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Living organisms change over time to become best suited, or adapted, to their environment. These adaptations can be structural, behavioral, or physiological.
adapted
A meat eating wild animal.
carnivore
A wildlife species active during the day.
diurnal
A small invertebrate animal.
insect
Organisms that eat other organisms to get their energy. There are three types: Primary (herbivores), Secondary (omnivores) and Tertiary (carnivores).
consumers
Cold-blooded vertebrates. Adults breathe air with lungs and through moist skin and live on land and in water.
amphibian
A cold-blooded, air-breathing vertebrate with scales or bony plates covering the skin and true claws on the toes. Reproduces by laying soft-shelled, leathery eggs.
reptile
An animal with no true backbone.
invertebrate
Individual organisms of the same species living or breeding closely together usually for the benefit of all, such as for a stronger defense.
colony
Wild animals that are active during the night.
nocturnal
Certain aquatic species, such as salmon and steelhead trout, that live in, and can breathe, both freshwater and saltwater.
anadromous
The act of passing the winter (or a portion of it) in a deep sleep or resting state. A physiological adaptation for survival.
hibernation
An organism which feeds upon the tissues or fluids of another animal, or host. It is harmful to the host, but generally does not kill host, as that would destroy its food supply.
parasite
A bird of prey with sharp bills and talons. Adapted for hunting and/or scavenging prey animals.
raptor
A plant-eating wild animal.
herbivore
A warm-blooded vertebrate covered with feathers and having wings.
bird
Animals and other life forms that are not tamed or domesticated by humans and are fully adapted for life in the wild.
wildlife
The body and flesh of a dead animal.
carrion
An introduced, non-native plant or animal whose population growth threatens to cause harm to native plant and animal populations, the environment, the economy and/or human health.
invasive species
The struggle between two or more plant or animal species for a common resource. Plants compete for sunlight, while animals compete for food.
competition
An adaptation that enhances chances of survival for both predators and prey by allowing wildlife and plants to blend stealthy in their environment.
camouflage
A wild animal with a varied diet of both plants and animals.
omnivore
An animal with a backbone.
vertebrate
Any hard, external supporting body structure of an invertebrate.
exoskeleton
A warm-blooded vertebrate animal with hair or fur, has live birth, and milk for young.
mammal