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Camouflage
Camouflage is defined as a defense mechanism or tactic that animals use to disguise themselves by blending in with their surroundings. Animals…
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Weaning
Weaning is specifically related to the transition from milk to solid food in mammals. When mammal mothers stop producing milk…
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Molt
Molt refers to the process by which an animal sheds some or all of its outer layer, such as feathers,…
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Food Chain: 2. Primary Consumer
Primary consumers are herbivores and they feed on the results from primary producers. In the five trophic levels, primary consumers…
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Melon
Melon is a delicious and refreshing fruit. All melons belong to the gourd family Cucurbitaceae. Melons usually have a round…
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Chrysalis
The transformation of a caterpillar into a butterfly is a complicated process, involving the entire liquidation of the existing caterpillar.…
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Echolocation
Echolocation is a physiological process for locating objects by emitting and receiving sound waves. Summary Echolocation is a type of…
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Cocoon
A cocoon is a protective covering spun or constructed by certain types of animals during their larval or pupal stages,…
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Tusk
A tusk is a long, pointed, and often curved ivory tooth that protrudes from the mouth of certain animals, such…
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Femur
The femur bone is a major part of mobility, such as standing and walking. It is also essential for supporting…
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Viviparous
Viviparous animals are conceived, and then they develop and grow within the placenta of the mother. The mother supplies all…
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Proboscis
A proboscis can occur in mammals, insects, and other creatures. The most obvious example would be the elongated nose of…
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Insectivore
While individually tiny, insects make up an extremely large percentage of the animal world. Many animals take advantage of this…
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Introduced Species
A species is considered introduced if its existence in an area is human-mediated. And the introduction of an animal or…
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New World
European geographers once thought that only Europe, Asia, and Africa existed. So after the Americas were discovered, they thought of…
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Placenta
Placentas have the same basic properties across species, but they differ all the way down to microscopic levels. For instance,…
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Antenna
Antennae have many functions and vary by appearance based on the species. But because they are so variable, it makes…
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Partial Migrant
When a percentage of a population is migratory while the other is sedentary, they are considered partial migrants. Partial Migrant…
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Baleen
A baleen plate ranges from 1.6 to 11.5 feet long, depending on the species. Each plate can weigh an astonishingly…
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Brood Parasite
The brood parasite tricks the host into raising its young, typically by mimicry of its eggs. Brood Parasite Meaning A…
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Breaching
Scientifically speaking, we define breaching as “an animal leaping from the water with at least 40% of its body out…
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Asexual Reproduction
Asexual reproduction is one type of reproduction where only a single parent is needed to produce offspring rather than two.…
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Average Lifespan
Average lifespan is the typical length of time an animal or human lives. Summary of Average Lifespan This describes what…
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Quadrupedal
Quadrupedal organisms move on four feet or limbs. Quadrupedal means “four-footed” or “four-limbed” derived from the Latin words quattor (four),…
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Insect
Insects are invertebrates from the Arthropoda phylum. Summary of Insects The word insect is derived from the Latin word “insectum,”…
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Arthropod
Arthropod is defined as an invertebrate animal that belongs to the Arthropoda phylum. Summary The term “arthropod” is derived from…
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Age of Fledgling
The fledgling period is defined as the time when the young abandon the nest (during a stage of development) under…
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Average Clutch Size
The average clutch is determined by evolution, allowing each female within a species to maximize reproduction. Average Clutch Size Meaning…
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Antler
Antlers are defined as the branched extensions of bones that grow and emerge from an animal’s skull. Antler Summary Antlers…
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Palm Oil
Palm oil and it’s derivatives are the product of the oil palm tree which is cultivated extensively all around the…
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Glossary
Below you will find some explanations and scientific terms explaining some of the more technical words used on A-Z Animals. List…
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Diet
Every living organism needs to find some way of nourishing itself, and animals are no exception. The exact diet of…
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Conservation
Animals In Danger Up until about 100 years ago, most of the planet was populated by animals that had no…
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Habitats
What Are Habitats? A habitat is the immediate environment in which a living organism (an animal or plant), exists. A…
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Evolution
What Is Evolution? As with all living organisms, animals change through the generations, changes which can be difficult to see…
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Life Cycles
What Are Life Cycles? The life-cycle of an animal, includes all of the stages from the end of the last…
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Animal Classification: The Complete Guide
The classification of organisms is an important system for understanding how they are all related. Based on the Linnaeus method,…
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Behaviour
Communication For most animal species, keeping in touch with other animals of their species if often essential to their survival.…
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Anatomy
Animal Anatomy All living organisms, with the exception of basic single-celled organisms, are made up of various different parts which…