Definition

Adjective: 1. Relating to or characterized by neoteny: Describing the biological phenomenon where an organism retains juvenile or larval traits into its adult stage.

Usage

The adjective neotenic is used in biological and zoological contexts to describe species, developmental processes, or physical features that exhibit neoteny. It is a technical term.

Examples

• The axolotl is a neotenic salamander, meaning it reaches sexual maturity while still in its aquatic larval form with gills.
• Some scientists argue that humans exhibit neotenic characteristics, such as our large heads and flat faces relative to other primates.
• The study focused on the neotenic development of certain insect species.

Advanced Usage

• The term can be used in a more figurative, though less common, sense to describe the deliberate retention of childlike qualities in artistic or cultural contexts.

Variants and Related Words

• Neoteny (noun): The condition or process itself.
  • Neoteny is an important concept in evolutionary biology.
• Neotenous (adjective): A less common synonym for neotenic.
  • The species has a neotenous appearance.

Synonyms

• Paedomorphic (adj): Having a similar meaning, specifically relating to the retention of ancestral juvenile characteristics by descendants.

Antonyms

• Recapitulatory (adj): Relating to the theory that an organism's development repeats its evolutionary history.
• Fully metamorphosed (phrase): Having completed a full transformation from a juvenile to a distinctly different adult form.

Adjective

1. of or relating to or characterized by neoteny
   • neotenic development