Zoology Vocabular

y4th Grade

Zoology•The study of animals

Vertebrate•An animal that has a vertebral column or backbone

Endoskeleton•A skeleton located inside the body

Homeotherm•An animal that is warm-blooded•Body temperature remains constant regardless of surrounding temperatures

Poikilotherm•An animal that is cold-blooded•Body temperature changes to match the surrounding temperatures

Warm-Blooded•Homeotherm•Body temperature remains constant regardless of surrounding temperatures

Cold-Blooded•Poikilotherm•Body temperature changes to match the surrounding temperatures

Invertebrate•An animal that does not have a vertebral column or backbone

Arthropods•A phylum of invertebrates with segmented bodies, jointed legs, & an exoskeleton•They molt as they grow

Exoskeleton•A skeleton located outside the body

Molt•To shed the outer skeleton

Insects•A class of arthropods with 3 body segments, 3 pairs of legs, 1 or 2 pairs of wings, & 1 pair of antennae

Arachnids•A class of arthropods with 2 body segments, 4 pairs of legs, fangs, & no antennae

Metamorphosis•The changing of an animal’s body form during its life cycle

Larva•The young of amphibians and fish, like frogs•The young of insects that go through complete metamorphosis, like butterflies & beetles

Nymph•A young insect that looks like its parent but lacks some of the body parts it will have as an adult

Pupa•The stage in complete metamorphosis where an insect’s body is changing completely & developing new structures

Herbivore•An animal that eats only plants

Carnivore•An animal that eats only meat (other animals)

Omnivore•An animal that eats plants and other animals

Detritivore•An animal that eats only dead plants & animals