Hatchlings are generally used to describe animals that are newly hatched and still in the early stages of development. They may be very small and still reliant on their yolk sacs for nutrition, or they may be larger and more active, depending on the species.
The term neonate is sometimes used interchangeably with hatchling, but it specifically refers to newborn animals, regardless of whether they are born live or hatch from eggs. Neonates are typically characterized by their immature development and dependence on their parents or other adults for care and protection.
Some examples of hatchlings include:
- Baby birds that hatch from eggs, such as chicks, ducklings, and songbirds
- Baby reptiles that hatch from eggs, such as turtles, lizards, and snakes
- Baby fish that hatch from eggs, such as fry
- Baby amphibians that hatch from eggs, such as tadpoles
Examples of neonates include:
- Human infants, who are born live
- Kittens, who are born live
- Puppies, who are born live
- Foals, who are born live