altrices: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Very LowTechnical/Scientific
Quick answer
What does “altrices” mean?
A taxonomic class of birds that are born helpless and require extensive parental care after hatching.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A taxonomic class of birds that are born helpless and require extensive parental care after hatching.
In ornithology and biology, refers specifically to birds whose young are hatched in an undeveloped state, unable to leave the nest or feed themselves initially, requiring parental feeding and protection (contrasted with precocial birds).
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in usage between British and American English as both use the same technical term identically in scientific literature.
Connotations
Purely scientific/technical without cultural connotations in either variety.
Frequency
Extremely rare in general usage in both varieties, appearing only in specialized ornithological texts.
Grammar
How to Use “altrices” in a Sentence
The [species] are typical altrices.[Bird group] falls into the category of altrices.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “altrices” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- The blue tit is an altricial species.
- Their altricial young require constant feeding.
American English
- Robins are altricial birds.
- The altricial condition demands more parental investment.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Academic
Used in ornithology, zoology, and evolutionary biology research papers discussing avian development strategies.
Everyday
Virtually never used in everyday conversation.
Technical
Standard term in ornithological classification and avian biology texts.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “altrices”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “altrices”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “altrices”
- Using 'altrices' to describe parental behavior rather than a developmental category.
- Confusing with 'altruistic' due to similar sound.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it's an extremely specialized term used almost exclusively in ornithology and biological sciences.
Their young hatch in an undeveloped state: blind, featherless, and completely dependent on parental care for survival.
The adjective form is 'altricial'. 'Altrices' is the plural noun form referring to the birds themselves.
While humans share the characteristic of extended postnatal dependency, the term is specifically taxonomic for birds. In broader biology, mammals with similar dependency are called 'altricial species'.
A taxonomic class of birds that are born helpless and require extensive parental care after hatching.
Altrices is usually technical/scientific in register.
Altrices: in British English it is pronounced /ælˈtraɪsiːz/, and in American English it is pronounced /ælˈtraɪsiz/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think 'ALTER needs RICE' – birds that need their diet altered/changed by parents who bring rice/feed to the helpless chicks.
Practice
Quiz
Which of these birds is typically NOT an altrices?