Animal Behaviour and Taxonomy

Flashcards to help review vocabulary related to animal behaviour and taxonomy.

Taxonomy

The theories and techniques of naming, describing, and classifying organisms.

Taxon

A taxonomic unit; the plural is taxa.

Molecular Systematics

A method of classifying organisms based on molecular biology, particularly DNA.

Ethogram

A catalogue of every behaviour exhibited by each species.

Ichthyology

The study of fish.

Herpetology

The study of amphibians and reptiles.

Ornithology

The study of birds.

Mammalogy

The study of mammals.

Poikilothermic

Incapable of regulating their own body temperature.

Homeothermic

Capable of regulating their own body temperature.

Amniotes

Organisms that lay eggs with a hard shell.

Ectothermic

Body heat modulated by the environment.

Endothermic

Body heat modulated by metabolism.

Abnormal Behaviour

Behaviour that deviates from typical, known behaviour patterns.

Fixed Action Pattern (FAP)

A complex motor event that is genetically encoded and species-specific.

Genotype

The genetic constitution of an organism.

Phenotype

The observable characteristics of an organism, controlled by its genotype.

Kin Selection

The phenomenon where individuals differ in their effects on the survival of kin through parental care or helping behaviour.

Cultural Transmission

Social learning that can become trans-generational.

Natural Selection

The process by which traits that improve survival and reproduction become more common in a population.

Symbiosis

Inter-species interactions/interdependence.

Mutualism

Inter-specific cooperation where both species benefit.

Commensalism

Inter-specific association beneficial for one and neutral for the other.

Parasitism

When one species depends on another species (the host) for survival.

Sociobiology

The study of social behaviours in the context of evolutionary biology.