Morph
- Pronunciation
- /mawrf/
- Category
- Taxonomy
- Singular
- Morph
- Plural
- Morphs
Definition
A form or variant of a species, often distinguished by morphological (physical) traits such as coloration, pattern, or size.
Etymology
From Greek 'morphē', meaning 'form or shape'.
Example
In the peppered moth, there are two main morphs: the light-colored and the dark-colored morphs, which are examples of industrial melanism.
Synonyms
- Variant
- Form
Related Terms
- Polymorphism
- Color morph
- Phenotype
Usage Notes
Morph is commonly used to describe different physical forms within a species, and these differences may be genetic or environmental in origin.