Animals (Zoology) - High School

Study these zoology terms and learn all about the world's fauna. Review taxonomy and anatomy, and test your knowledge of primates, arthropods, marsupials, and more. This list is just beastly!
171 words 302 learners

Learn words with Flashcards and other activities

Other learning activities

Answer a few questions on each word. Use this to prep for your next quiz! Compete with other teams in real-time to see who answers the most questions correctly! Test your spelling acumen. Read the definition, listen to the word and try spelling it!

Teaching tools

Create and assign quizzes to your students to test their vocabulary. Assign learning activities including Practice, Vocabulary Jams and Spelling Bees to your students, and monitor their progress in real-time.

Full list of words from this list:

words only definitions & notes
  1. abdomen
    the region of the body between the thorax and the pelvis
  2. air sac
    a tiny sac for holding air in the lungs
  3. allopatric
    occurring in areas isolated geographically from one another
  4. amnion
    thin innermost membranous sac enclosing the developing embryo of higher vertebrates (reptiles, birds and mammals)
  5. amniote
    any member of the Amniota
  6. amniotic
    of or related to the amnion or characterized by developing an amnion
  7. amphibia
    the class of vertebrates that live on land but breed in water; frogs; toads; newts; salamanders; caecilians
  8. amphibian
    cold-blooded vertebrate living on land but breeding in water
  9. Animalia
    taxonomic kingdom comprising all living or extinct animals
  10. annelid
    worms with cylindrical bodies segmented both internally and externally
  11. antenna
    one of a pair of mobile appendages on the head of insects
  12. anterior
    of or near the head end or toward the front plane of a body
  13. antler
    deciduous horn of a member of the deer family
  14. arachnid
    arthropods with simple eyes and four pairs of legs
  15. arthropod
    invertebrate having jointed limbs and a segmented body
  16. autonomic nervous system
    the part of the nervous system of vertebrates that controls involuntary actions of the smooth muscles and heart and glands
  17. Aves
    (ornithology) the class of birds
  18. bilateral symmetry
    the property of being symmetrical about a vertical plane
  19. bill
    the projecting mouth of a bird
  20. biodiversity
    the variety of plant and animal life in a habitat
  21. biota
    all the plant and animal life of a particular region
  22. biped
    an animal that walks on two legs
  23. bird
    warm-blooded egg-laying vertebrate with feathers and wings
  24. bony fish
    any fish of the class Osteichthyes
  25. camouflage
    exploit the natural surroundings to disguise something
  26. canine tooth
    one of the four pointed conical teeth (two in each jaw) located between the incisors and the premolars
  27. carapace
    hard outer covering or case of certain organisms
  28. cardiovascular system
    the organs and tissues involved in circulating blood and lymph through the body
  29. carnivore
    a terrestrial or aquatic flesh-eating mammal
  30. cartilage
    tough elastic tissue, mostly converted to bone in adults
  31. cartilaginous fish
    fishes in which the skeleton may be calcified but not ossified
  32. cell
    the basic structural and functional unit of all organisms
  33. central nervous system
    the portion of the vertebrate nervous system consisting of the brain and spinal cord
  34. cetacean
    large aquatic carnivorous mammal with fin-like forelimbs
  35. chiropteran
    nocturnal mouselike mammal with forelimbs modified to form membranous wings and anatomical adaptations for echolocation by which they navigate
  36. Chordata
    comprises true vertebrates and animals having a notochord
  37. chordate
    of or relating to or characteristic of the Chordata
  38. circulation
    the movement of blood through the heart and blood vessels
  39. circulatory system
    the organs and tissues involved in circulating blood and lymph through the body
  40. class
    a taxonomic group containing one or more orders
  41. cloaca
    (zoology) the cavity (in birds, reptiles, amphibians, most fish, and monotremes but not mammals) at the end of the digestive tract into which the intestinal, genital, and urinary tracts open
  42. cnidarian
    radially symmetrical animals having saclike bodies with only one opening and tentacles with stinging structures; they occur in polyp and medusa forms
  43. coelenterate
    radially symmetrical animals having saclike bodies with only one opening and tentacles with stinging structures; they occur in polyp and medusa forms
  44. coelom
    a cavity in the mesoderm of an embryo that gives rise in humans to the pleural cavity and pericardial cavity and peritoneal cavity
  45. contour feather
    feathers covering the body of an adult bird and determining its shape
  46. crop
    a pouch in a bird's gullet where food is stored
  47. development
    a process in which something passes to a different stage
  48. digestion
    the process by which the body breaks down food
  49. diversity
    noticeable variety
  50. dorsal
    on or near the back of an animal or organ
  51. echinoderm
    marine invertebrates with tube feet and five-part radially symmetrical bodies
  52. echolocation
    determination of the position of objects by reflected sound
  53. ectotherm
    an animal whose body temperature varies with the temperature of its surroundings; any animal except birds and mammals
  54. embryo
    an animal organism in the early stages of growth
  55. endocrine system
    the system of glands that produce endocrine secretions that help to control bodily metabolic activity
  56. endoskeleton
    the internal skeleton; bony and cartilaginous structure
  57. entomology
    the branch of zoology that studies insects
  58. estivation
    cessation or slowing of activity during the summer
  59. eukaryote
    an organism of one or more cells with membrane-bound nuclei
  60. exoskeleton
    the exterior protective or supporting structure or shell of many animals (especially invertebrates) including bony or horny parts such as nails or scales or hoofs
  61. external respiration
    the bodily process of inhalation and exhalation
  62. family
    a taxonomic group above genus
  63. fauna
    all the animal life in a particular region or period
  64. feather
    a light growth that makes up the covering of a bird's body
  65. fish
    any of various mostly cold-blooded aquatic vertebrates
  66. fledgling
    young bird that has just become capable of flying
  67. food chain
    community of organisms where each member is eaten by another
  68. food web
    community of organisms with several interrelated food chains
  69. genus
    taxonomic group containing one or more species
  70. gill
    organ allowing aquatic animals to obtain oxygen from water
  71. gill slit
    one of a series of slit openings in the pharynxes of fishes and aquatic amphibians through which water passes
  72. gizzard
    thick-walled muscular pouch below the crop in many birds and reptiles for grinding food
  73. herbivore
    any animal that feeds chiefly on grass and other plants
  74. herpetology
    the branch of zoology concerned with reptiles and amphibians
  75. heterotroph
    an organism that feeds on complex organic substances
  76. hibernation
    the resting state in which some animals pass the winter
  77. homeotherm
    an animal that has a body temperature that is relatively constant and independent of the environmental temperature
  78. homologous
    similar in position, structure, function, or characteristics
  79. ichthyology
    the branch of zoology that studies fishes
  80. immune system
    the cells in the body that work together to fight disease
  81. incisor
    a tooth for cutting or gnawing
  82. insectivore
    any organism that feeds mainly on bugs
  83. invertebrate
    any animal lacking a backbone or notochord
  84. keratin
    a fibrous protein found in nails, hair, feathers, and hooves
  85. kingdom
    the taxonomic group above phylum and below domain
  86. lagomorph
    relative large gnawing animals
  87. larva
    immature form of an animal between the egg and adult stages
  88. larynx
    the structure containing the vocal cords
  89. lateral line
    sense organs of fish and amphibians
  90. life cycle
    a series of stages through which an organism passes
  91. lung
    either of two saclike respiratory organs in the chest of vertebrates; serves to remove carbon dioxide and provide oxygen to the blood
  92. mammal
    a warm-blooded vertebrate having the skin covered with hair
  93. Mammalia
    warm-blooded vertebrates characterized by mammary glands in the female
  94. mammary gland
    milk-secreting organ of female mammals
  95. mandible
    the jaw in vertebrates that is hinged to open the mouth
  96. marsupial
    a mammal the female of which has a pouch carrying the young
  97. maxilla
    the jaw in vertebrates that is fused to the cranium
  98. metabolism
    the organic processes that are necessary for life
  99. metamorphosis
    the marked and rapid transformation of a larva into an adult
  100. migration
    the periodic passage of groups of animals
  101. mimicry
    the resemblance of an animal species to another species
  102. molar
    grinding tooth with a broad crown
  103. mollusk
    aquatic invertebrate, often with a shell
  104. molt
    cast off hair, skin, horn, or feathers
  105. monotreme
    the most primitive mammals comprising the only extant members of the subclass Prototheria
  106. morphology
    the study of the structure of animals and plants
  107. motile
    capable of movement
  108. multicellular
    consisting of many basic structural and functional units
  109. muscle
    animal tissue consisting predominantly of contractile cells
  110. musculoskeletal
    relating to muscles and skeleton
  111. nervous system
    the sensory and control apparatus consisting of a network of nerve cells
  112. niche
    status or place of an organism within its environment
  113. notochord
    a flexible rodlike structure that forms the supporting axis of the body in the lowest chordates and lowest vertebrates and in embryos of higher vertebrates
  114. omnivore
    an animal that feeds on both animal and vegetable substances
  115. order
    a taxonomic group containing one or more families
  116. organ
    a structure in an animal specialized for some function
  117. ornithology
    the branch of zoology that studies birds
  118. oviparous
    egg-laying
  119. parasite
    an animal or plant that lives in or on a host
  120. parasympathetic nervous system
    originates in the brain stem and lower part of the spinal cord; opposes physiological effects of the sympathetic nervous system: stimulates digestive secretions; slows the heart; constricts the pupils; dilates blood vessels
  121. phylum
    the major taxonomic group of animals and plants
  122. pineal eye
    a sensory structure capable of light reception located on the dorsal side of the diencephalon in various reptiles
  123. placenta
    the vascular structure in the uterus of most mammals providing oxygen and nutrients for and transferring wastes from the developing fetus
  124. plankton
    aggregate of small organisms that float or drift in water
  125. plastron
    (zoology) the part of a turtle's shell forming its underside
  126. Platyhelminthes
    flatworms
  127. Porifera
    coextensive with the subkingdom Parazoa: sponges
  128. posterior
    located at or near the end of a structure
  129. predator
    any animal that lives by preying on other animals
  130. prey
    animal hunted or caught for food
  131. primate
    any mammal of the group including monkeys, apes, and humans
  132. primatology
    study of the order of mammals that includes monkeys and apes
  133. proboscis
    a long flexible snout as of an elephant
  134. quadruped
    an animal especially a mammal having four limbs
  135. radial symmetry
    the property of symmetry about an axis
  136. reproductive system
    organs and tissues involved in the production and maturation of gametes and in their union and subsequent development as offspring
  137. reptile
    a cold-blooded vertebrate including snakes and lizards
  138. Reptilia
    class of cold-blooded air-breathing vertebrates with completely ossified skeleton and a body usually covered with scales or horny plates; once the dominant land animals
  139. respiration
    the bodily process of inhalation and exhalation
  140. respiratory system
    the system for taking in oxygen and giving off carbon dioxide; in terrestrial animals this is accomplished by breathing
  141. rodent
    relatively small placental mammals
  142. rostrum
    beaklike projection of the head of certain insects
  143. rumen
    the first compartment of the stomach of a ruminant
  144. scale
    a rigid plate forming part of the body covering of animals
  145. scavenger
    any animal that feeds on refuse and other decaying matter
  146. scute
    large bony or horny plate as on an armadillo or turtle or the underside of a snake
  147. shaft
    the main section of a long bone
  148. skeletal system
    the hard structure (bones and cartilages) that provides a frame for the body of an animal
  149. skeleton
    the structure providing a frame for the body of an animal
  150. speciation
    the evolution of a biological species
  151. species
    taxonomic group whose members can interbreed
  152. swim bladder
    an air-filled sac near the spinal column in many fishes that helps maintain buoyancy
  153. symbiosis
    the relation between two interdependent species of organisms
  154. symmetry
    balance among the parts of something
  155. sympathetic nervous system
    originates in the thoracic regions of the spinal cord
  156. sympatric
    occurring in the same or overlapping geographical areas
  157. tadpole
    a larval frog or toad
  158. taxonomy
    a classification of organisms based on similarities
  159. tentacle
    a flexible appendage adapted for grasping or feeling
  160. tetrapod
    a vertebrate animal having four feet or legs or leglike appendages
  161. thorax
    the body of an arthropod between the head and the abdomen
  162. tissue
    part of an organism consisting of an aggregate of cells
  163. trachea
    a tube that conveys inhaled air from the larynx to the lungs
  164. tympanic membrane
    the membrane in the ear that vibrates to sound
  165. ventral
    toward or on or near the belly
  166. vertebrate
    animals having a bony or cartilaginous skeleton
  167. vestigial
    not fully developed in mature animals
  168. viviparous
    producing living young and not eggs
  169. wattle
    a fleshy wrinkled and often brightly colored fold of skin hanging from the neck or throat of certain birds (chickens and turkeys) or lizards
  170. zoology
    the branch of biology that studies animals
  171. zooplankton
    animal constituent of plankton
Created on February 2, 2017 (updated March 31, 2017)

Sign up now (it’s free!)

Whether you’re a teacher or a learner, Vocabulary.com can put you or your class on the path to systematic vocabulary improvement.