Zoology: Glossary

A

accommodate

help or solve a need

accommodation

home

algae

simple plant - often grows near water

aquatic

living in or near water

B

biodiversity

variety of living things on earth including plants, animals, bacteria, and other living organisms

buoyant

ability to float

burrow

dig into the ground

C

carnivores

animals that eat other animals

cartilage

the stiff tissue found at the end of a human's nose, in the outer ear, and other locations

chambers

separate sections or containers

characteristics

traits

chlorophyll

a green chemical in plants that helps them create their own food

circumstances

situations

classified

(classify) grouping by similar traits

claws

long nail-like parts of paws - used for digging and hunting

cold-blooded

cannot regulate body temperature

conserve

protect

D

digestion

the process that converts food to energy

E

environment

surroundings

established

created

exoskeleton

outer protective layer

extreme

more than necessary - over the top

F

food chain

simple system that carries energy through living organisms

food web

complex system that carries energy through living organisms

G

gas bladder

fish organs that fill with gas to regulate buoyancy

gelatinous

jelly-like

generate

create

gills

parts of a fish that gathers oxygen from the water for breathing

H

herbivores

animals that eat only plants

hibernation

sleeping through winter

I

invertebrates

animals without backbones

L

larvae stage

infant stage of an animal that changes through metamorphosis

M

metamorphosis

to change - as in from caterpillar to butterfly, or tadpole to frog

migrate

to move seasonally from one area to another

molars

flat back teeth used for chewing

N

nerves

cells in the body that carry messages from and back to the brain

nervous system

brain and the nerves involved

nutrition

food energy

O

omnivores

animals that eat both plants and animals

P

populations

groups of living organisms

prehensile

body parts with the ability to grab or grasp

prey

animals that are hunted as food

primary consumer

plant eaters

R

regulate

control

regurgitate

throw-up

restructure

reorganize or rebuild

S

scales

fish and reptile skin is layered in smaller sections - strong protection

scavenge

eat food that is already dead or garbage

secondary consumer

eats primary consumers

sensory

related to the senses

spine

backbone - houses nerves

T

talons

sharp claws of a bird

V

venomous

poisonous

vertebrates

animals with a backbone

W

warm-blooded

controls its own body temperature