Glossary
abdomen- the posterior section of the body behind the thorax in
arthropods.
abundant- marked by a great number.
accompany- to go with or attend as an associate or companion.
account- the statement of explanation of one's conduct.
acorn- the nut of an oak tree.
acute- sharp.
adapt- to make fit usually by modifications.
adaptation- adjustment to environmental conditions.
adult- fully developed and mature.
aggressive- marked by driving forceful energy or initiative.
agile- readily able to move quickly and easily: nimble.
air bladder- a sac containing gas in fishes that assist in respiration and buoyancy.
alternate- a leaf pattern that occurs in a varied or staggered pattern: first one and then the other.
amphibian- any of a class of cold-blooded vertebrates such as frogs, newts, or toads classified between fish and reptiles and having gilled aquatic larvae.
antenna- a moveable segmented organ of sensation on the head of insects, myriapods, and crustaceans.
anterior- situated before or toward the front.
antler- the solid deciduous horn of an animal of the deer family.
anus- the posterior opening of the alimentary canal.
approximate- nearly correct or exact.
arachnid- an arthropod that has 4 pairs of jointed legs.
aromatic- having a strong smell.
asexual reproduction- reproduction without the union of individuals or germ cells.
atmosphere- the air or body of gas surrounding a body.
audio- of or relating to acoustics or sound.
bacteria- any of a class of microscopic plants having round, rodlike, spiral, or filamentous single-celled or non-cellular bodies often aggregated into colonies.
barbel- a slender tactile process on the lips of a fish.
beak- the bill of a bird; the jaws of a bird with their horny covering.
beeswax- wax produced by bees.
bract-a somewhat leaflike, pletalike, or woody structure occuring beneath a flower or fruil or their clusters.
breach- the leap of a whale or fish out of water.
brood- the young of an animal.
buoyancy- the tendency of a body to float.
calyx- the external usually green leafy part of a flower consisting of sepels.
canopy- a cover suspended above the ground as in a forest.
capsize- to turn over.
carapace- a bony or hard case or shield covering the back part of an animal.
carnivore- a flesh-eating animal.
carnivorous- animals that feed only on the flesh of other animals.
carnucle- wart-like structures beneath the chin of a turkey.
castor- the gland of a beaver that produces castoreum.
castoreum- a bitter strong-smelling creamy orange-brown fluid that consists of the dried perinal glands of beaver.
cell- the basic unit of structure of all living things.
cephalothorax- the united head and thorax of an arachnid or higher crustacean.
chelicera- one of the anterior pair of appendages of an arachnid often specialized as fangs.
chitin- an amphorous horny polysaccharide that forms part of the hard outer part of insects, crustaceans, and some invertebrates.
chlorophyll- the green photosynthetic coloring matter of plants.
chrysalis- the pupa of insects such as butterflies that pass the pupal stage in a condition enclosed in a hard case.
cillia- hairlike projections surrounding a microorganism enabling it to move.
circulatory system- a system in higher animals consisting of the heart and blood vessels.
cold-blooded- having body temperatures that are not internally regulated but maintain temperatures of the environment.
composite- made up of two or more factors.
compound leaf- a leaf in which the blade is divided to the midrib forming two or more leaflets on a common axis.
conifer- trees and shrubs that grow cones.
consume- to eat or drink in quantity.
contractilevacuole- an opening n a unicellular organism that contracts regualarly to discharge fluid from the body.
convenience- freedom from discomfort.
corolla- the petals of a flower making up the inner floral envelope.
crest- the showy tuft on the head of a bird.
crustacean- an arthropod that usually has five pairs of jointed legs.
cub- a young carnivorous mammal.
cud- food brought up into the mouth by a ruminating animal from its first stomach to be chewed again.
cunning- deterous or crafty in the use of special resources or skill in attaining an end.
DDT- a colorless, odorless water insoluable chrystalline insecticide that tends to collect in ecosystems and to have toxic effects on organisms.
decay- to undergo decomposition.
decomposer- an organism that breaks down the remains of dead plants and animals into simpler substances.
decomposition- to separate into constituent parts or elements.
den- a lair of a wild, usually predatory, animal.
desperation- a loss of hope.
develop- to expand by a process of growth.
dextrous- mentally skillful of skillful with one's hands.
diameter- the distance in a straight line across a circle at the center.
digestive system- the body system that consists of the esophagus, the stomach, large intestine, and small intestine that takes in food and breaks it down into parts the body can use.
direction- the line or course on which something is moving or is aimed to move or along which something is pointed or facing.
diurnal- active chiefly during the daytime.
diverse- having various forms or qualities.
dormant- temporarily devoid of external activity.
dorsal- related to or situated on or near the back of an animal.
drake- a male duck.
drone- the male of a bee that has no stinger and gathers no honey.
duct- a bodily tube or vessel especially suited for carrying secretions of glands.
east- the direction on the horizon where the sun rises.
ecology- the study of interactions between living things and their environment.
egg- the female reproductive body.
emit- to send out.
encounter- a chance meeting.
endocrine system- the body system consisting of glands that secret hormones needed for body functions.
environment- the surroundings of an organism.
essay- an analytic or imperpretative literary composition.
ethylene- a colorless, flammable gaseous unsaturated hydrocarbon.
excavate- to dig out and remove.
exceed- to be greater than or superior to.
excretory system- the body system that contains organs needed for the elimination of waste products from the body.
excursion- a going out or forth: expedition.
exoskeleton- an external supportive covering of an animal.
experience- direct participation in events.
express- to represent in words; to state; to make known.
exude- to ooze out.
fang- any of a long, sharp tooth. In venomous snakes a long erectile tooth.
feather- one of the light, horny epidermal outgrowths that forms the external covering of birds.
fertilize- the joining of a sperm cell and an egg cell resulting in a new individual.
fin- an external membranous process of an aquatic animal (such as a fish) used for propelling or guiding the body.
fission- the splitting or breaking into parts.
fissure- a crack or divide.
flagellum- a long tapering process that projects singly or in groups from a cell and is the primary organ of motion of many microorganisms.
flamboyant- given to a showy or dashing display.
fledgling- an immature or inexperienced organism.
flicker- to waver unsteadily; to move in a quick glancing manner.
flower- the ornate, reproductive part of a plant having male and female parts.
food chain- the transfer in energy in the form of food from one organism to another.
forage- food for animals especially when taken by browsing or grazing.
fossil- preserved in mineralized or petrified form from a past geologic age.
fruit- the edible reproductive body of a seed.
frustration- disappointment.
fungi- a major classification group; the kingdom that contains living things that are not green and that do not make their own food.
furrier- a fur dealer.
fuse- to join or mix.
futile- serving no useful purpose.
gestation- period in which young are carried in the uterus: pregnancy.
gill- an organ for obtaining oxygen from water.
gland- any of various secreting organs
guano- a substance composed chiefly of excretement and used as a fertilizer.
habit- a custom or usual pattern of behavior acquired by frequent repetition.
habitat- a place or type of site where a plant or animal naturally or normally lives.
head- the upper or anterior division of the body that contains the brain.
hemispere- one-half of a sphere.
hemispherical- one of two half spheres formed by a plane through the sphere's center.
herbivore- a plant eating animal.
herbivorous- animals that feed only on plants.
hexagonal- having six angles and six sides.
hibernate- to pass the winter in a torpid or resting state.
hive- a place containing a colony of bees swarming with busy occupants.
hock joint- the tarsal joint in the hind limb of a four-legged animal similar to an ankle in man, but elevated and bending backward.
honeycomb- a mass of hexagonal wax cells built by honeybees in their nests to contain brood and stores of honey.
hoof- a curved covering of horn that protects the front of or encloses the ends of the digits of an ungulate mammal and that corresponds to a nail or claw.
incisor- a tooth adapted for cutting which is located in front of canine teeth in mammals.
inclement- severe; stormy
incubate- to sit on so as to hatch by the warmth of an animal especially a bird.
inhabit- to occupy as a place or settled residence or habitat.
inhabitant- one that occupies a particular place regularly, routinely, or for a period of time.
inner ear- the essential organ of hearing and equilibrium located in the terporal bone and innervated by the auditory nerve.
intensity- the amount of energy.
interdigital- between the toes or fingers.
invertebrates-animals lacking a spinal column.
keel- assembly of parts arranged together.
kit- a young undersized fur-bearing animal.
larvae- the immature, wingless, and often vermiform feeding from that hatchers from the egg of many insects, alters in size causing several molts.
leaflet- on of the divisions of a compound leaf.
lease- to rent a piece of property real or personal.
legendary- something popularly regarded, but not historically verifiable; relating to a legend.
litter- offspring at one birth of a multiparous animal.
lobe- a covered projection or division that is usually round.
longitudinal- running lengthwise.
mammal- all of a class of higher vertebrates consisting of man and all other animals that nourish their young with milk secreted by mammary glands and have hair on their skin.
mammory glands- glands in mammals that produce milk to feed young from females' bodies.
map- a representation usually on a flat surface of the whole or part of an area.
marsupial- any of an order of lowly mammals comprising wombats, kangaroos, opossums, bandicoots and related animals that with few exceptions develop no placenta and have a pouch in the abdomen of females containing the teats and serving for carrying the young.
matriarchal- the female rules the family, group, or state.
mature- having attained final state.
membrane- a soft pliable sheet or layer of plant or animal origin.
metabolic process- the sum of the processes of building up and breaking down of protoplasm incidental to life.
metallic- having appearance of metal.
metamorphosis- a change in physical form.
metatarsal (metatarsus)- part of the foot of man or the hind foot of four-legged animals located between the tarsals and the phalanges.
migrate- to move from one place to another.
migratory- animals that migrate.
mollusk-an animal that has a soft body that is covered with a hard shell.
molt- to shed hair, feathers, shells, horns, or an outer layer periodically.
monogamous- having one mate.
monotony- tedious sameness.
musk- a substance with a penetrating persistent odor obtained from a sea beneath the abdominal skin of a musk deer or other mammal.
mycelium- the mass of interwoven filamentous substance that forms in the vegetative portion of the thallus of a fungus.
nectar- a sweet liquid found in flowers.
nervous system- a body system consisting of the brain, spinal cord, and nerves extending throughout the body.
nitrogen- a colorless, odorless, gaseous element that constitutes 78 percent of the earth's atmosphere.
nocturnal- active at night.
north- the direction of the north terresterial pole; toward the top of a map.
northeast- a compass point located between north and east.
northwest- the direction on a compass located between north and west.
nucleus- the center of a cell.
nymph- an immature insect stage prior to adulthood.
observe- to inspect or take note of.
offspring- the young of a species.
omnivore- an animal that eats plants and other animals.
omnivorous- feeding on both vegetable and animal substances.
ovary- the female reproductive organ.
ovule- an outgrowth of the ovary of a seed plant; a small egg.
panacea- a remedy for all ills.
paralysis- complete or partial loss of function especially when involving motion or sensation in part of the body.
parasite- an organism living in or on another organism.
paws- the foot of a quadraped.
pectoral- of, situated in, or on the chest.
pedipalp- either of the second pair of appendages of an arachnid (as a spider) that are near the mouth and are often modified for a special function.
peer- to look narrowly or curiously.
perceive- to attain awareness or understanding of.
perennial- present at all seasons of the year; persisting for several years.
photosynthesis- process by which green plants make food.
pituitary gland- a small oval-shaped organ attached to the infundibulum of the brain which produces secretions directly or indirectly controlling body functions.
plumage- the entire clothing of feathers of a bird.
plumbing- pipes, fixtures and other objects concerned with the distribution and use of water.
pollen- a mass of microspores in a seed plant produced by the male part of the plant.
population- a group of organisms belonging to one species living in a given area.
posterior- situated behind or toward the back.
poult- a baby turkey.
predator- one that preys, destroys, or devours.
prey- an animal taken by a predator for food.
proboscis- an elongated or extended tubular process of the oral cavity of an invertebrate.
protozoans- any of a phyllum or subkingdom of minute protoplasmic acellular or unicellular animals with varied morphology.
pseudopod- an organism with a temporary protrusion or retrievable process of protoplasm of a cell.
pupa- stage of metomorphosis following larva.
pupate- to pass through a pupal stage.
queen- the fertile, fully developed female of social bees, ants, or termites whose function is to lay eggs.
rabies- an acute virus disease of the nervous system of warm-blooded animals usually transmitted through the bite of a rabid animal.
raptor- a bird of prey.
rectum- the terminal part of the intestine from the sigmoid flexure to the anus.
recycle- to pass again through a series of changes or treatments.
regurgitate- to throw or pour back or out from or as if from a cavity.
reiterate- to say over: repeat.
reproductive system- the body system that produces sperm in males and eggs in females.
respiratory system- the body system consisting of a trachea, and lungs that takes oxygen to the blood and provides a means of burning food to provide energy needed for body functions.
retina- the sensory membrane of the eyes that receives the image formed by the lens is the immediate instrument of vision connected to the brain by the optic nerve.
rhizoids- a rootlike structure.
rodent- any of an order of small, gnawing mammals that have a single pair or incisors in the upper jaw with a chisel sharp edge.
rods- long, rod-shaped sensory bodies in the retina of the eye responding to faint light.
ruminant- characterized by a suborder of even-toed hoofed mammals such as sheep, deer, etc., that chew cud and have a complex 3 or 4 chambered stomach.
samara- a one seeded, winged fruit as of a maple, elm, or ash tree.
saprophyte- a plant living or dead or decaying organic material.
scale- a small flattened plate covering fish and reptiles.
seclude- screened or hidden from view.
segment- a piece or part or fragment of something.
sepal- one of the modified leaves comprising the calyx.
sever- to remove by or as if by cutting.
sexual reproduction- reproduction requiring a male and a female.
shroud- something that covers, screens, or protects.
simple- a pattern of leaves where one is attached to a branch.
skeleton- a rigid, supportive structure or framework of an organism.
skull- the skeleton of the head that contains the brain.
solitude- the quality or state of being alone.
sophisticated- wise in the ways of the world.
south- the direction of the south terrestrial pole; toward the bottom of a map.
southeast- the direction on a compass located between south and east.
southwest- the direction on a compass located between south and west.
spawn- to produce or deposit eggs.
species- a class of individuals having common attributes and designated by a common name.
sperm- the male reproductive cells.
spinneret- an organ as of a spider or caterpillar for producing threads of silk from the secretion of silk glands.
stalked (buds)- having a narrow neck-like base.
stamen- the organ of a flower that produces the male reproductive cells.
stigma- a small scar on a plant.
stipules- either of a pair of appendages borne at the base of a leaf.
submit- to present or propose to another for review, consideration, or decision.
sustain- to keep up, prolong, or nourish.
swarm- a great number of honeybees emigrating together from a hive in the company of a queen to form a new colony elsewhere.
swimmeret- one of a series of small unspecialized appendages under the abdomen of many crustaceans are best developed in some decapods and are used in some cases for swimming or carrying eggs.
talon- the claw of an animal especially a bird of prey.
tannin- a soluable astringent of plant origin used in tanning or dyeing.
tarsal (tarsus)- part of a foot of a vertebrate between the metatarsals and the leg.
temperature- the degree of hotness or coldness measured on a definite scale.
tendon- cord of connective tissue.
tentacle- a flexible, elongated tactile process chiefly on the head or mouth.
terrain- the physical features of a tract of land.
terrestial- relating to land, earth.
thorax- the part of the body located between the ear and the abdomen.
tissue- a group of cells that are specialized working together in aggregate.
tom- a male turkey.
torrential- caused by or resulting from action of rapid streams.
trachea- the windpipe leading air toward the lungs.
tranquil- free from agitation, disturbance, or turmoil.
transient- passing by or through a place with only a brief stay or sojourn.
transistor- an electronic device similar to an electron tube consisting of small block of a semiconductor that has at least 3 electrodes.
transpire- to be revealed, known; to come to pass.
ultrasonic- sound waves higher than humans can hear.
urushiol- an oily toxic substance found in poison ivy and related plants.
vegetable- of or relating to growing plants.
vegetation- plant life forms.
venom- a poisonous substance secreted by some animals such as snakes, scorpions, or spiders.
venture- to proceed despite danger.
vertebra- one of the bony or cartilaginuous segments composing the spinal column.
viper- a venomous or reputedly venomous snake.
vixen- a female fox.
warm-blooded- an animal having relatively high and constant body temperature relatively independent of the surroundings.
wattle- a piece of skin about the head of a bird.
wean- to cause to take food by means other than nursing.
webbed feet- feet having tissue between the digits suited for swimming.
wedge- a substance that tapers to a thin edge and is used for splitting.
west- a direction on the horizon in which the sun sets; the direction to the left of one facing right.
worker- one of the sexually underdeveloped and usually sterile members of a colony of bees, ants, or termites.