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SAT Natural Sciences - Animal Life and Evolution

Here you will learn some English words related to animal life and evolution, such as "venom", "habitat", "diurnal", etc. that you will need to ace your SATs.

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SAT Vocabulary for Natural Sciences
insectivore

an animal that primarily feeds on insects or other small invertebrates

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carnivorous
carnivorous
[Adjective]

(of plants or animals) feeding on the meat or flesh of other animals

Ex: Lions are carnivorous predators that primarily hunt and eat other animals. 
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herbivorous
herbivorous
[Adjective]

(of an animal) solely feeding on plants

Ex: Cows are herbivorous mammals that graze on grass and other vegetation. 
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detritivore

an organism that breaks down and feeds on dead organic matter, such as decaying plant and animal material

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parasitic
parasitic
[Adjective]

relating to organisms that live on or inside other organisms, benefiting at the expense of their hosts

Ex: Parasitic organisms, like ticks and tapeworms, depend on other living beings for their survival and reproduction. 
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heterotroph

an organism that cannot produce its own food and must obtain energy by consuming other organisms or organic matter

Ex: All animals, including humans, are heterotrophs because they rely on other organisms for food. 
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predatory
predatory
[Adjective]

(of wild animals) hunting, killing, and feeding on other animals for survival

Ex: Lions are predatory animals that hunt in groups. 
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endothermic
endothermic
[Adjective]

(of an animal) generating and regulating their own body heat internally

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to hibernate

(of some animals or plants) to spend the winter sleeping deeply

Ex: Bears hibernate in caves during the cold winter months to conserve energy. 
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arousal
arousal
[noun]

the process of waking up or becoming active and alert, often influenced by environmental stimuli or internal biological rhythms

Ex: The bird's arousal at dawn was triggered by the first light of day. 
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venom
venom
[noun]

a toxic substance produced and secreted by certain animals, typically used for defense or hunting

Ex: The snake injected venom into its prey. 
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toxicity
toxicity
[noun]

the harmful effects or potential for harm caused by a substance to living organisms or the environment

Ex: The toxicity of the chemical spill contaminated the nearby water supply, posing a threat to aquatic life. 
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potency
potency
[noun]

the capacity or ability of an organism, often referring to its genetic potential, reproductive success, or influence within its environment

Ex: The potency of a dominant male lion ensures that his genes are widely spread throughout the pride. 
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habitat
habitat
[noun]

the place or area in which certain animals, birds, or plants naturally exist, lives, and grows

Ex: Coral reefs provide a rich habitat for thousands of marine species. 
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ecosystem
ecosystem
[noun]

a community of living organisms together with their physical environment, interacting as a system

Ex: Coral reefs are diverse ecosystems that support a wide range of marine life. 
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diurnal
diurnal
[Adjective]

primarily active or occurring during the daytime

Ex: Most birds are diurnal, chirping and foraging for food as soon as the sun rises. 
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nocturnal
nocturnal
[Adjective]

(of animals or organisms) primarily active during the night

Ex: The zoo had a special exhibit featuring nocturnal animals, with dim lighting to mimic their natural environment. 
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crepuscular
crepuscular
[Adjective]

(of an animal) active during the twilight hours of dawn and dusk

Ex: The crepuscular deer emerged from the forest as the sun began to set, grazing peacefully in the meadow. 
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to regurgitate

to bring up partially digested food from the stomach back into the mouth, often to feed young or as part of the digestive process

Ex: Many bird species regurgitate food to feed their chicks. 
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endoskeleton

the internal bony structure of an animal that gives it form and supports its weight

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exoskeleton

the hard outer covering that supports the body of an animal, such as an arthropod

Ex: The beetle's exoskeleton was shiny and tough. 
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extinct
extinct
[Adjective]

(of an animal, plant, etc.) not having any living members, either due to natural causes, environmental changes, or human activity

Ex: The dodo bird is an example of a species that is now extinct, as it disappeared centuries ago due to human activity. 
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de-extinction

the process of bringing extinct species back to life through scientific methods

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domesticated
domesticated
[Adjective]

(of a wild animal) tamed and adapted to live with or to the benefit of humans

Ex: Dogs are considered domesticated animals that have been companions to humans for thousands of years. 
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conservation

the protection of the natural environment and resources from wasteful human activities

Ex: Conservation efforts are crucial to preserving endangered species and their habitats. 
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cloning
cloning
[noun]

the scientific process of creating an identical or near-identical copy of a living organism, cell, or DNA sequence through asexual reproduction or genetic engineering techniques

Ex: This experiment successfully demonstrated the cloning of plant cells. 
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evolutionary
evolutionary
[Adjective]

related to evolution or the slow and gradual development of something

Ex: The evolutionary process has led to the diverse array of life forms we see today. 
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subspecies

a taxonomic rank below species that represents a distinct population within a species, exhibiting consistent differences from other populations

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primitive
primitive
[Adjective]

characteristic of an early stage of human or animal evolution

Ex: The cave paintings depict the life of primitive man. 
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endangered
endangered
[Adjective]

(of an animal, plant, etc.) being at risk of extinction

Ex: The endangered sea turtle population is declining rapidly due to pollution and habitat destruction. 
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endemic
endemic
[Adjective]

found or restricted to a specific geographic region or habitat

Ex: The endemic species of bird is only found in the remote forests of the island. 
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mastodon
mastodon
[noun]

an extinct large, elephant-like mammal with long, curved tusks and a body covered in hair, which lived during the Pleistocene epoch

Ex: Fossils of the mastodon have been found in various parts of North America, providing insights into its habitat and behavior. 
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neanderthal

an extinct hominid species closely related to modern humans, characterized by a robust build and distinctive facial features, that lived in Europe and parts of Asia until approximately 40,000 years ago

Ex: Neanderthals coexisted with early modern humans and shared a common ancestor. 
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