Definition, Meaning & Synonyms
semelparous
Adjective
/sɛm.əlˈpɛr.əs/
Definition
Referring to organisms that reproduce only once in their lifetime, after which they typically die.
Examples
- Many species of salmon are semelparous; they spawn once and then die shortly afterward.
- Some species of bamboo are semelparous, flowering simultaneously every few decades before dying.
Meaning
The term describes species that have a single reproductive event before death, as opposed to iteroparous species, which can reproduce multiple times over their lifespan.
Synonyms
- single-breeding
- one-time reproducer
