Vertebrate Vocab (Unit #9)

Vertebrate Vocabulary Unit #9

1.      vertebrate: animal that has a backbone

2.      internal fertilization: fertilization that occurs inside the female’s body

3.      endotherm: animal that can body heat from chemical reactions to maintain body temperature

4.      lateral line: row of sense organs that detect water vibrations

5.      gill: organ in which oxygen from water is exchanged with carbon dioxide from the blood

6.      placental mammal: mammal whose embryos develop inside the mother’s body

7.      swim bladder: gas filled sac that helps a fish float

8.      lift: upward force on an object, like a bird’s wings

9.      brooding:  act of sitting on eggs and using body heat to keep them warm

10.   tadpole: aquatic fish shaped larvae of a frog or toad

11.   uterus: organ in a placental mammal in which the embryo grows

12.   ectotherm: organism that needs sources of heat outside of itself

13.   fur: thick coat of hair

14.   gestation period: in mammals, the length of time between fertilization and birth

15.   external fertilization: fertilization that occurs outside the female’s body

16.   monotreme: mammal that lays eggs

17.   molting: shedding of exoskeleton, skin, feathers, or hair to be replaced by new parts

18.   diaphragm: dome shaped muscle attached to the lower ribs that helps the mammal bring air into lungs

19.   lung: organ in which oxygen from the air is exchanged with carbon dioxide from the blood

20.   altricial: chicks that are weak and helpless for a while after hatching

21.   marsupial: mammal that carries and nourishes its young in a pouch

22.   metamporphosis: phase during which there is a rapid change from immature to mature form

23.   keel: large breastbone that anchors the flight muscles of a bird

24.   fins: fan shaped structures that help fish move

25.   amniotic egg: type of egg surrounded by a membrane (amnion), contains a yolk, and has a shell

26.   preening: act of grooming or maintaining feathers

27.   contour feather: external feather that covers a bird and helps determine its shape

28.   precocial: chicks that are active soon after they hatch

29.   mammary gland: in a female mammal, a gland that secretes milk

30.   down feather: soft feather that covers body of young bird and provides insulation

31.   scales: bony structures that protect fish’s body and lower friction