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Essential Vocabulary for TOEFL - The Animal Kingdom

Here you will learn some English words about the animal kingdom, such as "reptile", "rodent", "beast", etc. that are needed for the TOEFL exam.

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Essential Words Needed for TOEFL
creature
creature
[noun]

any living thing that is able to move on its own, such as an animal, fish, etc.

Ex: The night came alive with the sounds of nocturnal creatures like owls , bats , and frogs , signaling the start of their active period .
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wildlife
wildlife
[noun]

all wild animals, considered as a whole, living in the natural environment

Ex: The government has enacted laws to protect local wildlife.
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species
species
[noun]

a group that animals, plants, etc. of the same type which are capable of producing healthy offspring with each other are divided into

Ex: The monarch butterfly is a species of butterfly that migrates thousands of miles each year .
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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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freshwater
freshwater
[Adjective]

living in or taken from water that does not contain salt

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saltwater
saltwater
[Adjective]

living in or taken from water that contains salt or seawater

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beast
beast
[noun]

an animal, usually a wild or dangerous one

Ex: A massive beast emerged from the dense jungle .
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mammal
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: Humans are classified as mammals because they nurse their young .
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rodent
rodent
[noun]

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

Ex: Porcupines , although not commonly thought of as rodents , are classified in the rodent family and are known for their quills used as defense mechanisms .
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amphibian
amphibian
[noun]

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

Ex: Some amphibians, such as the African clawed frog , are commonly kept as pets in home aquariums .
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reptile
reptile
[noun]

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

Ex: Reptiles are cold-blooded and rely on external heat sources to regulate their body temperature .
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cold-blooded
cold-blooded
[Adjective]

describing an animal that its body temperature changes depending on the temperature of its surroundings

Ex: Relying on moist environments , salamanders , cold-blooded creatures , maintain their body temperature .
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primate
primate
[noun]

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

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ape
ape
[noun]

a tailless animal similar to a monkey, such as chimpanzees and gorillas

Ex: Conservation efforts are crucial to protect endangered ape species from habitat loss and poaching .
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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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to sting
to sting
[Verb]

(of an animal or insect) to pierce the skin of another animal or a human, typically injecting poison, either in self-defense or while preying

Ex: If provoked , the scorpion will sting as a means of self-defense .
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to camouflage

to blend in with the surroundings to avoid being seen or detected

Ex: Some insects camouflage by mimicking the appearance of twigs or leaves .
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to breed
to breed
[Verb]

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

Ex: Certain fish species display vibrant colors and perform elaborate courtship rituals before breeding.
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to lay
to lay
[Verb]

(of a bird, insect, fish, etc.) to produce eggs

Ex: In captivity , the parakeet laid eggs several times a year in its nesting box .
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mate
mate
[noun]

the partner of an animal, especially for reproduction

Ex: Wolves hunt in packs alongside their mates.
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cub
cub
[noun]

a young carnivorous mammal, such as a bear, lion, fox, etc.

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den
den
[noun]

the hidden place where a wild predatory animal lives

Ex: Rabbits excavate burrows in the soil to create cozy dens where they can hide from predators and rear their offspring .
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flock
flock
[noun]

a group of birds of the same type, flying and feeding together

Ex: With a rustle of feathers , the flock of migrating birds landed in the treetops , seeking refuge for the night .
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herd
herd
[noun]

a group of animals, such as cows, sheep, etc. that are from the same species, which move and feed together

Ex: A herd of horses galloped across the field , their manes flying in the wind .
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pack
pack
[noun]

a group of animals of the same type hunting or living together, particularly wolves

Ex: In the Arctic tundra , the pack of snow-white arctic foxes relied on each other for survival during harsh winters .
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paw
paw
[noun]

an animal's foot that typically has a combination of nails, claws, fur, and pads

Ex: The fox carefully placed its injured paw on the ground as it limped through the forest .
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claw
claw
[noun]

a sharp and curved nail on the toe of an animal or a bird

Ex: The tiger ’s powerful claws made it an excellent hunter .
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beak
beak
[noun]

the hard or pointed part of a bird's mouth

Ex: The beak of the pelican is long and can hold a surprising amount of water .
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call
call
[noun]

the sound that a bird or an animal usually makes

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to domesticate

to change wild animals or plants for human use or cultivation

Ex: Some scientists are exploring the possibility of domesticating certain wild plants for food production in the future .
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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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to migrate

(of fish, birds, or other animals) to move to different geographic areas according to seasons in order to breed, find food, or escape harsh environmental conditions

Ex: African elephants migrate in search of water and food .
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veterinarian

a doctor who is trained to treat animals

Ex: He pursued advanced training in exotic animal medicine to become a zoo veterinarian.
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