neoteny
English
Etymology
From German Neotenie, coined in 1884 by anatomist Julius Kollmann from Ancient Greek νέος (néos, “young”) + τείνειν (teínein, “to tense”).
Pronunciation
- (UK) IPA(key): /niˈɒtəni/
- (US) IPA(key): /niˈɑːtəni/
Noun
neoteny (countable and uncountable, plural neotenies)
- (biology) The retention of juvenile characteristics in the adult.
- Most amphibians are aquatic only while young, but some amphibians with neoteny remain aquatic even as adults.
- (biology) The sexual maturity of an organism still in its larval stage.
Synonyms
- pedomorphism
Derived terms
Derived terms
- neotenic
- neotenist
- neotenous
- neotenously
Translations
retention of juvenile characteristics in the adult
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sexual maturity of an organism still in its larval stage
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See also
- agerasia
Further reading
- neoteny on Wikipedia.Wikipedia