Zoology Vocabulary

Zoology

Study of animals, including their biology and behavior.

Ethology

Study of animal behavior in natural environments.

Ecology

Study of organisms and their environment interactions.

Anatomy

Study of organism structure and parts.

Physiology

Study of functions and mechanisms in living systems.

Evolution

Process of species development and diversification.

Adaptation

Process by which species adjust to their environment.

Habitat

Natural environment where organisms live.

Niche

Role or function of an organism within an ecosystem.

Territory

Area defended by animals against others of the same species.

Ecosystem

Community of organisms interacting with their environment.

Autotroph

Organism producing its own food from inorganic substances.

Heterotroph

Organism obtaining food by consuming other organisms.

Herbivore

Animal feeding primarily on plants.

Carnivore

Animal feeding primarily on other animals.

Omnivore

Animal consuming both plants and animals.

Arboreal

Living in or adapted to trees.

Aerial

Living or occurring in the air.

Terrestrial

Living on land.

Aquatic

Living in water.

Marine

Living in or produced by the sea.

Subterranean

Living or occurring underground.

Amphibious

Capable of living both on land and in water.

Sessile

Fixed in one place; immobile.

Food Chain

Series of organisms dependent on each other for food.

Diurnal

Active during the day.

Crepuscular

Active during twilight (dawn and dusk).

Nocturnal

Active during the night.

Asymmetrical

Lacking symmetry.

Bilateral Symmetry

Body symmetry with mirror images on left and right.

Radial Symmetry

Symmetry around a central axis.

Anterior

Situated towards the front of the body.

Posterior

Situated towards the rear of the body.

Ventral

Pertaining to the belly or underside of an animal.

Dorsal

Pertaining to the back or upper side of an animal.

Cross-Section

Transverse cut through a structure.

Lateral View

Side view of an object.

Longitudinal View

View along the length of an object.

Ectothermic

Reliant on external heat sources.

Endothermic

Generates internal heat to regulate body temperature.

Hermaphroditic

Possessing both male and female reproductive organs.

Exoskeleton

External skeleton supporting and protecting an animal's body.

Invertebrate

Animal lacking a backbone.

Vertebrate

Animal with a backbone.

Gestation Period

Period of embryo development in the womb.

Coelom

Body cavity lined with mesoderm.

Pseudocoelom

Incomplete body cavity lined with mesoderm.

Ectoderm

Outermost layer of cells in an embryo.

Endoderm

Innermost layer of cells in an embryo.

Mesoderm

Middle layer of cells in an embryo.

Hibernation

State of reduced metabolism during winter.

Aestivation

State of dormancy during hot or dry periods.

Parasitic

Living at the expense of another organism.

Free-Living

Living independently of another organism

Budding

Asexual reproduction where offspring develop from outgrowths.

Regeneration

Ability to regrow lost body parts.

Sexual Reproduction

Reproduction involving genetic contribution from two parents.

Ganglion

Collection of nerve cell bodies.

Endangered Species

Species at risk of extinction.

Extinct

Species that no longer exists