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Precocial for Dummies


What does Precocial really mean?

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Sure thing, kiddo! I'm here to help you understand what the word "precocial" means. So, imagine this: think of a baby bird hatching from its egg. Some baby birds, like chickens or ducks, are able to walk, find food, and take care of themselves pretty much right after they hatch. They don't need their momma bird to do everything for them. They're able to act like grown-up birds from the moment they come out of the egg. This, my dear student, is what we mean by "precocial."

In the animal kingdom, we use the word "precocial" to describe babies that can take care of themselves from a very early age, just like those baby birds. These types of baby animals are very independent and can do things on their own without needing much help. They're kind of like little adults right from the start.

Now, let's take this idea and apply it to humans. Most human babies are not precocial. When we are born, we're pretty helpless and need a lot of care from our parents or caregivers. We can't walk or take care of ourselves like those baby birds we talked about earlier. Instead, we need someone to feed us, keep us warm, and pretty much do everything for us until we're older and more capable.

So, "precocial" is a fancy word that explains how some animals, like those baby birds, are able to do things on their own right after being born. It's the opposite of how us humans start out. Makes sense, doesn't it?


Revised and Fact checked by Emma Williams on 2023-10-28 15:57:20

Precocial In a sentece

Learn how to use Precocial inside a sentece

  • A baby kangaroo called a joey is born in a very early stage of development and is able to hop and move around independently. This is an example of a precocial animal.
  • When ducklings hatch from their eggs, they are covered with soft feathers and can walk, swim, and find their own food. These baby ducks are precocial.
  • Some bird species, like chickens, hatch as tiny, fully feathered chicks that can walk, peck for food, and follow their mother. These chicks are precocial birds.
  • Giraffes are born with long legs and can stand up and walk shortly after birth. This is another example of a precocial animal.
  • A baby horse called a foal can stand up and walk within a few hours of being born. It's amazing to see how precocial they are!

Precocial Antonyms

Words that have the opposite context of the original word.