Related to Animals: English Vocabulary List

the animals of a particular geological period or region

"The island has unique fauna found nowhere else."

"The island has a unique fauna that includes several species of birds and reptiles found nowhere else on Earth because of its long isolation from the mainland."

any animal in the cat family

"The shelter rescued several injured feline animals"

"The veterinarian examined the injured feline with great care."

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

"Frogs are a type of amphibian."

"An amphibian is a cold-blooded vertebrate that begins life in water with gills and later develops lungs for a terrestrial adult existence."

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

"Crabs protect themselves using a strong exoskeleton"

"The beetle's exoskeleton protected it from predators."

an invertebrate animal with a segmented body and a chitinous exoskeleton, such as a spider, crab, etc.

"Arthropods have exoskeletons."

"Insects and spiders are arthropods."

any invertebrate that lives in aquatic or damp habitats and has a soft unsegmented body, often covered with a shell

"The mollusk has a shell."

"The child found a colorful mollusk on the beach."

small animals or insects that are believed to be destructive and are difficult to handle when they appear in a considerable number

"The warehouse suffered from vermin infestation recently"

"The old barn was overrun with vermin, so the owner called an exterminator immediately."

an animal that feeds on the flesh of other animals

"Lions are carnivores that eat meat."

"A carnivore is an animal that obtains its energy and nutrients exclusively from consuming the flesh and meat of other animals."

any animal that only feeds on plants

"Cows are herbivores that eat grass."

"A herbivore is an animal anatomically and physiologically adapted to eating only plant material as the main component of its diet."

an animal that eats both plant and animal matter

"A bear is an omnivore that eats both plants and meat."

"Bears are omnivores because they eat both plants like berries and roots and animals like fish and small mammals depending on what is available."

to control the population of a wild animal, particularly by killing weak or sick ones

"Farmers cull weak animals yearly."

"The farmer had to cull the weakest chickens to keep the rest of the flock healthy."

brought from a wild state under human control or accustomed to humans

"The deer is very tame."

"The tame deer ate apples directly from the children's hands because it had been raised by humans and was not afraid of people."

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

"The bird is predatory."

"The predatory bird swoops down from the sky to catch small mammals and it has sharp talons for gripping its prey."

to remove the sexual organs of a female animal, called ovaries

"Please spay your female cat."

"We decided to spay our cat to prevent her from having unwanted litters of kittens every year."

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

"The frog camouflaged itself well."

"The soldiers used leaves and mud to camouflage their vehicles and hide from enemy aircraft."

a female horse that is kept for breeding

"The champion racehorse became a valuable broodmare."

"The healthy broodmare gave birth to a strong foal last spring on the farm."

a hole that an animal digs in the ground to use as a shelter

"Rabbit's burrow in ground."

"The small creature quickly retreated into its well-hidden burrow to escape the approaching predator."

to make low crying sounds out of fear, pain or sadness

"The puppy whimpers for food."

"The lost puppy began to whimper softly when it could not find its way back home."

an animal that has recently come out of its shell

"New hatchling emerged."

"The new hatchling emerged from the egg and opened its eyes for the first time."

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

"Bears hibernate during winter."

"Some animals like bears and hedgehogs hibernate during the cold winter months to conserve energy."

to move smoothly and quietly, like a snake

"The snake slithered through the grass silently."

"The long snake began to slither silently through the tall grass toward the unsuspecting mouse that was nibbling on a seed."

(of horses) to move at a moderate, three-beat gait that is faster than a trot but slower than a gallop

"The horse canters across fields."

"The horse began to canter across the field as soon as the rider gave the signal."

any of the long, stiff hairs that grow on the face of a cat, mouse, etc.

"The cat's long whiskers twitched as it sniffed the air curiously."

"A cat uses its whiskers to sense nearby objects and navigate safely through dark or narrow spaces."

the projecting part of the face of some animals such as dogs and horses that includes their jaws and noses

"Dog muzzle used."

"The dog muzzle was used for safety during the visit to the crowded park yesterday."

a long, pointed tooth found in carnivorous animals, used for biting, gripping, and tearing flesh

"The snake sank its sharp fang into the leg of the mouse."

"The venomous snake used its long hollow fangs to inject poison into the small mouse before swallowing it whole."

each of the curved pointy teeth of some animals such as elephants, boars, etc., especially one that stands out from the closed mouth

"The elephant's tusks were very long."

"A tusk is an elongated, curved tooth that sticks out from the mouth of some animals."

the feathers of a bird covering its body

"Colorful plumage shines."

"The bird has beautiful colorful plumage that shines in the sunlight during the day."

a long piece of rope, leather strap or light chain used for guiding and controlling a dog or other animals

"Strong dog leash."

"She bought a strong dog leash to walk her large pet safely in the city."

(of animals and plants) found and developed only in a particular place and not been brought from elsewhere

"This plant is indigenous."

"The indigenous flora of the island has unique characteristics found nowhere else on Earth."

a member of the dog family, including domestic dogs, wolves, foxes, and related animals

"The vet cares for all canine patients with great kindness."

"The canine rescue team worked tirelessly through the night to find the missing hikers in the forest."

species that do not possess or cannot develop a spinal column, such as an arthropod, mollusk, etc.

"A jellyfish is an invertebrate with no bones inside its soft body."

"Many invertebrates, such as insects and worms, play a vital role in keeping ecosystems healthy and balanced."

any cold-blooded animal of the class Reptilia that breathes air and is a vertebrate, such as snakes, frogs, etc.

"The reptilian hissed loudly."

"The cold reptilian eyes of the crocodile watched the animals near the river carefully."

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

"Dogs breed in spring."

"Many species of fish breed during specific seasons to ensure the survival of their young."

a male deer, rabbit, or antelope

"The buck ran fast."

"The majestic buck stood proudly at the edge of the clearing, surveying his territory."

the hidden place where a wild predatory animal lives

"The bear slept in its den."

"The wolf retreated to its den to rest and care for its newborn pups safely."

a domesticated bird that is particularly kept for its meat and eggs

"Domestic fowl raised."

"Farmers raise domestic fowl for eggs and meat production every year successfully."

to keep an egg in a favorable condition to help it develop until it hatches

"The eggs incubate under the hen."

"The eggs need to incubate at a constant warm temperature for about three weeks before they hatch."

(of sheep, cows, etc.) to feed on the grass in a field

"Sheep graze here."

"The peaceful herd of sheep was content to graze lazily on the lush green meadow all afternoon."

(of a bird) to move the beak in a sudden movement and bite something

"The woodpecker pecks the tree bark."

"The woodpecker pecked at the tree trunk searching for insects hidden beneath the rough bark."

to make a short high sound characteristic of a bird

"The bird did tweet."

"The cheerful robin began to tweet its morning song from the highest branch."

a prominent feature exhibited by some birds on their heads, consisting of feathers, fur, or skin

"The bird showed its crest."

"The cockatoo proudly displayed its magnificent crest, fanning it out when agitated."