Marine Bio Final

Filter Feeder

An organism that filters small particles from water to get its food.

Deposit Feeder

An animal that feeds on organic matter that settles on the bottom.

External Fertilization

The process by which the female lays eggs and the male fertilizes them outside of the female.

Suspension Feeder

An animal that feeds on particles suspended in the water.

Internal Fertilization

Fertilization of an egg by sperm that occurs inside the body of a female.

Exoskeleton

An external skeleton; tough external covering that protects and supports the body of many invertebrates.

Proboscis

An elongated and extensible sucking mouthpart that helps capture food.

Sexual Reproduction

A reproductive process that involves two parents that combine their genetic material to produce a new organism, which differs from both parents.

Parthenogenesis

Asexual reproduction in which females produce offspring from unfertilized eggs.

Larval Stage

Intermediate stage that is separate from the adult phase.

Endoskeleton

Internal skeleton or supporting framework in an animal.

Binary Fission

A form of asexual reproduction in single-celled organisms by which one cell divides into two cells of the same size.

Fragmentation

A means of asexual reproduction whereby a single parent breaks into parts that regenerate into whole new individuals.

Sessile

Describes an organism that remains attached to a surface for its entire life and does not move.

Hermaphrodite

An organism that has both male and female reproductive organs.

Budding

Asexual reproduction in which a part of the parent organism pinches off and forms a new organism.

Regeneration

The ability to regrow a missing part of the body.

Asexual Reproduction

A reproductive process that involves only one parent and produces offspring that are identical to the parent.

Lateral Line System

A series of canals that run along the inside of a fish and detect vibrations in the water.

Cladogram

A branch diagram depicting evolutionary relationships.

Binomial Nomenclature

A two-word naming system; broken down into Genus species.

Vestigial Structure

A structure that was once important for functioning and survival, but no longer is in the modern organism.

Homologous Trait

A trait shared amongst multiple species that evolved from the same common ancestor.

Analogous Trait

A trait shared amongst multiple species that did not evolve from a common ancestor, but rather similar environmental pressures.

Echinoderms

A group of marine animals known for their spiny skin and unique water vascular system.

Oscilloscope

An instrument used to visualize varying signal voltages, often employed in audio and visual applications.

Nictitating Membrane

A third eyelid in sharks that protects and covers the eye.