Kids Glossary
A place of refuge for animals where predatory animals may be controlled and hunting is not allowed.
An animal that drinks blood.
An animal that eats lizards.
In tropical or subtropical areas, a flat, mostly open, grassland with a few scattered trees.
A hard, flat, armor-like structure that covers the bodies of snakes, reptiles, fish, and the feet of birds.
An animal's fecal droppings.
An animal that eats the remains of animals killed by others or animals that died of natural causes./To search for food left behind by others or to feed on such food.
The change that occurs in the color of a mammal's fur or a bird's feathers as winter or summer comes. For example, arctic foxes have white fur in the winter and brown fur in the summer.
Body parts that receive messages and send them to the brain; the eyes, ears, skin, nose, and tongue are sensory organs.
A difference in appearance between males and females of the same species, such as horns, color, or size.
A method of movement used by some snakes for traveling across loose surfaces such as sand.
The method of agriculture in which people clear land by cutting down patches of the forest and burning the debris.
An animal with a long, scaly body and no arms, legs, or wings. Snakes have backbones and are cold-blooded.
Refers to animals that live in groups or communities./Skills animals learn that help them live successfully in groups.
Living alone or with only one other animal, usually a mate, not in colonies or groups.
When two animals fight each other.
A group of individuals that have many of the same characteristics, and are different from all other animals in some important way. Hamsters and mice are two different species of rodent.
A cooperative population management and conservation program for selected species at North American zoos and aquariums. Each SSP carefully manages the breeding of a species in order to maintain a healthy and self-sustaining captive population that is both genetically diverse and demographically stable.
A small, cold-blooded animal with eight legs. A spider's body is made up of two parts. It has no wings and no backbone. Many spiders spin webs to catch insects for food.
A stiff, sharp projection on an animal; another word for quill.
To creep silently and slowly towards something without being seen.
A group of frightened animals running together to get away from danger. A herd of wildebeest might stampede to escape from a cheetah.
Information about an animal species, including a listing of every individual animal of that species, its parents, date of birth, and current location in an animal facility. Studbooks help zoos keep track of animal populations.
To go underwater. Hippos like to submerge to stay cool on a hot day.
An animal with a lower social ranking than the leader of the group.
A subdivision of a plant or animal species that shows differences from others of the same species. For example, there is a species of animal called lion; there are two subspecies of lion, the African lion and the Asian lion.
A plant that usually grows in dry, arid areas, with thick, fleshy leaves that store water. Cacti and aloes are succulents.
To prevent breathing.
The ability of an organism to continue living or existing in its environment./The continuation of life.
Capable of being maintained for a long time.
