Elk: Glossary

A

absorbed

soaked in

abundant

lots of something

adaptations

the changes of an organism that allows it to survive

antlers

a bony outgrowth on the heads of the deer family

approximate

almost - as in a counted number

archaeological

related to the scientific study of history

B

biologists

scientists that study living things

bugle

bellowing sound made by bull elk during the rut

bull

male of certain animals like elk

C

Cervidae

any member of the deer family

calf

baby or infant of certain animals like elk

camouflage

the ability to hide or blend into the environment

cartilage

a stiff tissue found in vertebrates

chamber

container

cow

female of certain animals like elk

cross section

the view of an object through its interior

cud

food chewed a second time by some grazing animals

D

decorative

something done for the purpose of making a decoration or for looks only

depredation

the act of preying - as in a predator

disease

illness

E

elevation

height of land above sea level

evidence

clues that prove something

excessive

too much

F

forage

vegetation eaten by herbivores

forbs

low-growing, soft-stemmed plants

G

gestation

the time it takes a calf to develop from mating to the birth

graze

to eat grasses

H

harem

a part of a herd consisting of a bull, some cows and their calves

herbivore

animal that eats plants

herd

a group of animals that stay close together

I

incisors

front teeth used for biting

interference

to get in the way

intestine

part of the body that moves digested food

introduced

to put something in a place for the first time

M

mating

when animals select a partner

migrate (migration)

to move from one habitat or region to another seasonally

molars

back teeth used for chewing

P

pictograph

a type of writing made from pictures

poacher

someone who kills animals illegally or steals resources such as antlers

predator

an animal that hunts for its food

prehistoric

before humans began writing history

prey

the animal the is hunted or becomes food for a predator

R

reestablished

to return something back to the way it used to be

regurgitate

to bring food back into the mouth

ruminant

ungulate having a multi-chambered stomach that digests plant fibers

rut

mating season for elk

S

spiritual

of a religious nature

U

ungulates

mammals with hooves

V

velvet

the soft, fuzzy skin that forms on antlers

vessels

the veins or arteries

W

wapiti

shawnee name for elk, meaning "white rump" elk in winter

winter feeding

the practice of humans helping grazing animals by providing them with food during winter months