The Earth is a magnificent ball of incredible, intriguing, and interesting masses of land and water wonders. From mountains to seas, oceans, rainforests, gulfs, and others, more terms belong to…
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Natural selection is a significant mechanism of evolution. In its basic form, natural selection is the organism’s adaptation to its…
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In biology, order is a taxonomic rank defined as a group of similar or related families in animals, plants, and…
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Grazing is an animal behavior. It is a feeding strategy of an herbivore, where it feeds on low-growing plants, like…
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The definition of prehensile in zoology is an animal’s ability to grasp objects or take hold of something. Specifically, an…
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The quaternary consumer is an organism on the fifth trophic level in a food chain. Also known as keystone species…
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The average weight in animals identifies the median number or range a certain species weighs. For example, a German shepherd…
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A fish is an aquatic vertebrate animal that typically uses gills for respiration. Its skull can be either bony or…
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Spawn is the eggs and sperm deposited into the water by aquatic animals. Many aquatic animals reproduce through the act…
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Sexual maturity is often synonymous with adulthood. The age of sexual maturity is the stage in life when an organism…
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The definition of independence is the freedom from the control, support, influence, or aid of others. For animals, independence occurs…
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A chelicera (plural, chelicerae) is a component of the fang- or pincer-like mouthparts of arthropods belonging to the subphylum Chelicerata. Of…
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Chordates are animals that belong to the phylum Chordata. These animals are unified by the presence in their bodies of…
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Suspension feeding is a strategy that many animal species have adapted for capturing their food whereby they collect suspended prey,…
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A skeletal system is the framework of bone, cartilage, chitin, or other material that supports the structure and movement of…
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A dorsal fin is a type of fin present on the backs of most types of aquatic (both freshwater and…
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The metabolic rate is defined as the rate at which metabolism occurs in living organisms. Summary There are many different…
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Xylophagous animals are herbivores that eat wood exclusively or almost exclusively. Summary The word xylophagy is derived from the Greek word “xylo”…
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A gill is a respiratory organ present in many types of aquatic and semi-aquatic animals. Summary Gills allow aquatic and…
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Herbivores eat plants but they can also be predators. They keep plant populations under control and transfer energy across trophic…
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A reptile is cold-blooded and breathes air. It also has scales instead of feathers or hair. Reptile Definition Reptiles are…
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In simple terms, an ecosystem is an area where organisms, such as plants and animals, work together to create and…
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Aquatic animals use their flippers primarily for propulsion, rotation, and control in the water. Flipper Meaning The flipper is a…
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A hollow, pear-shaped organ in humans, the uterus is the sexual organ where fetuses (unborn babies) develop and grow into…
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When sexes of the same species exhibit distinctive characteristics considered morphological. This is especially true when the differences do not…
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A domesticated plant or animal has been genetically modified over generations by humans to cultivate traits that are more desirable or favorable for humans. …
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Animals that show off their luxurious fur coats also have an additional layer before the skin. That layer is called…
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At the most basic level, tubercles are knobby sections, protrusions or bumps forming on a plant or animal. Tubercle Definition…
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Taxonomic orders can feel a little confusing at times. Which comes first, what is the order, and what does that…
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The term ‘binocular vison’ is derived from the Latin words bini meaning double, and oculus meaning eye. Binocular or double…
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Phylum is a classification of major groups of animals or plants that share fundamental traits or evolutionary relatedness. Phylum is the level…
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Fertilization is the process of the fusion of male and female gametes to form a zygote. The zygote is the…
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Lifestyle is the typical way of life for a person or group of people. In animals, lifestyle is the living…
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All plants belong to the kingdom Plantae. Within this kingdom, plants are in two types: nonvascular and vascular. Within the vascular category, plants are…
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Oviparous animals reproduce by laying eggs instead of embryonic development occurring inside the mother. Summary In oviparous animals, fertilization can take…
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Pupa is the life stage of an insect that goes through a complete metamorphosis. Pupae is the plural form of…
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The word “parasite” is Greek for “one who eats at the table of another.” Parasite Meaning Parasites are organisms that…
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Animals that possess venom, stingers, toxins, or any other undesirable trait, often feature bright coloration or contrasting colors that act…
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Metamorphosis is a series of abrupt physical changes some animals and insects go through to become adults. Summary The word…
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Scientists have estimated the number of species of plants and animals that currently exist on Earth to be around 8.7 million. However, this number is…
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Nocturnal animals are active during the night and sleep during the day. Summary Animals that sleep during the day (nocturnal)…
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A species refers to a the largest grouping of organisms in a genus that has similar characteristics and can reproduce…
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Metabolism is the chemical reaction in the body’s cells that transform food and drinks into energy that fuels body functions.…
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Baby animals, also known as offspring, are referred to by different names than the adults in their species. Summary You…
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Keratin is a tough and insoluble fibrous protein found in animal cells. In animals, it forms the structure of hair, fur,…
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Horns are permanent projections on the head of various hoofed mammals. They are composed of a bony core covered by…
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A dewlap is a fold of loose skin hanging from the neck or throat of an animal. What Is a…
