Rabbits


Glossary

2

20th Century
 - the 100-year period from 1901 to 2000

A

adaptations
 - physical or behavioral traits of an organism that allow it to survive in a certain environment
antibodies
 - proteins in blood that fight, destroy, or provide immunity against toxic substances

B

binky
 - to make a playful, twisting leap showing happiness
boreal forest
 - a forest of coniferous trees, such as fir and spruce, located in the cold regions of the northern hemisphere
burrow
 - a hole in the ground dug by wild rabbits for shelter

C

camouflage
 - coloring or covering that allows an animal to hide or blend in with its surroundings
crepuscular
 - becoming most active at twilight or before dawn

D

descendant
 - one who comes down from a particular ancestor
domesticate
 - brought under the control of humans and made suited to live near humans, no longer wild or in a natural state
dominant
 - most powerful, highest in status

E

ecosystem
 - a system formed by the interaction of a community of organisms with their physical environment

F

feral
 - wild; not tame or domesticated
food web
 - the interconnected food chains within a community, showing how plants and animals interact and the various food paths that contribute to survival

H

herbivore
 - animal that eats plants

I

incisors
 - front teeth used for biting
infectious
 - an illness that can spread from one carrier to another
invasive
 - non-native plants or animals living in areas where they do not naturally exist, often fast-spreading

K

keystone species
 - a species that other species in an ecosystem largely depend on, such that if it were removed the ecosystem would be greatly impacted
kit
 - a baby rabbit

L

leveret
 - a baby hare
litter
 - a group of young animals born to one mother at one time

M

mammals
 - animals that are warm-blooded, have hair or fur, and produce milk for their young

N

native
 - a species that exists in a certain ecosystem through natural processes, without human intervention

P

pika
 - a small mountain-dwelling mammal with short round ears and a high-pitched squeak
predator
 - an animal that hunts other animals for its food
prey
 - an animal that is hunted and eaten by a predator

S

senses
 - the ways in which animals receive signals and information from the environment; for example: hearing, vision, taste, touch, smell
social
 - interaction with others, preferring companionship rather than being alone

T

temperate forest
 - a forest of deciduous trees located in an area of mild temperatures between the boreal and tropical regions
tropical forest
 - a forest of tall trees found in the tropics, where the climate is hot and humid and there is abundant rainfall

U

urban development
 - the expansion of cities

W

warren
 - an interconnected underground system of many burrows, chambers and tunnels where a colony of rabbits live