[
US
/niˈɑtəni/
]
NOUN
- an evolutionary trend to be born earlier so that development is cut off at an earlier stage and juvenile characteristics are retained in adults of the species
How To Use neoteny In A Sentence
- Humans, especially females, are likewise evolutionarily wired to respond in a nurturing way to faces that have a quality of neoteny, which is to say, the retention of infantile characteristics: large head, wide and prominent eyes, slightly helpless and winsome. For the Cheerleader in Everyone
- This condition, called neoteny, means it keeps its tadpole-like dorsal fin, which runs almost the length of its body, and its feathery external gills, which protrude from the back of its wide head. Undefined
- The most important of these involves neoteny, which is the technical term describing the fact that certain juvenile features and behaviors are retained in the adult. How to Speak Dog
- This is a classic example of an evolutionary phenomenon known as neoteny - the retention of larval or juvenile features in mature adults.
- Among early codiacrinids adaptive forms evolved initially through both neoteny and progenesis.
- Some species (for example, the axolotl) display neoteny - that is, the larval features persist into sexual maturity.
- What they found was quite consistent with the notion of neoteny, not only for body shape but for dog language. How to Speak Dog
- It seems highly plausible that, as Australopithecus evolved through various intermediates to Homo sapiens, shortening the muzzle all along the way, it did so by the obvious route of retaining juvenile characteristics into adulthood the process called neoteny, mentioned in Chapter 2. THE GREATEST SHOW ON EARTH
- Dinosaurs, like birds and many mammals, retain neoteny, that is, they retain their juvenile characteristics for a long period of growth," Horner said, "which is a strong indicator that they were very social animals, grouping in flocks or herds with long periods of parental care. PhysOrg.com - latest science and technology news stories
- It's long been known that larger eyes in proportion to the face trigger a reaction in humans that makes us consider the face to be "cuter" - it is speculated that this is a response to neoteny, the retention of childlike characteristics even into adulthood. Raph's Website