Zoology – Invertebrate & Vertebrate Vocabulary

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100 English vocabulary flashcards covering key terms from the Invertebrate & Vertebrate Zoology lecture notes.

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197 Terms

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Zoology

Branch of biology devoted to the scientific study of animals, including their structure, physiology, behavior, and classification.

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Systematics

The scientific discipline concerned with classifying organisms and determining their evolutionary relationships.

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Kingdom

Highest obligatory taxonomic rank in traditional classification; Animalia is the kingdom for all animals.

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Phylum

Major taxonomic category below kingdom grouping organisms that share a basic body plan; e.g., Chordata, Arthropoda.

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Binomial Nomenclature

Linnaean system assigning every species a two-word Latin name: Genus (capitalized) + species (lowercase).

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Protozoa

Unicellular eukaryotic organisms considered the simplest animals; feed, move, and reproduce as single cells.

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Sarcodina

Protozoan class characterized by locomotion via pseudopodia; includes Amoeba species.

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Mastigophora

Protozoan class whose members move with one or more flagella; also called Flagellata.

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Sporozoa

Protozoan class of non-motile parasites that reproduce by spore formation; includes Plasmodium.

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Ciliophora

Protozoan class possessing cilia for locomotion or feeding; example organism Paramecium.

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Amoeba

Free-living sarcodine protozoan with changing shape and pseudopodia used for movement and phagocytosis.

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Entamoeba histolytica

Pathogenic amoeba inhabiting human large intestine; causes amoebic dysentery.

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Trypanosoma

Flagellated protozoan genus causing African sleeping sickness; transmitted by tsetse flies.

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Plasmodium

Sporozoan genus responsible for malaria in humans; alternates between Anopheles mosquitoes and vertebrate host.

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Paramecium

Free-living ciliate protozoan with slipper shape, oral groove, macro- and micronuclei.

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Trophozoite

Active, feeding stage in a protozoan life cycle before reproduction or encystment.

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Cyst

Dormant, resistant stage of protozoa enclosed in a protective wall for survival outside host.

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Gametocyte

Protozoan stage that differentiates into gametes for sexual reproduction.

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Flagellum

Long whip-like locomotory organelle composed of microtubules; propels Mastigophora and other cells.

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Cilium

Short, numerous hair-like projection producing locomotion or water currents in Ciliophora.

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Pseudopodium

Temporary cytoplasmic extension in sarcodines used for movement and engulfing food.

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Macronucleus

Larger nucleus in ciliates controlling metabolic and developmental functions.

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Micronucleus

Smaller reproductive nucleus in ciliates responsible for genetic exchange during conjugation.

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Metazoa

Multicellular animals with specialized tissues, organs, and usually sexual reproduction.

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Diploblastic

Having two primary germ layers—ectoderm and endoderm—during development; characteristic of Cnidaria.

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Triploblastic

Having three embryonic germ layers—ectoderm, mesoderm, endoderm; found in most animal phyla.

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Mesoglea

Non-cellular, gelatinous layer between epidermis and gastrodermis of diploblastic animals like cnidarians.

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Porifera

Phylum of sponges; sessile, porous, filter-feeding animals with choanocyte-lined canals.

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Spongocoel

Central cavity within many sponges through which water flows before exiting the osculum.

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Osculum

Large excurrent opening at the top of a sponge allowing filtered water to leave.

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Choanocyte

Collar cell lining sponge canals; flagella drive water current and trap food particles.

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Pinacocyte

Flat epidermal-like cell forming the outer pinacoderm layer of a sponge.

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Amoebocyte

Mobile sponge cell within mesohyl that digests food, forms spicules, and can differentiate.

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Spicule

Calcareous or siliceous skeletal element supporting sponge body.

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Asconoid

Simplest sponge body type with a single tubular spongocoel lined by choanocytes.

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Syconoid

Intermediate sponge form with folded body wall creating radial flagellated canals.

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Leuconoid

Most complex sponge architecture with a network of small flagellated chambers and no central cavity.

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Filter Feeder

Organism that strains suspended matter and food from water; characteristic feeding of sponges.

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Gemmule

Asexual, overwintering internal bud of freshwater sponges containing archaeocytes.

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Cnidaria

Phylum of radially symmetrical aquatic animals possessing cnidocytes; includes jellyfish and corals.

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Nematocyst

Stinging capsule inside cnidocytes used for prey capture and defense in cnidarians.

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Polyp

Sessile, tubular cnidarian body form with mouth and tentacles oriented upward.

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Medusa

Free-swimming, bell-shaped cnidarian stage with downward-facing mouth; typical of jellyfish.

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Hydra

Freshwater hydrozoan polyp capable of asexual budding and simple regeneration.

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Gastrovascular Cavity

Central digestive compartment with single opening serving as mouth and anus in cnidarians and flatworms.

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Mesoglea

(Cnidarian context) Jelly-like acellular layer between epidermis and gastrodermis.

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Planaria

Free-living freshwater flatworm (Turbellaria) noted for high regenerative ability.

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Flame Cell

Ciliated excretory cell (protonephridium) of flatworms that propels waste-laden fluid.

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Protonephridium

Network of tubules ending in flame cells responsible for osmoregulation in acoelomates.

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Nerve Net

Diffuse network of interconnected nerve cells typical of cnidarians and simple worms.

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Platyhelminthes

Phylum of dorsoventrally flattened acoelomate worms; includes planarians, flukes, tapeworms.

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Bilateral Symmetry

Body plan with left and right halves that are mirror images; first appears in flatworms.

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Acoelomate

Animal lacking a body cavity between gut and body wall; e.g., flatworms.

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Nematoda

Phylum of unsegmented roundworms with a pseudocoelom and complete digestive tract.

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Pseudocoelom

Fluid-filled body cavity not entirely lined by mesoderm; characteristic of nematodes.

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Cuticle

Tough, flexible, non-cellular outer layer secreted by epidermis of nematodes and arthropods.

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Ascaris lumbricoides

Large human intestinal roundworm; causes ascariasis.

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Coelom

True fluid-filled body cavity completely lined by mesodermal peritoneum.

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Annelida

Phylum of segmented worms with true coelom and metameric organization.

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Metamerism

Serial repetition of similar body segments along the anterior–posterior axis, as in annelids.

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Setae

Chitinous bristles on annelid segments providing traction for locomotion.

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Nephridium

Segmental excretory organ of annelids that removes metabolic wastes from coelomic fluid.

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Polychaeta

Class of mainly marine annelids with many setae and parapodia; e.g., Nereis.

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Hirudinea

Class of annelids comprising leeches; lack setae and possess suckers.

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Oligochaeta

Class of annelids with few setae per segment; includes earthworms.

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Nereis

Marine polychaete (ragworm) with parapodia and acicula; often used in studies of segmentation.

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Mollusca

Large phylum of soft-bodied animals typically with mantle, muscular foot, and visceral mass.

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Mantle

Molluscan body wall fold that secretes the shell and forms mantle cavity.

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Radula

Chitinous rasping tongue-like ribbon bearing rows of teeth in most molluscs.

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Hemocoel

Primary body cavity of molluscs and arthropods containing circulatory fluid.

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Bivalvia

Mollusc class with two-part hinged shell and laterally compressed body; clams, oysters.

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Gastropoda

Largest mollusc class; asymmetrical body and helical shell in many; snails, slugs.

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Cephalopoda

Mollusc class of active marine predators with tentacles and closed circulation; squids, octopuses.

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Echinodermata

Phylum of deuterostome marine animals with pentaradial symmetry and calcareous endoskeleton.

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Water Vascular System

Network of fluid-filled canals in echinoderms powering locomotory tube feet.

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Tube Foot

Hydraulic appendage of echinoderms used for locomotion, feeding, and respiration.

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Madreporite

Porous sieve plate on echinoderm surface that admits seawater to the water vascular system.

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Pedicellariae

Tiny pincer-like defensive or cleaning appendages on echinoid and asteroid surfaces.

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Sea Urchin

Globular echinoderm with movable spines and Aristotle’s lantern for grazing.

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Chordata

Animal phylum characterized by notochord, dorsal hollow nerve cord, pharyngeal slits, and post-anal tail.

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Notochord

Flexible, rod-like supportive structure in chordate embryos and some adults.

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Dorsal Hollow Nerve Cord

Tubular nervous system structure running above the notochord in chordates; develops into brain and spinal cord.

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Pharyngeal Gill Slits

Series of openings in pharyngeal region of chordates functioning in feeding or respiration.

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Urochordata

Subphylum of sessile marine chordates (tunicates) with notochord and nerve cord only in larval stage.

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Tunic

Cellulose-containing outer covering of adult tunicates.

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Cephalochordata

Subphylum of small marine chordates (lancelets) retaining notochord and gill slits throughout life.

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Amphioxus

Common name for Branchiostoma (lancelet); model cephalochordate exhibiting basic chordate traits.

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Vertebra

Bony or cartilaginous segment forming the vertebral column of vertebrates.

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Agnatha

Jawless vertebrate superclass including lampreys and hagfish.

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Cyclostomata

Class of living agnathans distinguished by circular suctorial mouth and lack of paired fins.

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Gnathostomata

Jawed vertebrate superclass encompassing fishes, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals.

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Cartilaginous Fish (Chondrichthyes)

Class of jawed fishes with skeletons of cartilage; sharks, rays, skates.

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Osteichthyes

Class of bony fishes with ossified skeleton and swim bladder; largest group of vertebrates.

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Amphibia

Class of vertebrates with dual life cycle, moist glandular skin, and three-chambered heart; frogs, salamanders.

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Tympanic Membrane

External eardrum of amphibians and reptiles transmitting sound to middle ear.

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Reptilia

Class of amniote vertebrates with keratinized scales and mostly three-chambered heart; snakes, turtles.

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Amniotic Egg

Reptile, bird, and monotreme egg containing amnion, chorion, allantois, and yolk sac for terrestrial development.

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Aves

Class of feathered, bipedal, warm-blooded vertebrates adapted for flight; birds.

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Air Sacs

Thin-walled extensions of bird lungs providing unidirectional airflow and reducing body mass.

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Mammalia

Class of endothermic vertebrates with hair, mammary glands producing milk, and differentiated teeth.