Life Science: Week 6: Animals

amphibian

a cold-blooded vertebrate animal of a class that comprises the frogs, toads, newts, and salamanders. They are distinguished by having an aquatic gill-breathing larval stage followed (typically) by a terrestrial lung-breathing adult stage.

reptile

a cold-blooded vertebrate of a class that includes snakes, lizards, crocodiles, turtles, and tortoises. They are distinguished by having a dry scaly skin, and typically laying soft-shelled eggs on land.

animal

a living organism that feeds on organic matter, typically having specialized sense organs and nervous system and able to respond rapidly to stimuli.

echinoderm

a marine invertebrate of the phylum Echinodermata, such as a starfish, sea urchin, or sea cucumber.

mammal

a warm-blooded vertebrate animal of a class that is distinguished by the possession of hair or fur, the secretion of milk by females for the nourishment of the young, and (typically) the birth of live young.

vertebrate

an animal with a spinal column or backbone

invertebrate

animal without a spinal column or backbone

primate

any member of the group of animals that includes human beings, apes, and monkeys

insect

arthropod with three body parts and six legs

fish

cold-blooded, vertebrate animals that have fins, scales, and gills

cnidarian

invertebrate that lives in water and has the ability to sting

arthropod

invertebrate with jointed legs and exoskeleton

marsupial

mammal that carries young in a pouch

carnivore

mammal that eats flesh

herbivore

mammal that eats plant material

bird

warm-blooded, feathered vertebrate animal that lays eggs