altricial
[ al-trish-uh l ]
/ ælˈtrɪʃ əl /
adjective Zoology. (of an animal species)
helpless at birth or hatching and requiring parental care for a period of time (opposed to precocial.)
Words nearby altricial
altona,
altoona,
altophobia,
altostratus,
altrices,
altricial,
altrincham,
altruism,
altruist,
altruistic,
altus
British Dictionary definitions for altricial
altricial
/ (ælˈtrɪʃəl) /
adjective
(of the young of some species of birds after hatching) naked, blind, and dependent on the parents for food
noun
an altricial bird, such as a pigeon
Compare
precocial
Word Origin for altricial
C19: from New Latin
altriciālis, from Latin
altrix a nurse, from
alere to nourish
Scientific definitions for altricial
altricial
[ ăl-trĭsh′əl ]
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. Compare precocial.