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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: Some species of birds , like eagles and hawks , are carnivorous and hunt small mammals and birds .
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herbivorous
herbivorous
[Adjective]

(of an animal) solely feeding on plants

Ex: Caterpillars are herbivorous larvae that feed on the leaves of plants before metamorphosing into butterflies or moths .
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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 fungi , like the cordyceps fungus , infect insects and alter their behavior to aid in their own 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: The study focused on the feeding habits of heterotrophs in various aquatic environments .
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predatory
predatory
[Adjective]

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

Ex: The predatory fish ambushed smaller fish near the coral reef .
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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: Ground squirrels hibernate in their burrows, where they enter a state of deep torpor to survive the winter.
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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 arousal response in mammals can be rapid , allowing them to react quickly to potential threats upon waking .
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venom
venom
[noun]

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

Ex: Venom from scorpions can be fatal in small doses .
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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 scientist developed a method for measuring the toxicity of wastewater discharged into rivers .
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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: Researchers study the potency of certain traits to understand their impact on evolutionary fitness .
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habitat
habitat
[noun]

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

Ex: Cacti are well adapted to the dry habitat of the desert .
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ecosystem
ecosystem
[noun]

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

Ex: Climate change poses a major threat to many fragile ecosystems.
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diurnal
diurnal
[Adjective]

primarily active or occurring during the daytime

Ex: Hikers prefer diurnal adventures , taking advantage of daylight to explore trails and enjoy nature .
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nocturnal
nocturnal
[Adjective]

(of animals or organisms) primarily active during the night

Ex: Mosquitoes are notorious nocturnal pests , becoming most active after dusk .
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crepuscular
crepuscular
[Adjective]

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

Ex: Wildlife photographers set up their cameras before sunrise , eager to capture the elusive beauty of crepuscular creatures in their natural habitats .
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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: Insects like bees regurgitate nectar to produce honey for their hive .
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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: A grasshopper 's exoskeleton allows it to jump long distances .
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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: Conservation efforts aim to protect endangered species and prevent them from becoming extinct.
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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: Livestock such as cows, sheep, and goats are domesticated animals raised for food production and other purposes.
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conservation

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

Ex: Many organizations focus on wildlife conservation to prevent species from becoming extinct .
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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: Dolly the sheep was the first mammal created through cloning.
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evolutionary
evolutionary
[Adjective]

related to evolution or the slow and gradual development of something

Ex: The evolutionary relationship between species can be inferred through comparative anatomy and DNA analysis .
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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 island 's ecosystem still contains primitive species that have remained unchanged for centuries .
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endangered
endangered
[Adjective]

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

Ex: Climate change poses a significant threat to many endangered species by altering their habitats and food sources.
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endemic
endemic
[Adjective]

found or restricted to a specific geographic region or habitat

Ex: The endemic species of fish is only found in the freshwater lakes of the mountain range .
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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: Mastodons, unlike mammoths , had straighter tusks and different dental structures suited to their diet .
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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 lived approximately 40,000 years ago and became extinct during the Pleistocene epoch .
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