Lecithotrophy
/ˌlɛsɪθəˈtrɒfi/noun
A mode of development in which an embryo or larva is nourished primarily by yolk reserves rather than external food.
Did you know?Lecithotrophic larvae can remain non-feeding while developing because their mother’s yolk functions as a sealed nutritional inheritance.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Greek
Greek
lekithos (λήκυθος)
“Yolk; the yellow nutrient-rich center of an egg”
Ancient Greek
Greek
trophē (τροφή)
“Nourishment, food, or the act of feeding”
19th Century
Scientific Latin/Greek
lecith-
“A combining form referring to egg yolk, derived from Greek lekithos”
19th Century
Scientific Greek
-trophy
“A combining form meaning nourishment or mode of nutrition, from Greek trophē”
20th Century
English
lecithotrophy
“Development supported by yolk nutrition rather than feeding from the environment”
Modern English
English
lecithotrophic
“Describing an organism or developmental stage nourished by yolk reserves”