All species have a life cycle that is divided into stages- these selections cover most of the general life stages of plants, chordates, marine invertebrates and insects. DO NOT ASSUME the specimen you are working with is a fully developed adult. Unless you know for sure, or the label states the biological stage, leave this blank.
The choices for this field are:
Adult: fully developed animal.
Egg: oval or round object, usually containing a developing embryo.
Embryo: unborn/unhatched animal. For our uses, this applies to animals only.
Hatchling: recently emerged from an egg
Immature: as a biological stage, not a determination of a mental state. A general term grouping together hatchling, juvenile, sub-adult and so on.
Juvenile: of or relating to young birds or other animals. Again, not a determination of mental state.
Larva: an immature form of some animals that undergo some metamorphosis- like tadpole (frog) or caterpillar (butterfly)
Nymph: mostly applies to insects, they usually look like small adults but without the wings.
Pupa: an insect in its inactive immature form between larva and adult- a chrysalis (butterfly) or tumbler (mosquito).
Seed: reproductive part of a flowering plant.