noun
- Plural of holoparasite; organisms that are obligate parasites, depending entirely on a host for survival and unable to live independently.
Usage: biology; technical
Examples
- Holoparasites like mistletoe cannot photosynthesize and must extract all nutrients from their host plants.
- Unlike facultative parasites, holoparasites have lost the ability to survive without a host.
- Many holoparasites have evolved specialized structures to penetrate and feed from their hosts.
- The study of holoparasites reveals how extreme dependence shapes an organism's anatomy and genetics.
- Certain fungi are holoparasites that completely rely on their host organisms for reproduction and growth.