In biology,nidifugous (UK:/naɪˈdɪfjʊɡəs/ny-DIF-yuu-gəs,US:/-jə-/-yə-)organisms are those that leave thenest shortly after hatching or birth.[1] The term is derived from Latinnidus for "nest" andfugere, meaning "to flee".[1] The terminology is most often used to describe birds and was introduced byLorenz Oken in 1816.[2] The chicks of birds in many families, such as thewaders,waterfowl, andgamebirds, are usually nidifugous.
The opposite of nidifugous organisms arenidicolous (/naɪˈdɪkələs/ny-DIK-ə-ləs; from Latinnidus "nest" and-colus "inhabiting") organisms; a nidicolous organism is one which stays at its birthplace for a long time because it depends on its parents for food, protection, and the learning of survival skills. Examples of nidicolous species includemammals and many species ofbirds. During the life span, the brain of a nidicolous animal expands 8–10 times its initial size; in nidifugous animals, it expands from 1.5 to 2.5 times.[3][4]
Two other terms are also used by scientists for related developmental phenomena:altricial (relatively undeveloped at birth or hatching; helpless, blind, without feathers or hair, and unable to fend for themselves) andprecocial (relatively developed at birth or hatching; able to fend for themselves).[5]
The termnidifugous is sometimes used synonymously withprecocial, as all nidifugous species are precocial. Similarly, all altricial animals are nidicolous by necessity.
However, not all precocial birds leave the nest; some may stay at the nest even if they are precocial and fully capable of leaving if needed.[2] These species are thus considered nidicolous rather than nidifugous. Examples of precocious but nidicolous species include many gulls and terns.[6]
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