the 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
neoteny in American English
(niˈɑtəni)
noun Zoology
1.
the retention of juvenile characteristics in the adult
2.
the development of adult features in the juvenile, as the attainment of sexual maturity in some larvae; paedogenesis
Derived forms
neotenic (ˌneoˈtenic) (ˌniəˈtinɪk; ˌniəˈtɛnɪk)
adjective or neotˈenous (niˈɑtənəs)
Word origin
ModL neotenia < neo-, neo- + Gr teinein, to stretch: see tend2