Nidicolous

Nidicolous

Nidicolous animals are those that stay at their nest or birthplace for a long time after birth, due to their dependence on the parents for feeding, protection and learning survival skills. It is the opposite of nidifugous where the animal is able to leave the nest very quickly. The great majority of nidicolous animals are altricial, in that an animal born helpless, blind, without feathers, etc simply is unable to fend for itself. Examples of nidicolous animals are most mammals, marsupials and many species of birds. However, the concepts of altricial and nidicolous are not identical. All altricial animals are nidicolous by necessity, however, an animal may be nidicolous, i.e. staying at the nest, even if they are precocial and fully capable of leaving if needed.[1]

References

  1. ^ Starck, J. (1998). Avian Growth and Development. Oxford Oxfordshire: Oxford University Press. ISBN 0-19-510608-3. 



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  • nidicolous — (adj.) of birds, bearing young which are helpless at birth, 1920, from Mod.L. Nidicolae (1894), from L. nidus (see NEST (Cf. nest) (n.)) + colere to inhabit (see COLONY (Cf. colony)). Contrasted to nidifugous birds (1902), whose young are well… …   Etymology dictionary

  • nidicolous — [nī dik′ə ləs] adj. [< L nidus, NEST + COLOUS] 1. remaining in the nest for some time after hatching, as some birds 2. living in the nest of another species …   English World dictionary

  • nidicolous — adjective Etymology: Latin nidus nest + English colous more at nest Date: circa 1902 1. reared for a time in a nest 2. living in a nest; especially sharing the nest of another kind of animal …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • nidicolous — /nuy dik euh leuhs/, adj. remaining in the nest for a period after hatching. Cf. nidifugous. [1900 05; < L nid (s. of nidus) NEST + I + COLOUS] * * * …   Universalium

  • nidicolous — adjective Tending to stay at the nest or birthplace for a long time after birth, due to dependence on the parents for feeding and protection. See Also: nidifugous …   Wiktionary

  • nidicolous — ni·dic·o·lous …   English syllables

  • nidicolous — ni•dic•o•lous [[t]naɪˈdɪk ə ləs[/t]] adj. zool. remaining in the nest for a period after hatching • Etymology: 1900–05; < L nīd (s. of nīdus) nest+ i + colous …   From formal English to slang

  • nidicolous — /nɪˈdɪkələs/ (say ni dikuhluhs) adjective denoting birds which are helpless when hatched and remain in the nest for some time. {Latin nid(us) nest + i 1 + colous} …  

  • nidicolous — adjective (of birds) remaining in the nest for a time after hatching • Ant: ↑nidifugous …   Useful english dictionary

  • Altricial — means requiring nourishment and refers to a pattern of growth and development in organisms which are incapable of moving around on their own soon after hatching or being born. The word is derived from the Latin root alere meaning to nurse, to… …   Wikipedia

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