Zoology Vocabulary

Zoology Vocabulary 4th 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