Heterochrony

[Adam Yates <zooamy@zoo.latrobe.edu.au>]

On Sat, 9 Dec 1995 Dinogeorge@aol.com wrote:

> 
> This process is better known as paedomorphosis.
> 

Not exactly, the nomenclature surrounding the evolution of ontogeny 
(heterochrony) has been confused but the classification of heterochronic 
processes put forward by 
McKinney and MacNamara is the best, and seems to be the 
most accepted one. In this scheme Paedomorphosis is the general effect of 
retaining juvenile characters into adulthood. This effect can be achieved 
by a number of processes, one of which is neoteny (retarded rates). In 
other paedomorphic processes (progenesis and postdisplacement) the ancestral 
rate of ontogeny is retained but the time of ontogeny is shortened.     

Adam Yates.