neoteny in British English
(nɪˈɒtənɪ) or neoteinia (ˌniːəʊˈtiːnɪə)
nounthe persistence of larval or fetal features in the adult form of an animal. For example, the adult axolotl, a salamander, retains larval external gills
See also paedogenesis Derived forms
neotenic (ˌniːəʊˈtɛnɪk) or neotenous (neˈotenous) adjective
Word origin
C19: from New Latin
neotenia, from Greek
neo- +
teinein to stretch