Glossary: A

guano

excrement of seabirds or bats

tactile

uses touch to communicate

pentaradial symmetry

symmetry in five planes: a body symmetry involving five or more parts arranged concentrically around a central axis made up of an oral/aboral pole. Animals with pentaradial symmetry are echinoderms (Phylum Echinodermata, sea stars, brittle stars, sea urchins, and others). Synapomorphy of the Crinoidea + Asteroidea + Ophiuroidea + Echinoidea + Holothuroidea.

restinga

An area containing scrubby vegetation typical of sand marine barrier islands .

equids

members of the mammalian family Equidae, including horses, asses, and zebras.

startle coloration

A coloration pattern used by animals to startle predators. Often the startle coloration is only exposed when the animal is startled, in turning startling the predator. Examples are eye spots or bright colors.

"whole limb" jaws

Entire third appendage forms jaws. Synapomorphy of the Insecta+Myriapoda.

brindled

Having inconspicuous dark streaks or flecks on a gray or tawny background.

Many bats have noseleaves or other kinds of ornaments on their faces. Noseleaves characterize almost all members of the families Phyllostomidae, Rhinolophidae and Megadermatidae. The exact shape and position of the noseleaf can be an important character for identifying and classifying a bat. The function of noseleaves is believed to be in focusing echolocation calls as they are emitted (these bats call through their noses). Other facial structures, such as the swellings often seen on the snout of vespertilionids or the bumps and lappets of the face of Centurio (Phyllostomidae), may be glandular, but this is usually not known for certain. Below are photographs of the faces of five bats representing the three families mentioned above. Each photograph links to a full-sized view of the same imge. Two of the bats shown, Phyllostomus, and Centurio, are phyllostomids. Most phyllostomids have well developed noseleaves like that of Phyllostomus; the latter is unusual and probably a derived condition. Megadermatidae (Lavia) Rhinolophidae (Hipposideros) Phyllostomidae (Phyllostomus) Phyllostomidae (Centurio) We gleaned this succinct summary from a listserv called biolab. Date: Tue, 13 Jul 1999 14:18:50 -0400 (EDT) From: Carol Burton To: Multiple recipients of list <biolab@hubcap.clemson.edu> Subject: RE: Searching the Net! Status: <...> I have been coordinating an NSF project - Critical Thinking and Information literacy Across the Curriculum (CTILAC) for the last year and so have been doing a lot with this topic. Much of this has been said on this list at different times, but bears repeating. <...> ...students need to know not just how to search the Web but when. The Internet is often not the most appropriate source of information, but students have to be pushed to look at print sources, both books and periodicals. Yes you can find articles on the Web from reputable (and other) journals ....... but they can be summaries, not the complete article. This is often the case with commercial journals (think about this - if your business is selling magazines, why would you give away your articles?) Even with the complete article the graphs, table and pictures may be missing, and the information they contain. It's always a good idea to check the actual journal. Especially with personal sites, that often have an ax to grind, the article content may be changed. It's very easy to do, they will leave the citation so it looks relevant and accurate, but unless you check the original you won't know how it was changed. The librarians are a great source of information - they've been doing the technology stuff for a long time, and communicating electronically long before the Web became so popular. They are very familiar with the latest searching tips and techniques. <...> The CTILAC site is http://www.bcc.ctc.edu/lmc/ilac/ You can use any of the assignments, please credit the source - and we'd like feedback on how you used them. Other sites: The following site has short tutorials and exercises on the information research process. http://www.lib.calpoly.edu/infocomp/modules/index.html This is a good tutorial on Boolean operators http://florin.syr.edu/webarch/searchpro/boolean_tutorial.html Searching the Web Webhound has excellent tutorials and worksheets on searching the Internet http://www.mcli.dist.maricopa.edu/webhound/index.html If you have students you are cocky about their search skills get them to do WebHound's Scavenger Hunt - it takes a really skilled searcher to complete. Information on understanding and decoding Uniform Resource Locators (URL) http://www.library.jhu.edu/elp/useit/evaluate/url.html Evaluating information on web pages The Good, the Bad and the Ugly. Several exercises and examples. http://lib.msu.edu/staff/susabeck/evalexpl.html- The ICYouSee guide to Critical Thinking about what you see on the Web. http://www.ithaca.edu/library/Training/hott.html Carol T. Burton Bellevue Community College Bellevue, WA 98007 425-603-4016 Used with permission.
deposit feeder

eating small particles of organic material by consuming inorganic sediments and soils

grazer

An herbivore that feeds on grasses (compare browser).

dormant

a state in which metabolic activities are decreased, including hibernation, aestivation, torpor, and diapause.

ambulacral grooves

radial grooves along which tube feet project to the exterior of the organism.

With over 1300 species, nearly globally distributed and tremendously diverse ecologically, the murids present a biologist with an almost unmanageably complex group. Systematists working with murids have divided the family into around 15 Recent subfamilies. In many instances these subfamilies are clearly cohesive and monophyletic entities, with members linked together by distribution, ecological attributes, and behavior as well as morphology, and (when available) fossils and molecular characteristics. In the past, some have been given the rank of family. In other instances the evidence for monophyly is less convincing. Nevertheless, dividing the Muridae into subfamilies makes it an easier group to comprehend, and current research on muroid systematics will, we hope, eventually clarify the makeup and relationships of its component subfamilies. Sigmodontinae (423 species, 79 genera). New World rats and mice. Strictly New World in distribution, but found throughout the hemisphere. Very diverse and difficult to diagnose; includes forms that are strictly arboreal, others that are scansorial or terrestrial, some that are largely aquatic, and a few that are fossorial. Molar morphology is highly complex and variable. Food habits range from primarily herbivorous to primarily insectivorous; a few species are at least partly carnivorous; some consume large amounts of fungus. Includes such familiar genera as Peromyscus, Neotoma, Oryzomys. The number of species may be greatly underestimated. Cricetinae (18 species, 7 genera). Hamsters. Southern Europe through Central Asia to the Pacific coast of China and Russia, where they are usually associated with drier habitats. Short tail, internal cheek pouches; also united by characteristics of dentition and ear ossicles. Primarily terrestrial; good diggers. Most species are granivores, storing seeds in their capacious cheek pouches. Calomyscinae (6 species, 1 genus). Asian hamster-mouse. Central Asia. Small, like cricetids but lack cheek pouches and with a long tail. Peculiar species of very uncertain phylogenetic relationships. May be allied with the extinct subfamily Cricetodontinae. Mystromyinae (1 genus, 1 species). White-tailed rat. Southern Africa. Hamster-like, no cheek pouches. Phylogenetic relationships unclear; some systematists suggest a close relationship with Nesomyinae. Arvicolinae (143 species, 26 genera). Voles, lemmings, muskrats; also known as Microtinae. Broadly distributed across the Northern Hemisphere; does not enter Africa or SE Asia. Short nasals and stout, broadly bowed zygomatic arches; cheekteeth hypsodont and highly prismatic; numerous other apparent synapomorphies. Tail shorter than head and body. Most are terrestrial, but muskrats are aquatic and red tree mice are arboreal. Includes familiar field mice of North America and Europe. Most species are primarily herbivorous, seldom (but occasionally) including insects in their diets. Gerbillinae (110 species, 14 genera). Gerbils, jirds, and sand rats. Another large group, restricted to Africa and the Middle East to Central Asia. Small to medium-sized mice and rats, with exceptionally broad zygomatic plates, causing the ventral portion of the infraorbital canal to appear as a deep slit; enlarged lacrimal that forms a ledge over the anterior margin of the orbit; bullae greatly inflated. Also united by numerous other cranial and dental features. Most species inhabit dry areas with sparse vegetation, including deserts. Granivorous and herbivorous, but some also consume large numbers of insects. Cricetomyinae (6 species, 3 genera). Pouched rats and mice. Africa, south of the Sahara; most species are found in relatively arid habitats. Medium to large size (Cricetomys reaches 400 mm in head-body length), and possessing large internal cheek pouches. Cusp pattern of molars with similarities to both murines and cricetines. Ominivores, feeding largely on vegetable material but also eating some insects. Questionably monophyletic. Petromyscinae (5 species, 2 genera). Rock mice and climbing swamp mouse. Southern Africa. Small mice, with tail either medium long (rock mice) or very long and semiprehensile (climbing swamp mouse); united by a number of cranial and dental features, but each genus showing strong specializations of its own. The relationship among petromyscines, dendromurines, and cricetomyines has been the subject of much debate. Dendromurinae (23 species, 8 genera). African climbing mice, gerbil mice, fat mice, and forest mice. Africa south of the Sahara. Small to medium sized, tail moderately long to long. Much variation present in external and internal morphology, and also in habitat and other aspects of natural history; members of the group are linked primarily by dental characteristics. Lophiomyinae (1 species, 1 genus). Maned or crested rat. East Africa, from Somalia to Tanzania. large rat with short limbs, broad feet, a bushy tail with a distinctive white-tipped tuft, and bold black and white pattern covering its body. Long hairs along the middle of its back can be erected, exposing glandular areas along the sides. Highly distinctive skull, with a roof of bone covering the temporal fossa. This roof is formed by extensions of the parietal, frontal, and jugal bones, and its surface is distinctively rough and granular. Also unusual in its complex, 5-chambered stomach. Arboreal, herbivorous. Nesomyinae (14 species, 7 genera in 1991, but numbers of both species and genera are increasing rapidly). Malagasy rats and mice. Madagascar. Highly diverse group, including fossorial, scansorial, and arboreal forms; possibly a monophyletic radiation but that is under study. Primary characteristic uniting them is "occurs on Madagascar"! Murinae (529 species, 122 genera; but additional species are being described every year). Old World rats and mice. The largest family of mammals. Originally found in Europe, Asia, Africa, Australia and some islands; now distributed worldwide due to introductions by humans. Upper molars usually with 3 extra lingual cusps, each forming part of a chevron-shaped loph in many species (third molar may lack these cusps). Size, shape, habits, and most cranial and dental characteristics hugely variable. Most species are terrestrial, but some are aquatic. Some are fossorial, others scansorial, others completely terrestrial. Some scamper, some hop, others swim. Diet varies from strict herbivory to specialization in earthworms or aquatic invertebrates. Some species are largely carnivorous. Otomyinae (14 species, 2 genera). Vlei rats, karoo rats, and whistling rats. Southern and east central Africa. Upper molars are hypsodont and strongly lophodont or loxodont; individual teeth appear to be made up of transverse laminae; third molar larger than the first two. Unusually strongly developed zygomatic spine and notch, and zygomatic arch strong and bowed. A number of other unusual characteristics of cranium and mandible. Medium sized rats, primarily terrestrial, and mainly herbivorous. One species whistles when disturbed. Platacanthomyinae (3 species, 2 genera). Malabar spiny mouse and blind tree mouse. India and Southeast Asia. Small mice with a moderately long to long tail with last 2/3 bushy; superficially resemble dormice (Myoxidae). Occlusal surface of molars flat, with distinctive parallel rows of ridges and valleys. Unusual palate and mesopterygoid region; coronoid process reduced. Probably arboreal, but not much is known; possibly herbivorous. Myospalacinae (7 species, 1 genus). Zokors. Siberia, northern China. Medium to large size, short tail, body form like other fossorial rodents. Very large foreclaws. Defined by numerous characterics of the cranium and zygomatic region, which tend to be robust as is often true of fossorial rodents. Strongly fossorial; use forefeet for digging; feed on roots, bulbs, and other parts of plants. Spalacinae (8 species, 2 genera). Blind mole rats. Southeastern Europe west to Middle East and south to northeastern Africa along the Mediterranean coast. Medium to large rats with bodies highly modified for fossorial life. Eyes vestigial and external ears rudimentary. Feet small and claws less developed than might be expected; most digging is done with the head and incisors. Distinctive row of stiffened hairs along the sides of the head, effectively increasing its breadth and probably helpful in digging. Skull strongly built and incisors unusually long. Strange murids very much adapted to digging. Herbivorous. Number of species and their relationships have proved very difficult to work out. Rhizomyinae (15 species, 3 genera). Bamboo rats and African mole rats. Discontinuously distributed in east-central Africa and southeastern Asia. Medium to large size with bodies modified for digging. Body stocky, legs powerful, claws well deveoped, tail short. Skull is robust with short and broad rostrum, prominent crests, and strongly developed zygoma. The ventral portion of the infraorbital is reduced and the zygomatic plate is not well defined compared to most myomorphs. Vary from being strictly fossorial to primarily terrestrial. Use head and feet for digging. Herbivorous. References Carleton, M.D. and G.G. Musser. 1984. Muroid rodents. Pp. 289-388 in Anderson, S. and J. K. Jones, Jr. (eds). Orders and Families of Recent Mammals of the World. John Wiley and Sons, N.Y. xii+686 pp.
terai

A 8-24 km (5-15 mile) wide belt of swampy grass jungle generally between the Himalayan foothills and the plains of India. It extends from northeast Uttar Pradesh (India) in the east, through southern Nepal and northwest Bengal (India) to northwest Assam (India) and adjacent parts of extreme southern Bhutan.

armor

protective body covering that is used to protect an animal from predation. For example, a snail's shell or an armadillo's protective plates.

biomass

A measure of the abundance of an animal in term of the mass (weight) of the animals, stated as either the total mass of the animals in a given location or per unit area.

cephalization

the tendency in some animal groups for the major sense organs, mouth, and brain to be grouped at the front (anterior) of the body in a specialized cephalic region, the head. Synapomorphy of the Bilateria.

larva

a free-living, sexually immature form in some animal life cycles. Larvae may differ from adult forms in many respects, including morphology, diet, and habitat.

peristome

the area around the mouth in many invertebrates which sometimes is modified to assist in food collecting. An example is the first segment of polychaete worms, the protostomium, which is variously modified with hardened jaws, palps, or ciliated to collect food.

polyestrous

Referring to a female that has two or more estrus cycles in one breeding season.

homeothermic

animals that regulate their body temperature independently of ambient temperature fluctuations.

See also: heterothermic
Animal Diversity Web (ADW) is an online database of animal natural history, distribution, classification, and conservation biology at the University of Michigan Animal Diversity Web has Thousands of species accounts about individual animal species. These may include text, pictures of living animals, photographs and movies of specimens, and/or recordings of sounds. Students write the text of these accounts and we cannot guarantee their accuracy. Descriptions of taxa above the species level, especially phyla, classes, orders and families. Hundreds of hyperlinked pages and images illustrate the traits and general biology of these groups. Professional biologists prepare these pieces, for the most part. Animal Diversity Web Is An Online Encyclopedia. ADW is a large searchable encyclopedia of the natural history of animals. Every day, thousands of classroom students and informal visitors use it to answer animal questions. Other sites specialize in local, endangered, or particular kinds of animals. We aim to be as comprehensive as possible. A Science Learning Tool. ADW facilitates inquiry-driven learning, that is, teaching about science by leading students to use the methods of science. Our large database is structured, providing consistent information for all species to foster comparisons. Our query tool allows a user to find information on a set of species that you specify. Students can explore patterns and relationships, learn how to frame and answer scientific questions and, with the help of a good teacher, experience the excitement and satisfaction of doing science. Our long-term goal is to create a database rich enough that students can discover for themselves basic concepts in organismal and conservation biology. A Virtual Museum ADW provides a way to make the contents of research museums available globally for teaching and research. So far, our efforts have been directed mainly at mammals. Photographs of scientific specimens are available for representative species from most mammal families. We've also included several hundred Quick Time Virtual Reality Movies of skulls. These allow the user to "rotate" the specimen, providing an excellent impression of its 3-dimensional structure. We've written in depth about and illustrated many of the characteristics of interest to students of mammals. An important goal for the future is to expand to cover other groups of animals and include other media such as animal behavior video. Contribute to Animal Diversity Web! An essential feature of the ADW is student authorship of species accounts. Students learn considerable detail about the biology of a species, then share their work with users worldwide by making it part of our permanent database. Our web-based template ensures a consistent format for accounts. Help pages suggest content and sources. The system checks that no one else is writing about the student's chosen species, checks spelling of scientific names, and fills in the scientific classification. Instructors and ADW staff review and edit accounts before they are added to the site. Classes at dozens of universities and colleges contribute to the ADW project. The resulting growth of the database makes us even better for inquiry learning. If you might be interested in having your students write accounts, please go to Teaching Resources and fill out the request to contribute. We also welcome comments, corrections, and questions.
alpha diversity

See diversity - alpha.

pneumostome

a external pore found on the right side of the mantle in land snails and slugs. Air-breathing gastropods use it for respiration.

cursorial

specialized for running.

barrage

A barrier, such as a low earth dam, which impounds water for irrigation.

Arvicanthis Batomys Berlymys Dasymys Lenothrix Mus Nesokia Oenomys Phloeomys
sierra

A range of mountains, especially with a serrated or irregular outline.

development regulative

The fate of blastomeres is initially flexible and determined gradually over the course of development; individual blastomeres can follow a different developmental program if repositioned. Synapomorphy of the Deuterostomia.

female parental care

parental care is carried out by females

dispersal

Movement of an animal away from its previous home range. Often refers to the movement of a young animal away from the home range where it was born.

coefficient of variation

The standard deviation divided by the mean.

parturition

The process of giving birth.

female defense polygyny

a form of polygyny in which males defend females, excluding other males from mating opportunities, such as in species where breeding males maintain harems.

chaco

A lowland plains area in Bolivia and Paraguay containing soils carried down from the Andes. It is characterized by dry deciduous forest and scrub, transitional between rain forest

monogamous

Having one mate at a time.

promiscuous

Referring to a mating system where a member of one sex mates with more than one member of the other sex, and each relationship is ephemeral and terminates after mating without a social bond being formed.

genus (plural genera)

A taxonomic division that generally refers to a group of animals which are similar in structure and descent but are not all able to breed among themselves. For example, the lion, leopard and tiger all belong to the genus Panthera.

neotenic

retaining larval characteristics after reaching sexual maturity. The rate of growth of somatic (nonreproductive) parts of the body is slowed whereas development of reproductive organs proceeds normally.

Pacific Ocean

body of water between the southern ocean (above 60 degrees south latitude), Australia, Asia, and the western hemisphere. This is the world's largest ocean, covering about 28% of the world's surface.

World Map

helper

An animal, usually without young of its own, which contributes to the survival of the offspring of others by behaving parentally towards the offspring.

protostome

the developmental pattern of animal blastula whereby the blastopore ultimately develops into the mouth, cleavage is typically spiral, and the coelom forms from by splitting.. This pattern is typical of many invertebrate groups (the "Protostomia"), including acoelomate, pseudocoelomate, and coelomate animals. These groups include flatworms, rotifers, nematodes, arthropods, molluscs, annelids, and many others.

browser

An herbivore that feeds on shoots and leaves of trees and/or shrubs, as opposed to grasses (compare grazer).

ectothermic

animals which must use heat acquired from the environment and behavioral adaptations to regulate body temperature

aquatic

Living mainly in the water.

carapace

An exoskeletal shell that covers the head and at least some of the thorax. Synapomorphy of the Branchiopoda+Maxillopod

reproduction

the process of producing offspring.

contractile

capable of producing contraction, the shortening of muscle fibers in order to produce a force.

epizootic

A disease outbreak in an animal population that occurs at a particular time and does not persist (compare Enzootic).

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