Animal Vocabulary

ESTIVATION Period of inactivity, drop in metabolism during hot, dry period

ENDOTHERM Animal who maintains a steady body temperature.

EXOSKELETON Hard outer covering made of chitin

POSTERIOR Term meaning toward the tail end of the organism

INVERTEBRATE Animal that does not have a backbone

PREY Organism that is hunted for food

CARNIVORE Animal that eats other animals

DETRITOVORE Animal that feeds on detritus

OMNIVORE Animal that eats plants and animals

PARASITE Organism that relies on another for food or shelter and harms the host.

ASYMMETRY No definite body plan

EXTERNAL FERTILIZATION Fertilization that occurs outside of the female’s body.

RADIAL SYMMETRY Body parts arranged around a central point like a wagon wheel

PREDATOR Organism that hunts another organism for food

SKELETAL SYSTEM Internal structure for support made of bone or cartilage

CLOSED CIRCULATORY SYSTEM Circulatory system where blood is enclosed in vessels

VENTRAL Belly side of the organism

VERTEBRATE Animal that has a backbone

INTERNAL FERTILIZATION Fertilization that occurs inside the female’s body.

MIMICRY Adaptation when one organism closely resembles another more harmful organism.

BILATERAL SYMMETRY Body parts arranged the same on both sides of the body

SESSILE Creature that stays attached in one place most of its life

FREE-LIVING Organism that doesn’t depend on another for food or shelter

ECTOTHERM Animal whose body temperature changes to its surroundings

HIBERNATION Period of inactivity, drop in metabolism during cold periods

ANTERIOR Term meaning toward the head end of the organism

HERMAPHRODITE Organism having both male and female reproductive organs.

OPEN CIRCULATORY SYSTEM Circulatory system where blood is not enclosed in vessels, but bathes the organs

DORSAL Back of the organism

SCAVENGER Carnivore that eats the remains of animals

HERBIVORE Animal that eats only plants or parts of plants

ADAPTATION ANY change or specialized structure that helps an organism better survive in surroundings.