Term | Definition |
asexual reproduction | Asexual reproduction generates offspring that are genetically identical to a single parent. |
cell | the smallest structural and functional unit of an organism, typically microscopic and consisting of cytoplasm and a nucleus enclosed in a membrane. |
cephalization | the concentration of sense organs, nervous control, etc., at the anterior end of the body, forming a head and brain, both during evolution and in the course of an embryo's development. |
closed circulatory system | Closed circulatory systems have the blood closed at all times within vessels of different size and wall thickness. In this type of system, blood is pumped by a heart through vessels, and does not normally fill body cavities. |
coelom | the body cavity in metazoans, located between the intestinal canal and the body wall. |
colonial | Animals that live in colonies |
fluid feeding | Fluid feeders are organisms that feed on the fluid of other organisms. |
endoskeleton | an internal support structure of an animal, composed of mineralized tissue |
exoskeleton | a rigid external covering for the body in some invertebrate animals, especially arthropods, providing both support and protection. |
excretion | the process of eliminating or expelling waste matter. |
filter feeding | Filter feeders are a sub-group of suspension feeding animals that feed by straining suspended matter and food particles from water, typically by passing the water over a specialized filtering structure. |
free-living | Living independently of another organism; not part of a parasitic or symbiotic relationship. Moving independently; not sessile. |
internal transport | A transport system is a means by which materials are moved ('transported') from an exchange surface or exchange surfaces to cells* located throughout the organism. |
invertebrates | an animal lacking a backbone, the invertebrates constitute an artificial division of the animal kingdom, comprising 95 percent of animal species and about 30 different phyla. |
levels of organization | The biological levels of organization of living things arranged from the simplest to most complex are: organelle, cells, tissues, organs, organ systems, organisms, populations, communities, ecosystem, and biosphere. |
life functions | Digestion, circulation, movement/locomotion, excretion, respiration, reproduction, immunity, coordination and synthesis. |
medusa | a form of cnidarian in which the body is shaped like an umbrella. The other main body-form is the polyp. |
motility/motile | how one moves / exhibiting or capable of movement |
multicellular | of an organism or part having or consisting of many cells. |
niche | a position or role taken by a kind of organism within its community. |
open circulatory system | The open circulatory system is a system in which a fluid in a cavity called the hemocoel bathes the organs directly with oxygen and nutrients and there is no distinction between blood and interstitial fluid; this combined fluid is called hemolymph. |
organ | part of an organism that is typically self-contained and has a specific vital function, such as the heart or liver in humans. |
organ system | a group of organs that work together to perform one or more functions. Organs make up an organism |
parasite/parasitic | parasite definition. An organism that lives off or in another organism, obtaining nourishment and protection while offering no benefit in return. |
polyp | a solitary or colonial sedentary form of a coelenterate such as a sea anemone, typically having a columnar body with the mouth uppermost surrounded by a ring of tentacles. polyps are a phase in the life cycle that alternates with medusoid phases |
reproduction | the production of offspring by a sexual or asexual process. |
respiration | a process in living organisms involving the production of energy, typically with the intake of oxygen and the release of carbon dioxide from the oxidation of complex organic substances. |
response | The way that an animal acts towards stimuli in its environment |
sessile | of an organism fixed in one place; immobile |
sexual reproduction | the production of living organisms by combining genetic information from two individuals of different types sexes. In most higher organisms, one sex produces a small motile gamete that travels to fuse with a larger stationary gamete produced by the other. |
symmetry | the balanced distribution of duplicate body parts or shapes. |
tissue | a cellular organizational level intermediate between cells and a complete organ. An ensemble of similar cells from the same origin that together carry out a specific function. |
vertebral column | he spine; the backbone. determines whether or not the organism is a vertebrate or an invertebrate. |