Keywords |
  • Biology

Vestigial structure

A vestigial structure is an anatomical structure that has lost its function during evolution, and whose atrophied appearance only acts as a reminder of a structure present in distant ancestors.

Example: the posterior paws of whales that are now only vestigial (cf. C on the illustration).

Skeleton of the whale © Meyers Konversionlexikon 1888, public domain

Skeleton of the whale © Meyers Konversionlexikon 1888, public domain


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