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kingdom Plantae
Organisms belonging to the plant kingdom are characterized as being autotrophic, photosynthetic, multicellular eukaryotes that contain cellulose in their cell walls.
botany
The scientific study of plants.
phylum Bryophyta
Mosses: non-vascular plants that lack roots, stems, and leaves, and reproduce through spores.
rhizoid
Made up of hyphae embedded into the material a fungus is growing on, which functions as a root system.
gametophyte
The haploid stage of a plant going through alternation of generations, in which it produces gametes through mitosis.
archegonium
The female structure on a plant during the gametophyte stage that holds the ovum.
sporophyte
The diploid stage of a plant going through alternation of generations, in which a zygote (fertilized ovum) grows into a capsule that produces spores.
protonema
A thread-like chain of cells that grows from a spore, which then develops into a gametophyte.
alternation of generations
A life cycle found in plants in which it goes through alternating haploid and diploid stages.
phylum Pteridophyta
Ferns: vascular plants that reproduce through spore.
fern
Lacking seeds and flowers, they reproduce through spores. They are vascular, and have stems, roots, and leaves commonly referred to as fronds.
frond
A long, divided leaf belonging to a fern.
sori
A cluster of spore-producing sporangia. In ferns, they can take the appearance of insect eggs.
sporangium
A chamber that produces and holds spores.
prothallus
Forms from a germinated spore of a fern that is in the gametophyte stage.
phylum Coniferophyta
Vascular plants that reproduce through seeds grown in cones. This group includes pine trees, cedars, and firs.
gymnosperm
A group of vascular, non-flowering, seed bearing plants; means "naked seeds". This group includes the phylum Coniferophyta.
angiosperm
A group of flowering plants that produces seeds enclosed by an ovum.
pollen cone
Smaller cones that produce and release pollen, the male reproductive gamete.
seed cone
Larger cones that produce ovules, which are then fertilized by pollen, and then grow into seeds.
pollen
A powder like substance that contains the male gamete in flowering or coniferous plants.
phylum Anthophyta
Flowering plants: this is the phylum that contains angiosperms.
flowering plant
Plants in which seeds grow within an ovum, inside a flower.
fruit
The mature ovary of a flowering plant that encloses its seeds.
monocot
Plants whose seeds contain one cotyledon.
dicot
Plants whose seeds contain two cotyledons.
cotyledon
A leaf-like structure inside the seed that provides energy to the embryo.
vane
The wide, flat part of a feather, made up of barbs that are hooked together in rows.
rachis
The rib that runs the length of the vane in a feather.
quill
The section of the central rib of a feather that extends past the vane.
flight feather
Large vaned feathers with interlocking rows or barbules.
talon
Long curved claws found on the toes of birds with grasping feet.
keel
The central ridge of a bird's sternum that allows for flight muscles used in flight to be attached.
albumen
The white liquid that keeps the yolk suspended inside of an eggshell.
migrate
When an animal travels to a new location for improved environmental conditions, on a seasonal or annual basis. Birds travel some of the longest distances in their annual migrations.
altricial
Birds that hatch from their eggs in an undeveloped state. They lack feathers, are blind, and rely on parents to feed them by dropping food into their open mouths.
precocial
Birds that hatch from their eggs in a more developed state. They have feathers, are alert, and can feed themselves, but still stay close to their parents for protection.
underhair
A layer of soft fur found closest to an animal's skin, that provides insulation.
guard hair
A visible layer of fur that grows over the underhair, and is longer and coarser.
rumen
A chamber found in the digestive system of some animals that allows them to break down and digest cellulose.
cud
Partially digested food that can be regurgitated, and chewed a second time.
diaphragm
A domed sheet of muscle that separates the lungs from the abdominal organs. Contractions of this muscle are responsible for drawing air into the lungs.
larynx
An organ found in the necks of mammals that contains the vocal cords.
hibernation
A state of reduced metabolic activity in animals, usually done in winter when food is scarce. By using food and energy at a greatly reduced rate, they can survive for days to months.
uterus
Female organ that a baby develops in during gestation.
estrus
The period when a female is fertile, and her ova are able to be fertilized.
placenta
An organ that connects the embryo to the uterine wall of the mother, and provides nutrients to the embryo.
umbilical cord
The membrane-covered bundle of blood vessels that connects a baby to the placenta.
gestation
The length of time that it takes an embryo to develop.
mammary glands
The organs found in mammals that produce milk used for the nourishment of their young.
hoofed mammals
Or "ungulates", they include the orders Perissodactyla, odd-toed, and Artiodactyla, even-toed.
marsupials
Mammals that give birth to young which must then be nourished in a pouch, where they complete their development.
monotremes
Mammals that lay eggs, which are then incubated similarly to birds.
scales
A series of overlapping rigid plates covering most fish.
mucus
A slimy substance secreted by glands under the scales of a fish. It forms a waterproof coating that protects the fish, and helps reduce friction as it swims through the water.
chromatophores
Pigmented cells that reflect light, and are used to color organisms such as fish and amphibians.
countershading
A form of camouflage in which the top and bottom are colored differently, which helps reduce visibility when viewed from either side.
olfactory sac
Small pouches used by fish to smell water, and anything dissolved in it.
spawn
The process of fish laying eggs. It also can refer to the young that hatch from these eggs.
cartilage
Stiff but flexible connective tissue. Found in humans and many animals, it forms the skeleton of sharks.
denticles
The body covering found on sharks, made up of tiny tooth-like structures that give it a sandpaper-like texture.
gill slits
A series of openings that lead to the chamber containing the gills. These are found in some jawless fish, and in cartilaginous fish, such as sharks.
anadromous
Fish that live in salt water, but migrate to freshwater to spawn, such as salmon.
amphibian
A class of vertebrates that undergo a metamorphose, from a water breathing form at birth, to an air breathing form as an adult.
hibernation
A state of reduced metabolic activity in animals, usually done in winter when food is scarce. By using food and energy at a greatly reduced rate, they can survive for days to months.
estivation
A period of inactivity that amphibians go through when temperatures get too high. To stay cool, they move to the bottom of a pond, burrow into the mud, or find a cool place to hide.
nictating membrane
A transparent membrane similar to an eyelid, that slides across a frog's eye to protect it and keep it moist. Also found in birds, reptiles, fish, and some mammals.
tympanic membrane
Sometimes referred to as the eardrum, it is a membrane that transmits vibrations in the ear.
Eustachian tube
A tube that connects the middle ear cavity to the throat.
gullet
1) A passage that takes food to the digestive tract. 2) A fold or sheath in some protozoans into which food is taken into from the oral groove.
trachea
1) A tube that connects the lungs to the mouth or throat. 2) Small tubes and passages that carry oxygen directly to the tissue of some spiders.
fat bodies
A mass of fatty tissue that frogs use as an energy reserve, and for buoyancy.
amniotic egg
An egg in which the embryo is protected by a hard or leathery shell.
scute
Scales found on the underside of a snake that aid in movement by helping it grip the ground.
Jacobson's organs
An organ that aids in the sense of smell, especially in snakes.
quadrate bone
The bone that connects a snake's lower jaw to its skull, which functions as a hinge, allowing the mouth to open extremely wide.
neurotoxin
A fast-acting toxin that specifically targets the nervous system, causing paralysis.
hemotoxin
A slower-acting toxin that destroys red blood cells, damages blood vessels, and disrupts clotting. It can be more deadly to large animals than a neurotoxin.
notochord
A tough, flexible rod that runs the length of the body, and is present in members of the phylum Chordata at some stage of their development. In many, it is replaced by the vertebrae prior to birth or hatching.
vertebrae
An individual segment of the bone, or flexible material, that makes up the vertebral column.
vertebral column
The flexible column that provides the main source of support for an animal, and characterizes vertebrates.
nerve cord
Nerve tissue that runs the length of the body, dorsal to the notochord or vertebral column. It is a main component of the nervous system.
endoskeleton
An internal system of bones and cartilage that provides support and structure for vertebrates.
axial skeleton
The section of a skeleton made up of the vertebral column, skull, and ribs.
appendicular skeleton
The section of a skeleton made up of the limbs, and girdles attaching them to the axial skeleton.
pectoral girdle
The section of the appendicular skeleton that attaches the arms to the axial skeleton.
artery
Blood vessels that carry blood away from the heart.
capillary
The smallest blood vessels, they carry blood from the arteries into the body's tissues.
vein
At the end of the capillaries, blood vessels widen back into veins, which carry the blood back to the heart.
hemoglobin
The red pigment found in blood cells that carries oxygen.
carnivorous
Animals whose main, or exclusive, source of food is other animals.
herbivorous
Animals that feed on plants.
omnivore
Organisms that can consume plants or animals as their primary source of food.
oviparous
Animals that lay eggs, in which all or most of the embryonic development takes place outside of the mother.
viviparous
Animals that give birth to live offspring that have developed inside of the mother, while attached by a placenta that supplies nutrients to the fetus.
ovoviviparous
Animals in which the embryo develops inside eggs that stay inside the mother's body.
olfactory lobe
The section of the brain that is involved in the perception of odors.
cerebrum
The section of the brain that controls voluntary muscle movement.
optic lobe
The section of the brain involved in the perception of visual information.
cerebellum
The section of the brain that deals with fine motor skills. It does not initiate movement, but helps coordinate it. It also plays a role in some involuntary movement.