Copy of `Windows Into Wonderland - Nature glossary`

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Windows Into Wonderland - Nature glossary Category: Animals and Nature Date & country: 26/04/2012, USA Words: 42

algae
mainly aquatic organisms that differ from plants because of a lack of true stems, roots, and leaves

alpha
the leader or most important member of a wolf pack

amphibians
smooth

aquatic
having to do with water

arthritis
inflammation of the joints

burrow
a hole dug by a small animal for living and refuge

cache
to hide in a safe place

canid
a member of the dog family. In North America, this includes wolves, coyotes, foxes, and domestic breeds.

carcass
the dead body of an animal

carnivorous
eating meat

carrion
the rotting flesh of a dead animal

culinary
relating to food or cooking

ecosystem
all living and non

environment
the natural world within which animals and plants live

fasting
abstaining from eating

forage
to search for food

gills
the organ that fish and some other aquatic animals use to breathe

Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem
one of Earth

habitat
the environment in which life forms live and grow

haunches
the upper back legs of an animal

herbivores
animals that eat only vegetation

hibernation
a time during which an animal is in a sleeplike dormant state, living off reserves of body fat, with slower metabolism and decreased body temperature and pulse rate

hydrothermal
having to do with extremely hot water

mammals
warm

microorganisms
tiny life forms such as bacteria, usually not visible to the naked eye

midden
a refuse pile

mudpot
an acidic hot spring with limited water supply

omnivorous
eating both meat and vegetation

opportunistic omnivores
animals that take the opportunity to eat whatever is available

predator
an animal that hunts, kills, and eats other animals in order to survive

prey
an animal that is hunted or killed by another animal for food

reptiles
vertebrate animals that are cold

scavenger
animal that feeds on dead or decaying food

sedge
a plant that looks like grass, but has a solid, triangular stem, leaves growing in three vertical rows, and inconspicuous flowers

species
individuals that are grouped together by having common characteristics and that are capable of interbreeding

spawning
the reproductive cycle for fish

sulfur
a pale yellow, nonmetallic element

talus
a slope composed of rock rubble

tranquilize
to make calm or quiet, usually with medication

tributary
a river or stream that joins a larger river or stream

tubers
a swollen, underground stem that has buds from which new plant shoots can grow. An example of a tuber is a potato.

ungulates
a mammal having hooves