Animal Development Terminology

noun a form of an insect or other invertebrate that hatches from an egg and undergoes metamorphosis

• The larva of the butterfly eventually transforms into a pupa before emerging as an adult.
• Have you ever seen a larva up close? They're pretty fascinating creatures.
• Ew, there's a larva crawling on that leaf!
• The idea for the new product was just a larva in the CEO's mind before it became a reality.

noun a young animal that has recently emerged from its egg

• The hatchling emerged from its shell and began its journey to the sea.
• We watched the cute little hatchling make its way to the water.
• That hatchling is so tiny and adorable!
• As a new employee, she felt like a hatchling in a big corporate world.