vestigial organs Atrophied or non-functional organs that are well developed and fully functional in other members of the group. They result from the adoption of a way of life in which the organs are no longer required (e.g. rudimentary pelvic bones are found in some whales, but are no longer required, since whales have no hind limbs as such). Such features are difficult to reconcile with the concept of special creation. See excess baggage hypothesis.

vestigial organs Atrophied or nonfunctional organs that are well developed and fully functional in other members of the group. They result from the adoption of a way of life in which the organs are no longer required (e.g. rudimentary pelvic bones are found in some whales, but are no longer required since whales have no hind limbs as such). Such features are difficult to reconcile with the concept of special creation.

vestigial organ Any part of an organism that has diminished in size during its evolution because the function it served decreased in importance or became totally unnecessary. Examples are the human appendix and the wings of the ostrich.