Neoteny

Pronunciation

• UK IPA: /niˈɒtÉ™ni/
• US IPA: /niˈɑːtÉ™ni/

Origin

From German Neotenie, in turn from Ancient Greek νέος (neos, "young") and τείνειν (teinein, "to tense").

Full definition of neoteny

Noun

1. (biology) The retention of juvenile characteristics in the adult.Most amphibians are aquatic only while young, but some amphibians with neoteny remain aquatic even as adults.
2. (biology) The sexual maturity of an organism still in its larval stage.

Synonyms

• pedomorphism

Derived terms

• neotenic
• neotenous
• neotenously
• neotenist