neoteny

biology

Written by

The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Last updated

June 17, 2026

Quick Summary

Neoteny is the retention of juvenile or larval traits into adulthood. This can manifest as accelerated sexual maturation or a retardation of overall development relative to reproductive onset. A classic example is certain amphibians that reproduce while still in their larval form. Adult humans also exhibit neotenic features not seen in other adult primates. This evolutionary strategy, where an organism becomes reproductively mature while retaining juvenile characteristics, can offer adaptive advantages, particularly when environmental conditions make full metamorphosis risky due to factors like food scarcity or predation. In essence, neoteny suggests that larval stages can, under certain circumstances, give rise to new organisms.12

Summary created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

4 Britannica Sources

Ask Britannica AI about this topic

Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.

paedomorphosis
…onset of reproductive activity (neoteny).
Read More
…onset of reproductive activity (neoteny).
Read More

biological development
Length and timing of the reproductive phase
…suggested that such processes of neoteny (the retention of some juvenile characteristics in adulthood) have played a decisive role in certain earlier phases of evolution, evidence of which is now lost. It has been argued that the whole vertebrate phylum may have originated from modifications of one of the larval…
Read More
…suggested that such processes of neoteny (the retention of some juvenile characteristics in adulthood) have played a decisive role in certain earlier phases of evolution, evidence of which is now lost. It has been argued that the whole vertebrate phylum may have originated from modifications of one of the larval…
Read More

amphibian
Heterochrony
Neoteny, once a widely used label for the condition of sexually mature larvae, has been discontinued by biologists and replaced by the concept of heterochrony. Heterochrony refers to the change in the timing and rate of developmental events, and it is a widespread feature…
Read More
Neoteny, once a widely used label for the condition of sexually mature larvae, has been discontinued by biologists and replaced by the concept of heterochrony. Heterochrony refers to the change in the timing and rate of developmental events, and it is a widespread feature…
Read More

termite
Reproductives
…nymphs and may be called neotenics, normally are not present in a colony as long as the primary reproductives remain healthy. If a primary reproductive is lost, a neotenic achieves sexual maturity without attaining a fully winged adult stage or leaving the nest.
Read More
…nymphs and may be called neotenics, normally are not present in a colony as long as the primary reproductives remain healthy. If a primary reproductive is lost, a neotenic achieves sexual maturity without attaining a fully winged adult stage or leaving the nest.
Read More