neotony
/niˈɑtəni/
noun
- The retention of juvenile features in an adult animal or plant, often as a result of evolution.
- Neotony in humans may explain why we have large brains relative to our body size.
- Scientists study neotony to understand how some species delay development.
- The axolotl is a famous example of neotony, keeping its gills into adulthood.
Synonyms