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.)

Origin of altricial

1870–75; < Latin altrīc-, stem of altrīx wet nurse, nourisher ( al(ere) to nourish (cf. aliment) + -trīx -trix) + -al1

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-trĭshəl ]

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.