Animal Structures and Functions Lecture Notes

Vocabulary flashcards covering the external and internal structures of various animals and their specific biological functions according to the lecture notes.

animal

a living thing that can move on its own and that gets its energy from food

external structure

a part on the outside of a plant or animal

environment

the space, conditions, and all the living and nonliving things around an organism

survive

to continue living and remain in existence

function

what something does; its important job

pectoral fins

fins that help a fish to balance

dorsal fin

a fin used by a fish for protection

pelvic and anal fins

fins that help steer a fish

caudal fin

a fin that functions to move a fish through the water

shark teeth

sharp external structures used to tear through tough food that are constantly regrowing

webbed feet

external structures on a duck that help it swim better to find food

mane

a lion's external structure whose color and size show fitness and warn other young male lions

hoof

a horse's foot made of the same material as fingernails that functions as a shock absorber and helps it run faster

wrinkly skin

an elephant structure that allows moisture to stay in cracks to keep the animal cool longer

tufts

external structures used by owls for camouflage to look like twigs or branches

tymbals

external structures on some moths that can function to mimic the sound of other animals to confuse predators

wings

the external structures that allow birds to fly

hollow bones

internal structures that help birds be light enough to fly

zoologist

a person who studies animal body structures, diseases, and how animals live, typically earning a median salary of $63,270$

giraffe fur

short, thick fur with brown patches that functions to camouflage the animal and control its temperature