Zoology Exam Vocabulary

• Gastro: Stomach, the organ responsible for digestion.

• Insecta: A class of animals characterized by three body parts (head, thorax, abdomen), compound eyes, six legs, and the ability to fly.

• Cephalization: The concentration of sense organs and nerve cells at the front end of an animal's body, leading to a defined head region.

• Pod: Foot, often used to refer to the limb structure in certain animals.

• Crustacea: A subphylum of arthropods that includes crabs, lobsters, and shrimp, typically having gills and segmented bodies.

• Parasite: An organism that lives on or in another organism (the host) and benefits at the host's expense.

• Cephalo: Head, referring to the front part of an organism's body where sensory organs are typically located.

• Spiracles: Breathing tubes found on the abdomen of insects that allow for gas exchange.

• Free-living: Describes organisms that can survive independently without relying on a host organism.

• Arthro: Joint, often referring to the jointed appendages in arthropods.

• Rocky Mountain spotted fever: A disease caused by bacteria spread through tick bites, resulting in a characteristic spotted rash.

• Dorsal: Referring to the back side of an organism.

• Pinworm: A small parasitic worm that lays its eggs in the human anus, causing itchiness and indigestion.

• Lyme disease: An illness caused by tick bites that can lead to rash and chronic pain.

• Tick borne disease: Illness transmitted by the bite of an infected tick.

• Ventral: Referring to the belly or underside of an organism.

• Bivalia: A class of mollusks with two shells, such as clams and oysters.

• Cephalopod: A class of mollusks that includes squids and octopuses, known for their advanced nervous systems and ability to change color.

• Diocious: Describes species where individual organisms are distinctly male or female.

• Heartworm: A parasitic worm affecting the heart and lungs of dogs and other animals.

• Dengue fever: A viral illness transmitted by mosquitoes, characterized by high fever, severe headache, and joint pain.

• Monocious: Organisms that have both male and female reproductive structures.

• Flukes: A type of flatworm that often lives as a parasite in the bodies of other animals.

• Wolbachia: A genus of bacteria that infects a variety of invertebrates and can manipulate host reproduction.

• Sexual reproduction: The process where two organisms contribute genetic material to produce offspring.

• Asexual reproduction: Reproduction without the fusion of gametes, resulting in offspring genetically identical to the parent.

• Malaria: A disease caused by parasites transmitted through the bite of infected mosquitoes.

• Zebra mussel: An invasive species of freshwater mussel that can cause significant ecological and economic damage.

• Herbivore: An organism that primarily eats plants.

• Yellow Fever: A viral disease transmitted by mosquitoes, causing fever and complications.

• Drone: A male bee whose sole purpose is to mate with the queen.

• Worker: Female bees that perform all the tasks in the hive, such as foraging and caring for the young.

• Queen Bee: The reproductive female in a bee colony responsible for laying eggs.

• Carnivore: An organism that primarily eats meat.

• Plague: A severe infectious disease caused by the bacterium Yersinia pestis, historically known for causing pandemics.

• CCD: Colony Collapse Disorder, a phenomenon affecting honeybee populations leading to a loss of hives.

• Nocturnal: Organisms that are active during the night.

• Mantu: Perhaps a misnomer; likely refers to a misidentified or less well-known term in zoology.

• Neonicotinoid pesticide: A class of neuro-active insecticides modeled after nicotine, used to control pests but harmful to pollinators.

• Diurnal: Organisms that are active during the day.

• Siphon: A tubular structure used by some animals to draw in water or food.

• Veroma: Possibly a typographical error; clarification needed for proper definition.

• Mite: A small arachnid, often parasitic, affecting plants and animals.

• Crepuscular: Referring to organisms that are active during twilight (dawn and dusk).

• Foot: A part of many organisms adapted for locomotion.

• Stereotypy: Repetitive behavior often seen in animals under stress or in captivity.

• Edge habitat: The transition area between two ecological communities.

• Gills: Respiratory organs in aquatic animals, used to extract oxygen from water.

• Radula: A toothed, chitinous ribbon in mollusks used for scraping or cutting food.

• Riparian: Pertaining to the regions bordering rivers and streams.

• Chromatophores: Pigment-containing cells in the skin of many animals that allow them to change color.

• Exoskeleton: A hard outer structure that provides support and protection in organisms like arthropods.

• Gregarious: Describes animals that tend to live in groups or colonies.

• Pheromones: Chemicals released by animals to communicate with others of the same species, affecting behavior.

• Spermatophore: A capsule or mass containing sperm for transfer during reproduction in some animals.

• Carrion: Decaying flesh of dead animals, often a food source for scavengers.

• Biomimicry: The design and production of materials, structures, and systems that are modeled on biological entities and processes.

• Play: Activities that are not work-related but may have physiological benefits to animals.

• Cache: A storage location for food or supplies, often used by animals like squirrels.

• Heart seeking: Referring to parasites that specifically target the heart of their host.

• Excretion: The process of eliminating waste from the body.

• Mouth: The opening in the body of most organisms used for taking in food.

• Cross-fertilization: The fertilization of an egg from one individual by the sperm of another individual.

• Intestine: The part of the digestive system where most of the digestion and absorption of food occurs.

• Lust and Self-fertility: Terms describing reproductive strategies, including sexual attraction and the ability to reproduce without a mate.

• Arthropods: A phylum that includes invertebrate animals with exoskeletons, segmented bodies, and jointed appendages.

• Panic: A response behavior in animals when threatened.

• Nephridia: Excretory organs found in some invertebrates that remove waste from the body.

• Chitin: A tough, flexible compound that makes up the exoskeleton of arthropods and the cell walls of fungi.

• Fear: A survival mechanism reacting to danger or perceived threats.

• Ganglia: Clusters of nerve cell bodies found in invertebrates, acting as a nervous system control center.

• Merostomata: A class of marine animals known as horseshoe crabs.

• Diplopoda: A class of arthropods known as millipedes, characterized by having two pairs of legs per body segment.

• Gametes: Reproductive cells (sperm in males, eggs in females) involved in sexual reproduction.

• Chilopoda: A class of arthropods known as centipedes, which are predatory and have one pair of legs per body segment.

Overview of Phyla

• Phylum Porifera: Sponges

  • Species Count: 5,000+ (mostly marine)

  • Spicule Composition: Calcium, Silica/Glass

  • Age: 650 million years old

  • Characteristics: Sessile (non-moving) except at birth; classes are divided by the type of spicule.

  • Class Demos: Lack true tissues or organ systems.

• Class Calcarea

  • Calcium spiracles

• Class Hexactinellida

  • Silica/glass spiracles

• Class Demospongiae

  • Spongin protein

• Phylum Cnidaria: Jellyfish

  • Supporting Structures: Mesoglea (jelly-like substance)

  • Classes: Hydrozoa (Hydroid form), Cubazoa (includes box jellyfish), Anthozoa (anemones).

  • Nematocysts: Specialized cells involved in stinging and prey capture.

• Class Hydrozoa

  • Man-o-war

  • Hydra

• Class Cubazoa

  • Box jellyfish

• Class Anthozoa

  • Sea Anenomae

• Phylum Platyhelminthes: Flatworms

  • Characteristics: Monocious, radial symmetry.

  • Classes: Turbellaria (free-living flatworms), Cestoda (tapeworms), Trematoda (flukes).

  • Unique Feature: Eyespot, gastrovascular cavity.

• Class turbellaria

  • Flatworm (the lab)

• Class cestoda

  • tapeworm

• Class trematoda

  • Flukes (make “zombies”)

• Phylum Nematoda: Roundworms

  • Species Count: 500,000 species

  • Classes: Chromadorea (mostly free-living, some parasitic), Secernentea (includes hookworms and other parasites affecting humans and plants).

• Class Chromadorea

  • Hookworm (causes indigestion)

• Class Secerntea

  • Guinea worms

  • Pinworm

• Phylum Annelida: Segmented Worms

  • Characteristic Features: Segmented bodies, moncious.

  • Classes: Polychaeta (marine worms), Oligochaeta (earthworms, Bobbit worm), Hirudinea (leeches).

• Class polychaeta

  • Bobbit worm

  • Christmas tree worm

• Class Oligichaeta

  • Earthworm

• Class Hirudinea

  • Leeches

• Class chilopoda

  • Centipede

    • 1 pair of legs per segment

• Class Diplopoda

  • Millipede

    • 2 pairs of legs per segment

• Phylum Arthropoda: Insects and Crustaceans

  • Characteristics: Exoskeleton, segmented bodies.

  • Classes: Insecta (insects with six legs and wings), Arachnidia (spiders and ticks), Merostomata (horseshoe crabs).

• Subphylum Crustacea

  • Crabs, lobster

• Class Insecta

  • Insects (6 legs, wings)

  • Head, thorax, abdomen

• Class arachnidia

  • spiders, ticks

• Class merosomata

  • Horseshoe crabs