then develop legs as they grow. Are there any animals that are born (or hatch) WITH legs but then lose them as they grow or molt?

What do you think?

Title: Re: Do any animals lose legs as they grow as a part of normal development?
Post by: evan_au on 26/05/2020 22:33:06

Whales have vestigial rear legs as adults.
Perhaps as a fetus the rear limbs may be more prominent?

Title: Re: Do any animals lose legs as they grow as a part of normal development?
Post by: Halc on 26/05/2020 22:38:55

Caterpillars

Title: Re: Do any animals lose legs as they grow as a part of normal development?
Post by: evan_au on 26/05/2020 22:49:45

Quote from: Halc

Caterpillars

It is true that caterpillars have prolegs.
But they grow into an insect which has 3 pairs of true legs...
See: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caterpillar#Description
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Insect