what is the difference between neoteny and post development

[Fa23]

what is the difference between neoteny and post development

according to my lecture
neoteny = early maturation of gonads in larva that then stops growing and never becomes an adult

post development = onset of a developmental process is delayed relative to reproductive maturation

...they sound like the same thing...are they the same thing or is there a difference. i have done a google search on this, but cant seem to find any results. any help towards clarification would be appreciated. thanks

[awkko808]

It sounds like neoteny occurs when larvae are able to reproduce, and thus the larval species do not need to reach adulthood, as it would not increase its fitness.

Post development seems to be what occurs in humans. Reproductive organs may not mature until a later stage in its life cycle. Reproduction cannot occur until these organs have matured, so reproduction cannot occur until a later stage in its life cycle.

So maybe neoteny occurs when reproduction is capable at a younger stage in the life cycle? Seems like this may be aimed at how bilateral echinoderm larvae hypothetically gave rise to bilateral vertebrates.