paedomorphy

English

Alternative forms

• pedomorphy (US)

Etymology

From paedo- +‎ -morphy, after paedomorphic.

Noun

paedomorphy (uncountable)

1. The retention or emergence of juvenile characteristics in an adult organism.
   • 2006, Alan R Templeton, Population Genetics and Microevolutionary Theory, page 481:

     The clade 4-1 salamanders recently lived in environments that would make paedomorphy unlikely, but now even when they are living in large, permanent ponds that induce paedomorphy in clade 4-2 salamanders, they are incapable of becoming paedomorphs.

   • 2011, Steven Pinker, The Better Angels of Our Nature, Penguin, published 2012, page 744:

     Richard Wrangham has noted that the domestication of animals usually tames them by slowing down components of the developmental timetable to retain juvenile traits into adulthood, a process called pedomorphy or neoteny.

Synonyms

• paedomorphism
• paedomorphosis