Zoology terminology

Cambrian explosion

Name given to when a great diversity of animals suddenly apppeared in the fossil record

Phyla

General term for animal lineage

Opisthokonta

Unikonta lineage that includes fungi, choanoflagellates and animals

Neuron

A nerve cell

Radial symmetry

Type of symmetry where there are at least two planes of symmetry

Cephalization

Refers to having a head where structures are feeding, sense organs and processing information are concentrated

Diploblastic

Having two embryonic germ layers

Triploblastic

Having threee embryonic germ layers

Endoderm

Innermost germ layer that gives rise to the digestive system

Ectoderm

Outermost germ layer that produces the covering of an animal

Mesoderm

Middle germ layer that gives rise to the tissue in between, including muscle

Coelom( eucoelom)

An enclosed body cavity completely lined with the mesoderm

Acoelomate

The lack of an enclosed body cavity

Pseudocoelom

An enclosed body cavity only partially lined with mesoderm

Protostome

Embryonic development where the mouth forms before the anus

Deuterostome

Embryonic development where the anus forms before the mouth

Segmentation

The division of body or a part of the body into a series of similar structures

External fertilization

Type of fertilization that occurs outside the body

Internal fertilization

Type of fertilization that occurs inside the body

Monoecious

Term for when individuals produce both male and female gametes

Dioecious

Term for when individual produce male or female gametes *sexes are separate

Oviparity

Term for when an animal lays eggs

Ovoviviparous

Term for when an animal retains eggs inside their body,but nourishment is limited to the yolk

Viviparous

Term for live birth where the offspring develop internally and nourishment is provided by the mother

Embryogenesis

Process of producing embryo

Metamorphosis

Process where larva transforms into a juvenile animal

Gametogenesis

The process of producing gametes

Bilateral symmetry

Type of symmetry where there is only one plane of symmetry