altricial state
Quick Summary
In biology, altricial describes young animals that are born or hatched in a very immature and helpless condition, requiring significant parental care for an extended period. This contrasts with precocial young, which are more developed at birth and can move and feed themselves shortly after hatching.12
Altricial species, such as many songbirds, rats, cats, dogs, and primates, have young that are wholly dependent on their parents for survival. Precocial species, like ducks, geese, and hoofed mammals, have young that are capable of independent movement soon after birth. This difference in development at birth influences the type and duration of parental care required.3145
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