| Definitions | | altricial |
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adjective
- (zoology) Helpless at birth (of young animals); or having young which are helpless at birth.
- 2001: Altricial young are typical among carnivores, which might be expected to be hampered in their hunting behaviour if the pregnant mother has to carry its young for a long period. " Gonyou, Keeling & Keeling, Social Behaviour in Farm Animals (CABI Publishing 2001, p. 63)
Etymology: From modern Latin Altrices (a former division of birds), plural of altrix, the feminine of altor "nourisher", from alere "nourish".
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