Direct development

Direct development is a concept in biology.

It refers to forms of growth to adulthood that do not involve metamorphosis.

An animal undergoes direct development if the immature organism resembles a small adult rather than having a distinct larval form.

Direct development is the opposite of complete metamorphosis.

An animal undergoes complete metamorphosis if it becomes a non-moving thing, for example a pupa in a cocoon, between its larval and adult stages.