Biol. rare. [f. Gr. ἐφήμερο-ς (see EPHEMERA) + μορφ-ή form.] Used by Bastian as a general name for the lowest forms of life, which cannot be assigned definitely to either the animal or vegetable kingdom. Hence Ephemeromorphic a.
1874. Bastian, in Contemp. Rev., XXIII. 708. The song of the Ephemeromorphs might be, in the words of Ovid, ‘Corpora vertantur; nec quod fuimusve, sumusve, Cras erimus.’ Ibid. (1876), ibid. Jan., 243. These creatures of circumstances, which become metamorphosed in a most striking and apparently irregular manner, I have proposed to include under the general designation of ‘Ephemeromorphs.’ Ibid. (1880), Brain, I. 6. The ephemeromorphic assemblage of vital forms.
