What does the classification 'Larva' indicate about an organism?

The classification 'Larva' indicates an early developmental stage in the life cycle of certain organisms, particularly in insects and amphibians. During this stage, the organism often has a very different form and function compared to its adult stage. For example, a caterpillar is the larval stage of a butterfly, and tadpoles are the larvae of frogs.

This stage is crucial for growth and development, and larvae generally focus on feeding and growing before undergoing metamorphosis into their adult forms. This distinction of being in an early stage highlights the transformative nature of many species, where the larval stage is followed by significant changes during maturation.