SAT Natural Sciences - Zoology

Here you will learn some English words related to zoology, such as "breed", "pupate", "ornithologist", etc. that you will need to ace your SATs.

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SAT Natural Sciences

a scientist who specializes in the study of insects, including their behavior, ecology, and classification

Ex: As an entomologist , he dedicated his career to understanding insect behavior .

a scientist who specializes in the study of birds, including their behavior, ecology, and evolution

Ex: The ornithologist 's passion for birds began in childhood .

a scientist who studies reptiles and amphibians

Ex: The zoo hired a herpetologist to help design the new reptile exhibit .
to breed [verb]

(of an animal) to have sex and give birth to young

Ex: Wolves in the wild have a complex social structure that influences when and with whom they breed .
to hatch [verb]

(of birds, fish, etc.) to come out of an egg

Ex: In the classroom , students watched in excitement as the ducklings hatched from their eggs .

the number of eggs or offspring produced by a single reproductive effort, typically by a bird, reptile, or insect

to keep an egg in a favorable condition to help it develop until it hatches

Ex: The penguin parents took turns to incubate their egg .
migratory [adjective]

(of animals or birds) moving from one place to another, often with the changing seasons

Ex: Some fish are migratory , swimming upstream to spawn .
larval [adjective]

relating to or characteristic of the larva stage, which is an early, immature form of an animal that undergoes metamorphosis

Ex:

to transform from the larval stage into a pupa during an insect's development

Ex: Some insects burrow into the ground to pupate and emerge as adults later .

species that do not possess or cannot develop a spinal column, such as an arthropod, mollusk, etc.

Ex: The pond teemed with tiny invertebrates that served as food for larger fish .
marine [adjective]

living in or native to the sea

Ex: Marine mammals include dolphins and seals .
feline [noun]

any animal in the cat family

Ex: She adopted a playful feline from the animal shelter .
primate [noun]

any mammalian animal that belongs to the same group as humans, such as monkeys, apes, lemurs, etc.

mammal [noun]

a class of animals to which humans, cows, lions, etc. belong, have warm blood, fur or hair and typically produce milk to feed their young

Ex: Elephants , with their distinctive trunks and large ears , are among the most iconic mammals found in Africa and Asia .

any cold-blooded animal with the ability to live both on land and in water, such as toads, frogs, etc.

Ex: Toads are amphibians similar to frogs but with dry , warty skin and shorter hind legs , adapted for hopping rather than leaping .
rodent [noun]

any small mammal with a pair of strong front teeth, such as mice, hamsters, rats, etc.

Ex: Squirrels , although often considered cute , are also rodents that play crucial roles in forest ecosystems .
reptile [noun]

a class of animals to which crocodiles, lizards, etc. belong, characterized by having cold blood and scaly skin

Ex: The zoo has a variety of reptiles , including lizards , turtles , and snakes .
arachnid [noun]

a class of terrestrial arthropods that breathe air and have four pairs of limbs, such as spiders, scorpions, etc.

any mammal that lays eggs and is only found in Australia, such as platypus

any aquatic bird, especially a game bird of fresh waters

mollusk [noun]

any invertebrate that lives in aquatic or damp habitats and has a soft unsegmented body, often covered with a shell

Ex: She collected seashells , fascinated by the diversity of mollusks .
ungulate [noun]

a hoofed mammal, typically herbivorous, which includes animals such as horses, cows, deer, and elephants

Ex: Ungulates play a crucial role in their ecosystems by grazing and dispersing seeds .
hawkmoth [noun]

a type of moth belonging to the family Sphingidae, known for their rapid flight and ability to hover while feeding on nectar from flowers

Ex: The garden was visited by a beautiful hawkmoth with striking wing patterns .
nematode [noun]

any long and cylindrical worm with a segmented body that is either parasitic or free-living

oyster [noun]

a type of shellfish found in the ocean, known for its hard, irregular shell and prized for the pearls it can produce

Ex: Some species of oysters are used to create habitats for other marine organisms by forming oyster reefs .

a sea creature with a hard shell and jointed legs such as crabs and lobsters

Ex: The aquarium has a fascinating exhibit showcasing the diverse world of crustaceans , from hermit crabs to giant prawns .

an invertebrate animal with a segmented body and a chitinous exoskeleton, such as a spider, crab, etc.

Ex: Crustaceans , including shrimp and lobsters , are aquatic arthropods .
magpie [noun]

a black-and-white crow with a long tail that is noted for its intelligence

locust [noun]

a large grasshopper that lives in hot countries and flies in large swarms, destroying crops

simian [noun]

a primate of the group that includes monkeys, apes, and humans

Ex: The zoo 's new exhibit features several species of simians , including chimpanzees and macaques .
macaque [noun]

a type of monkey that belongs to the Old World monkey family, characterized by their long tails, cheek pouches

barnacle [noun]

a marine arthropod with an external shell that attaches itself to a surface and feeds on particles that are in the water

hominid [noun]

a member of the biological family Hominidae, which includes humans, their ancestors, and other great apes like chimpanzees, gorillas, and orangutans

Ex: Modern hominids , such as gorillas and chimpanzees , share a significant amount of DNA with humans .
echidna [noun]

a small egg-laying mammal that is covered in spines, has a pointed snout and originates from Australia

beaver [noun]

a semiaquatic rodent with a wide tail and strong teeth that builds dams across streams and is mainly found in the Northern hemisphere

orca [noun]

a large, black-and-white marine mammal known for its social behavior, intelligence, and adaptability, found in oceans worldwide and known as an apex predator

Ex: The orca 's haunting cries echoed through the misty fjords , signaling its presence to others of its pod .
canine [noun]

a member of the dog family, including domestic dogs, wolves, foxes, and related animals

Ex: Canine companions , such as Labrador Retrievers , are known for their friendly disposition and are often used as therapy dogs .
plover [noun]

a small shorebird with a short hard-tipped bill and a stout build

quail [noun]

a small, short-tailed, ground-dwelling game bird with brownish plumage

Ex: The gentle call of the quail is a familiar sound in the countryside at dusk .

a small marine animal that is covered with spines and has a round shell, harvested for food

tanager [noun]

a colorful bird species found in the Americas, known for its vibrant plumage, melodious songs, and important ecological role in seed dispersal

skunk [noun]

a small mammal belonging to the weasel family with black and white stripes that can produce a strong unpleasant smell when attacked, native to North America

Ex: Despite its reputation for emitting a foul odor , the skunk is a shy and solitary creature , preferring to avoid confrontation .

a large marine mammal known for its distinctive appearance, acrobatic behavior, and complex songs

an animal with sharp needle-like parts on its body and tail, used for protection

Ex:
palomino [noun]

a cream or golden horse with a white tail and mane

replete [noun]

a specialized caste of social insects, such as ants or termites, that are engorged with food and serve as living food storage units within the colony

Ex: Worker ants feed the repletes , who act as living reservoirs .
quill [noun]

a sharp, stiff, hollow spine found on the body of porcupines or hedgehogs, serving as a defensive mechanism against predators

tentacle [noun]

any of the various flexible limbs of an animal, especially an invertebrate, which enable it to move or hold things

tail fin [noun]

the posterior part of a fish or aquatic animal's body, composed of fins that provide propulsion and maneuverability

Ex: The shape and size of a shark 's tail fin contribute to its swimming speed .
talon [noun]

a long, sharp nail on the foot of some birds, especially birds of prey

a long, tubular feeding organ found in many insects, such as butterflies, moths, and flies, which is used to suck up nectar, other liquids, or in some cases, blood

snout [noun]

the long and protruding facial part of an animal which comprises its nose and mouth, especially in a mammal

the bivalve shell of a clam, characterized by two symmetrical halves that hinge together

Ex: The fisherman found an intact clamshell buried in the sand .

any external body part that protrudes from an organism's main body, often used to describe limbs, antennae, or other structures

Ex: The spider 's eight legs are appendages specialized for movement and prey capture .

the biological ability of certain animals to detect electrical fields in their environment to locate prey, navigate, and communicate

the biological ability of certain organisms to perceive and orient themselves based on the Earth's magnetic field

a biological process in which an animal undergoes a significant change in form and structure during its life cycle, typically seen in insects, amphibians, and other animals

Ex: During metamorphosis , the larva 's tissues are reorganized to form the adult insect .