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altricial
[ al-trish-uhl ]
adjective
, Zoology.
- helpless at birth or hatching and requiring parental care for a period of time ( precocial. )
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
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
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Word History and Origins
Origin of altricial1
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Word History and Origins
Origin of altricial1
C19: from New Latin altriciālis, from Latin altrix a nurse, from alere to nourish
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Compare Meanings
How does altricial compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:
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Example Sentences
Note the helpless altricial young of the robin; the independent precocial young of the quail.
From Project Gutenberg
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