altricial
English edit
Etymology edit
From New Latin Altrices (a former division of birds), plural of altrīx, the feminine of altor (“nourisher”), from alere (“to nourish”).
Pronunciation edit
Adjective edit
altricial (comparative more altricial, superlative most altricial)
- (zoology) Helpless at birth (of young animals); or having young which are helpless at birth.
- 2001, Gonyou, Keeling & Keeling, Social Behaviour in Farm Animals, CABI Publishing, published 2001, page 63:
- Altricial young are typical among carnivores, which might be expected to be hampered in their hunting behaviour if the pregnant mother has to carry its young for a long period.
- 2011, Steven Pinker, The Better Angels of Our Nature, Penguin, published 2012, page 281:
- First, humans are altricial, with immature newborns and a long childhood.
- 2016, Joseph Henrich, chapter 5, in The Secret of Our Success […] , Princeton: Princeton University Press, →ISBN:
- First, compared to other species, babies are altricial, meaning that they are weak, undermuscled, fat, and uncoordinated (sorry, babies, but it's true).
Synonyms edit
Antonyms edit
Derived terms edit
Translations edit
having young which are helpless at birth
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Noun edit
altricial (plural altricials)
- Such an animal.
See also edit
Portuguese edit
Pronunciation edit
Adjective edit
altricial m or f (plural altriciais)
Spanish edit
Adjective edit
altricial m or f (masculine and feminine plural altriciales)