Copy of `Chameleon Crazy - Chameleon terms`

The wordlist doesn't exist anymore, or, the website doesn't exist anymore. On this page you can find a copy of the original information. The information may have been taken offline because it is outdated.

Chameleon Crazy - Chameleon terms Category: Animals and Nature > Chameleons Date & country: 02/06/2011, USA Words: 51

adult
fully grown or having reached sexual maturity.

aestivation
a period of inactivity caused by extreme heat or drought.

akinesis
a state in which there is little or no movement.

ambient temperature
the temperature of the surroundings or environment.

arid
a dry or desertlike climate.

arboreal
living in trees.

basking
positioning the body in direct sunlight for warmth.

brumation
a reptile equivalent to hibernation.

casque
the upward projection at the back of chameleon's head.

caudal
having to do with the tail.

chromatophore
a skin cell that contains pigment.

cloaca
the common chamber into which digestive, urinary, and reproductive systems empty and which opens to the exterior.

copulation
engaging in coitus or sexual intercourse.

diurnal
active in the daytime.

diapause
temporary slowing down of development, related to coolness or dryness.

dorsal
pertaining to the back or upper surface.

ectothermic
dependent on heat sources to regulate body temperature.

egg tooth
the structure at the tip of a hatchling chameleon's nose used in cutting the egg.

endemic
from a specific region.

flanks
lower side.

genus
taxonomic classification of a group of species having similar characteristics.

gravid
a state in which a female is carrying eggs or embryos.

gular
related to the chin.

heterogenous
of different sizes, colors, and uniformity.

herpetology
a section of zoology dealing with reptiles and amphibians.

herpetofauna
all reptiles and amphibians of a certain area.

hemipenis
one of the dual copulatory organs of male lizards and snakes.

hybrid
offspring that result from breeding two different species.

incubating
keeping eggs so that they are in conditions that are favorable to hatching.

jacobson's organ
a pair of grooves from the nasal cavity to the mouth in snakes and lizards through which molecules are collected with the tongue and sensed by this organ.

juvenile
young and not sexually mature.

lateral
at or on the sides.

montane
a region that is moist and cool and at high altitudes.

occipital
related to the back of the head.

ovoviviparous
form of reproduction through which the female retains eggs withing her body until they hatch.

oviparous
egg laying.

parthenogenesis
a form of asexual reproduction through which the egg develops without being fertilized.

parietal
related to the bones formed at the skull.

pigment
the matter that determines color in plants in animals.

prehensile
adapted for grasping and wrapping around.

receptive
responding to stimuli, or responsive to sexual behavior.

rostral
relating to the part of the head from the tip of the mouth to the nostrils.

sexual dimorphism
visually noticeable differences between males and females of a species.

shedding
losing the old epidermis or skin and replacing it with a new layer.

taxonomy
process of classifying plants and animals.

terrestrial
live on land or ground.

temporal
relating to the area of the skull behind the eye.

thermoregulation
controlling the body temperature.

ventral
relating to the lower surface of the body.

yolk sac
large sac containing nutrients which is present in embryos of reptiles and amphibians.

zygodactylous
yshaped, pincer like feet.