Life Sciences Term 1

Precocial development

• Young ones are relatively mature and are able to move around after they are born or hatch
  
• Their eyes are open and they have good eyesight
  
• They can go out to search food for themselves
  
• Have a strong skeleton, and their body is either covered by feathers (birds) or hair (mammals)
  
• Birds need their parents to keep them warm, but this lasts for a short period
  
• Mammals can regulate their body temperature
  
• Examples:  birds, cattle, sheep, antelopes, buffalo, elephants, hippos and giraffe
  

Altricial development

• Young ones are unable to move after birth and are helpless
  
• They do not have feathers (birds) and blind
  
• They need to be fed and kept warm