Wildlife & Ecology Vocabulary

The process by which an animal becomes more fit for its environment over the course of its lifetime. Acclimation is different than adaptation because acclimation occurs within one generation.

The process by which a species becomes more fit for its environment over the course of several generations. It is a result of natural selection.

A group of ectothermic (cold-blooded) vertebrates that have permeable skin, lay eggs, and develop through metamorphosis.

A plant or animal that lives in water.

Living in the trees.

[For ectotherms (cold-blooded animals)]: To lay out in the sun or other warm area to increase body temperature.

The extended jaw of a bird (also known as a bill).

An ecological trend where animals within a species (mainly mammals and birds) are larger the further from the equator.

A group of endothermic (warm-blooded) vertebrates that have wings and feathers and also lay eggs!

A forest ecosystem with mostly coniferous trees and freezing temperatures for more than half the year. Also known as taigas.

A form of locomotion commonly used by primates involving swinging from tree branch to tree branch using their arms.

Occurs when a cold-blooded animal lowers their body temperature and slows their body function during the cold months.

The ability for an organism to blend into their surroundings usually to hide from prey or predators.

Meat eater, like an alligator!

Flexible but firm connective tissue that makes up parts of the human nose and ears, along with shark and ray skeletons. 

A structure attached to the top of some bird species' bills (hornbills).

An ecosystem found near coasts with hot summers and cool, rainy winters and vegetation ranging from small trees to shrubs and grasses.

A symbiotic relationship where one party benefits and the other is not affected.

The preservation of something.

The process where two different species in similar environments or with similar needs develop similar adaptations.

Being most active at dawn and dusk.

An IUCN rating indicating a species with an extremely high risk of extinction in the wild.

The process of removing trees by cutting them down or burning them to harvest their resources or make room for something else.

Ecosystems that receive very little rainfall, usually no more than 20-inches per year and sometimes, much less. Not all deserts are hot.

Being most active during the daytime.

The impact of a person or community on the environment through their use of natural resources and waste production.

An ecological region or environment whose living and nonliving organisms interact to form a system.

A species that creates, destroys, or maintains an ecosystem.

Tourism activities that take place in nature and are designed to inspire people to conserve the natural world.

An animal that relies on the outside temperature to regulate their body temperature (reptiles and amphibians). Also known as cold-blooded.

An IUCN rating indicating a species that is threatened with extinction throughout its native range.

Only found in one location. The saguaro cactus is endemic to the Sonoran Desert like koalas are endemic to Australia.

An animal that regulates their body temperature internally (mammals and birds). Also known as warm-blooded.

A species whose presence or absence represents the health of an ecosystem.

The theory that heritable characteristics of a species change over generations to help that species better survive their environment.

A species that once existed that has no living individuals.

A group of ectothermic (cold-blooded) animals that live primarily or entirely in water, have fins instead of limbs, and breathe using gills.

Regions where the main plants are trees that are close together and form a closed canopy.

Regions of Earth's water systems that have a low salt content and are usually found inland. Examples include lakes, ponds, rivers, streams, wetlands, and springs.

An animal whose diet consists of mostly fruit.

An ecosystem with vegetation mostly consisting of grasses with few trees or shrubs and little precipitation.

Occurs when a natural habitat is damaged by pollution, unsustainable resource use, or other human-related actions.

Occurs when large areas of natural habitat are divided and separated by human development such as roads, towns, or croplands. This results in human-wildlife conflict and inbreeding.

Occurs when habitats are destroyed and changed into human-managed land such as cropland, towns, or dams.

Plant eater, like a zebra!

An extended state of decreased activity and metabolic rate in endothermic (warm-blooded) animals during winter seasons.

To warm an egg or chick by sitting on them in the nest.

Diet consisting primarily of insects, like an anteater!

A phenomenon that occurs when an organism becomes smaller when isolated on an island usually due to increased predation pressure and lack of food.

A phenomenon that occurs when an organism becomes larger when isolated on an island usually due to a lack of predators and abundant food.

An animal that has no bones.

The International Union for Conservation of Nature is the organization responsible for identifying the conservation status and needs of animals and habitats globally.

A structural protein that makes up hair and fur, along with rhinoceros horns, porcupine quills, and part of turtle shells.

A species whose presence has an unusually high impact on the ecosystem relative to its population size.

A group of endothermic (warm-blooded) vertebrates that are covered in hair, produce milk for offspring, and generally give birth to live offspring.

An aquatic ecosystem with high salt content commonly known as oceans.

A social society lead by females who are more dominant than the males.

The process of an animal changing and developing from an egg to an adult through different life phases.

A symbiotic relationship where both parties benefit.

The theory that nature favors individuals within a species who have characteristics that make them more successful in their environment.

An IUCN rating indicating a species which is not currently threatened, but may become threatened in the near future.

Being most active at night-time.

An animal whose diet includes both plants and animals, just like us!

Horn-like structures made of hardened cartilage on giraffes and male okapis.

A symbiotic relationship where one species benefits while the other is harmed.

A reproductive strategy occurring in some reptiles and invertebrates where females can produce offspring without breeding with a male.

Allowing liquid, nutrients, or other chemicals to pass through.

A toxin that is harmful when touched or eaten and is often produced through glands.

An animal that hunts other animals for food. 

How a bird cleans and straightens its feathers (often using oil produced by their preening gland).

An animal that is hunted and eaten by another animal.

A forest ecosystem characterized by tall evergreen trees and heavy, consistent rainfall. Also known as a tropical forest.

A group of ectothermic (cold-blooded) vertebrates that are covered in scales and generally lay eggs.

When a bird settles in to sleep or rest for a period of time.

An ecosystem characterized by having an open tree canopy (where the trees do not touch) and a rainy and dry season.

A significant difference in size, color, or other physical characteristic between males and females of the same species.

A closely related group of animals with similar characteristics that are capable of reproducing (example: flamingos).

A group of animals within a species that are genetically different from other groups in the same species (example: African leopard, Indian leopard, Javan leopard, etc.).

The act of advancing human technology and resources while reducing our negative impact on the environment.

A relationship between organisms where at least one party benefits.

The scientific study of identifying, describing, and classifying organisms.

Forests with mostly broad-leaved deciduous trees that often receive heavy rainfall in the summer and snow in the winter.

An ecosystem dominated by grasses in nutrient-rich soil that receives very little rainfall.

A plant or animal that lives on land.

An explanation of a natural phenomenon that is supported by facts and hypotheses.

A ecosystem near the equator dominated by grasses in low-nutrient soil and seasonal rains followed by extended drought.

An ecosystem characterized by a treeless landscape and freezing temperatures; the soil is permanently frozen.

An animal that has a backbone.

An IUCN rating indicating a species which will become threatened if current trends continue.

An ecosystem that is covered by salt or freshwater either permanently or seasonally.

The process of protecting and preserving wild animals and their habitats.