altricial

American  

[al-trish-uhl] / ælˈtrɪʃ əl /

adjective

Zoology.

1. helpless at birth or hatching and requiring parental care for a period of time (opposed to precocial. )

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altricial British  

/ ælˈtrɪʃəl /

adjective

1. (of the young of some species of birds after hatching) naked, blind, and dependent on the parents for food

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noun

1. an altricial bird, such as a pigeon

altricial Scientific  

/ ăl-trĭsh′əl /

1. Born or hatched in a helpless condition requiring prolonged parental care, as by being naked, blind, or unable to move about. Nesting birds, monotremes, marsupials, and carnivores have altricial young.

2. Compare precocial

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Etymology

Origin of altricial

1870–75; < Latin altrīc-, stem of altrīx wet nurse, nourisher ( al ( ere ) to nourish ( cf. aliment) + -trīx -trix ) + -al ¹

Compare meaning

How does altricial compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• altricial vs. precocial

Example Sentences

Both pandas and people fall firmly on the altricial end of the spectrum.

From National Geographic • Aug. 28, 2015

Marsupials don’t have placentas, and their young are so altricial when they come out that they’re practically fetal.

From National Geographic • Aug. 28, 2015

The altricial nature of panda cubs poses a challenge for scientists at the National Zoo who are trying to keep the two cubs alive and healthy.

From Washington Post • Aug. 25, 2015

Scientists call this type of chick altricial, literally, “requiring nourishment.”

From New York Times • Apr. 4, 2012

The young of altricial birds, like orioles, and bluebirds, and thrushes, being born naked and helpless, have a reason for loving their nest-homes, so carefully and delicately built to shelter their nude infancy.

From Days Off And Other Digressions by Van Dyke, Henry