Animals And Plants (C-E)

Animals And Plants (C-E)


Cabbage is a hardy biennial vegetable of the genus Brassica, order cruciferae.

Cactus

Cactus is the order of fleshy, thickened and mainly leafless plants.

Calamus

Calamus (Sweet Flag) is a perennial herb native to India and southern Asia. It has narrow sword-shaped leaves and a thick branched rhizome. When crushed the leaves emit an odour of tangerine.

Calcarea

Calcarea are a class of sponges with a spicular skeleton made of calcium carbonate.

Calyptoblastea

The calyptoblastea is an order of hydrozoa. They are marine colonial forms in which the perisac is extended to form hydrothecae around the hydranths and gonothecae around the blastostyles.

Camel

The camel is a group of even toed, ungulate ruminating mammals.

Camomile

Camomile is a perennial dwarf herb of the order compositae.

Camptosaurus

Camptosaurus was a herbivore dinosaur from the jurassic period. It mainly stayed on all-fours, but could rear up on its hind legs to run away from predators. It had hooves instead of claws on its fingers.

Canary

The canary is a bird of the finch family and native of the Canary islands.

Cannabis

Cannabis is a plant of the order urticaceae. The dried flowers were once used as a medicine in migraine and neuralgia.

Capromys

see "Hog-rat"

Carapace

A carapace is a dorsal shield.

Caraway

Caraway is a biennial herb umbelliferae.

Cardamom

Cardamom is an aromatic perennial herb of the order scitamineae.

Cariama

The cariama is a large, long legged bird found in south America.

Caribou

The caribou is a north American reindeer.

Carinatae

The carinatae are an order of birds. They can fly.

Carmarina

Carmarina is a member of the order trachylina.a

Carnation

The carnation is a hardy perennial plant of the order caryophyllaceae.

Carnauba

Carnauba is a native palm of Brazil. When young the leaves are covered in a wax used to make candles.

Carnivora

Carnivora is the carnivorous order of eutheria. They primarily eat the flesh of other craniates. Canines are prominent. The caecum is small or absent.

Carnivore

A carnivore is a carnivorous mammal.

Carnivorous

Something which is carnivorous eats flesh.

Carob

The carob is a leguminous evergreen tree found in mediterranean countries.

Carp

The carp is a family fresh water fish.

Carrageen

Carrageen is a common British seaweed (Chondrus crispus). When dried and boiled it yields a jelly used in food and medicine.

Carrot

The carrot is a vegetable umbelliferae.

Caruncle

A caruncle is the fleshy excresence on the head of a fowl, such the comb of a cock or the wattles of a turkey.

Carya

Carya is the hickory genus of plants.

Caryophyllaceae

Caryophyllaceae are an order of plants. They have opposite undivided leaves without stipples. The order includes the Carnation, chick-weed and sweet-william.

Caryophyllia

Caryophyllia is a member of the order zoantharia.

Caryopsis

Caryopsis is the botanical term for small one-seeded, dry, indehiscent fruit in which the seed adheres to the thin pericap throughout, such as in wheat and other grains.

Caryota

Caryota is a genus of palms with doubly pinnate leaves.

Cashew

The cashew is a nut from a small evergreen tree found in the caribbean.

Cassava

Cassava is a South American shrub of the order Euphorbiaceae. It grows to about 8 feet in height and has broad, shiny leaves roughly in the shape of a human hand and attractive white and pink flowers. The root is used in cooking.

Cassia

Cassia is a large genus of leguminous plants found in tropical countries. The species consists of trees, shrubs and herbs. The leaves are abruptly pinnated and usually bear glands on their stalks. The drug senna is obtained from the leaflets of many of the species.

Cassicus

The Cassicus is a genus of American insessorial birds, the Cassicans (American Orioles). They are allied to the Starlings and are remarkable for the ingenuity with which they weave their nests.

Cassowary

The cassowary are a genus of ruminating birds similar to the ostrich.

Cassowary Tree

see "Casuarina"

Castoridae

The Castoridae is a family of rodent animals comprising the beaver and others.

Casuaridae

The Casuaridae are a family of the order Casuariformes. These are the cassowaries. They have strong legs and a bald head topped with a helmet.

Casuariformes

The Casuariformes is an order of birds.

Casuarina

The Casuarina (Botany-Bay Oak), is the only genus of the order Casuarinaceae (cassowary trees). There are around 30 species mainly native to Australia. They are jointed, leafless trees similar to the Birches.

Cat

The cat is a genus of carnivorous animal.

Cat-bird

The Cat-bird is a species of the American thrush. It is about 9 inches long. The plummage is dark gray on the top and paler grey underneath.

Cat-fish

The Cat-fish is a voracious fish of the gobies family. It was also called the Wolf-fish in the 19th century.

Catalpa

The Catalpa is a genus of plants of the order Bignoniaceae. They are trees with simple leaves and large, gay, trumpet shaped flowers.

Catamount

Catamount is an old name for any wild cat, including the Lynx and the Puma.

Catamountain

Catamountain is an old variation of Catamount.

Catarrhina

Catarrhina is a suborder of anthropoidea. The nostrils face downwards. The internasal septum is narrow. The tail is never prehensile.

Catchfly

Catchfly is a popular name for several plants of the genus Silene.

Catha

Catha is a genus of plants of the order Celastraceae, mostly native to Africa. The leaves and twigs of one species are used to make khat, a drink similar to coffee.

Catmint

Catmint (catnip) is a plant of the order Labiatae. It grows to a height of around 3 feet and has pink tinged white flowers and stalked, downy, heart-shaped leaves. It is so named for the fascination cats have with it.

Catnip

see "Catmint"

Cattle

The term cattle applies to all members of the ox genus.

Caudex

In botany, caudex refers to the scaly trunk of palms and tree-ferns.

Cauliflower

The cauliflower is a vegetable of the order cruciferae. Reptilia is the reptile class of craniates. They are animals completely adapted to life on dry land. The skin is dry and bears horny epidermal scales. The lungs form the sole respiratory organs. Eggs are laid on dry land.

Cavy

The cavy are small rodents found in south America.

Cecidomyia

Cecidomyia is the genus of insects to which the Hessian-fly belongs.

Cedar

The cedar is an ornamental evergreen tree native of Africa and India.

Cedar-bird

Cedar-bird is a name given to the American wax-wing on account of its fondness for the berries of the red cedar.

Cedrela

Cedrela is a genus of large timber trees.

Celandine

Celandine is the name of two british flowers. Greater celandine belongs to the poppy family. Lesser Celandine (swallow-wort, pilewort) was thought to be a cure for piles.

Celeriac

Celeriac is a variety of celery in which the root resembles a turnip. It is used in cooking.

Celery

Celery is a biennial vegetable of the order umbellifereae.

Cembra Pine

The Cembra Pine (Swiss stone pine, Siberian pine) is a conifer found in Central Europe. It has edible seeds and yields a turpentine called Carpathian balsam.

Centaurea

Centaurea is a genus of composite plants. They are all annual or perennial herbs with alternate leaves and single heads, the florets of which are tubular. The genus includes corn blue-bottle, purple sultan, white sultan and knapweed.

Centaury

Centaury is an annual herb of the gentian family. It has pretty red flowers and was extolled for its medicinal properties by herbailists in the past.

Cephalochordata

The cephalochordata is a class of sub-phylum acrania. They are the lancets. Small fish-like animals. The notochord extends the whole length of the body, even to the tip of the snout.

Cephalopoda

Cephalopoda is a class of phylum mollusca. They are the squids and octopuses. The head is well developed and surrounded by prehensile tentacles. The eyes are large and complex.

Cephaloptera

Cephaloptera are a genus of cartilaginous fishes of the ray family. They have a pair of small fins which stand out from the head like horns, hence they are called the fin-headed rays or horned rays.

Ceramiaceae

Ceramiaceae is an order of cellular sea-weeds consisting of thread-like jointed plants of a red or brown-red colour.

Cerastes

Cerastes is a genus of deadly African vipers. They have two small horns formed by the scales above the eyes, hence they are called Horned Vipers.

Cerasus

Cerasus is the cherry genus of trees.

Ceratodus

Ceratodus (barramunda) is a genus of fishes belonging to the Dipnoi order (lung-fishes). They are between 3 and 6 feet long and are found in Australian rivers.

Cereal

Cereal is a term applied to Gramineae cultivated for food (wheat, barley, rye, oats &c.). The name comes from Ceres, the goddess associated with corn.

Ceroxylon

Ceroxylon (wax-palm) is a genus of South American palms.

Cervidae

Cervidae is the deer family of animals which includes the Cervus genus.

Cervus

Cervus is the deer genus of animals.

Cestoda

Cestoda is a class of phylum platyhelminthes commonly known as the tapeworms. They are internal parasites lacking an alimentary canal. They have no definite sense organs, and the nervous system is poorly developed. The cuticle is thick and many-layered. Hooks and/or suckers are limited to one end. They have great reproductive powers, both sexual and asexual.

Cestracion

Cestracion is a genus of cartilaginous fish allied to the sharks.

Cetacea

Cetacea is an order of eutheria. They are aquatic mammals with a streamlined body devoid of hair. They have a thick layer of blubber for insulation. The hind limbs are absent, and the fore limbs adapted to form paddles.

Ceterach

Ceterach is a genus of ferns of the sub-order Polypodiaceae.

Chaffinch

The chaffinch is a common British bird of the finch family.

Chamaerops

Chamaerops is a genus of palms belonging to the northern hemisphere and consisting of dwarf trees with fan-shaped leaves borne on prickly petioles and a small berry-like fruit with one seed.

Chameleon

A chameleon is a lizard. It can change colour to suit its surroundings.

Chamois

The chamois is a ruminating animal found in south Europe and west Asia.

Champak

The Champak is an Indian tree of the order Magnoliaceae held in high esteem by Buddhists.

Chanterelle

The chanterelle is an edible British mushroom of a bright orange colour.

Characeae

The Characeae are an order of cryptogamous plants, nearly related to the Algae, composed of an axis consisting of parallel tubes which are either transparent or incrusted with lime carbonate.

Charadrius

Charadrius is a genus of birds which includes the lapwing, pratincole and oyster-catcher.

Charlock

Charlock is a common yellow weed, also known as wild mustard.

Chat

The chat are several species of bird of the thrush family.

Chaulmugra

Chaulmugra is a tree found in South Asia. The oil was used in India and China as a remedy in skin diseases and blood impurities. The medicinal use of the oil in skin and chest infections was introduced to Europe and America around 1900.

Chaus

The Chaus is a genus of Asiatic and African lynxes including the Libyan chaus and the Caffre-cat. They are fond of water and are excellent swimmers.

Chavica

Chavica is a genus of plants of the order Piperaceae which includes the long pepper, Java long pepper and the betel-pepper.

Cheetah

The cheetah is a member of the cat family.

Cheiranthus

Cheiranthus is the wall-flower genus of plants.

Cheironectes

Cheironectes are a genus of acanthopterygious fishes, having the pectoral fins supported like short feet upon peduncles. They use these fins to crawl over mud and sand when they get left dry be a receeding tide. They may also take short leaps like a frog, and from this they are often called frog-fish. They are found in North-East Australia.

Chelonia

The chelonia are an order of anapsida. The trunk is short and broad and protected by a carapace and a plastron. The head, neck, tail and limbs can be withdrawn under the shields for protection. The jaws are strong, but lack teeth.

Chelonians

The Chelonians are an order of reptiles which includes the tortoise and turtle. They are distinguished by a body which is enclosed in a double shell, out of which the head, tail and four legs protrude.

Chenopodium

Chenopodium (Goosefoot) is a genus of plants of the natural order Chenopodiaceae. They are weedy plants common on wastelands and bear small greenish flowers which are sessile in small clusters collected in spiked panicles.

Cherry

The cherry is a fruit tree of the order rosaceae.

Chestnut

The chestnut is a tree of the order cupuliferae.

Chetah

Chetah is the old 19th century spelling of Cheetah.

Chick pea

The chick pea is an annual herb of the order leguminosae.

Chicory

Chicory is a perennial herb of the order compositae.

Chiffchaff

The chiffchaff is a small song bird. It visits England in the summer.

Chilopoda

The chilopoda are the centipede order of myriapoda. The genital aperture is posterior.

Chimpanzee

The chimpanzee is a large anthropoid ape.

Chinchilla

The chinchilla is a small squirrel like rodent found in the andes.

Chipmunk

A chipmunk is a species of ground squirrel common in Siberia and north America.

Chiroptera

The chiroptera is an order of eutheria. They are small mammals with strong powers of flight. The limb bones are strong and slender. The wings are formed of skin. The teeth bear pointed cusps.

Chiru

The chiru is an antelope found in Tibet.

Chitin

Chitin is an organic substance which forms part of the exoskeleton of arthropods.

Chondrichthyes

Chondrichthyes is a subclass of fish including the sharks, dogfishes, skates and rays. They are fishes with a cartilage endoskeleton. The jaws are well formed.

Chordates

see "phylum chordata"

Chough

The chough is a bird of the crow family with red feet and bill. It is found on sea cliffs.

Chromosome

A chromosome is a chemical found in all cells which determines how the cell will act.

Chrysalis

A chrysalis is the inactive state into which larva pass before becoming imago.

Chrysanthemum

The chrysanthemum is a hardy annual plant of the order compositae.

Chrysoplenium

Chrysoplenium is a genus of annual or perannial rather succulent herbs with alternate or opposite crenate leaves and inconspicuous greenish axillary and terminal flowers.

Chub

The chub is a fresh water fish of the carp family.

Cicada

The cicada is a group of large four winged insects.

Cilia

Cilia are threads of protoplasm which beat rhythmically.

Ciliata vera

Ciliata vera are a subclass of ciliophora. They are free swimming animals.

Ciliophora

Ciliophora are a class of protozoa with relatively simple life-histories. The locomotor structures are cilia arranged in definite tracts. The cilia arise from grooves in the pellicle. Ciliophora have a unique nuclear structure, comprised of a meganucleus concerned with trophic activities, and a micronucleus concerned with reproduction.

Cinchona

The cinchona is a tree native to South America with fragrant white or pink flowers. The bark contains quinine and other related alkaloids. The tree was named in honour of the countess of Chinchon, the vice-Queen of Peru after she was cured by cinchona bark in 1638.

Cinnamon

Cinnamon is a small evergreen tree.

Cirripedia

Cirripedia is a subclass of crustacea. These are the barnacles. Sedentary animals with a reduced head and abdomen.

Cistus

Cistus, the rock-rose, is a genus of plants of the order Cistaceae native to Europe and the countries bordering the Mediterranean.

Civet

The civet are a family of carnivorous animals similar to the cats.

Clepsine

The clepsine are hirudinea.

Coati

The coati is a carnivorous mammal related to the racoon. Found in south America and mexico.

Cob nut

The cob nut is a domesticated variety of the hazel.

Cobra

The cobra is a venomous snake found in Africa and south Asia.

Coca

Coca is a shrub.

Coccidia vera

The coccidia vera are a suborder of coccidiomorpha. They are parasites found chiefly in invertebrates, but also in vertebrates. The trophic phase is typically intracellular.

Coccidiomorpha

The coccidiomorpha are an order of sporozoa.

Cochineal

Cochineal is a insect (Dactylopius coccus) found on cactii in Mexico. The dried body of the female is used to prepare the red dye, cochineal.

Cockle

The Cockle is a Lamellibranchia bivalve mollusc. It is recognised by its ribbed, heart-shaped shell. They are found on British shores.

Cocoa

Cocoa is a small tree native to tropical America.

Cod

The Cod is a fish of the family Gadidae. They are found in the Atlantic and Baltic.

Coelacanthini

The coelacanthini is a rare order of crossopterygii which was thought to be extinct, until a specimen was caught off west africa in 1939.

Coelophysis

Coelophysis was a cunning and agile carnivorous dinosaur from the triassic era. It was 2.5M long and about 1m tall when standing on its back legs.

Coffee

Coffee is a genus of evergreen trees and shrubs of the order rubiaceae.

Collembola

Collembola is an order of apterygota. The spring tails.

Collie

The collie is a breed of English sheep dog.

Colorado beetle

The colorado beetle is a north American beetle that attacks potatoes.

Compositae

Compositae is the largest known natural order of plants containing over 12,000 species of herbs or shrubs found all over the world. The flowers are numerous and sessile, forming a close head on the dilated top of the receptacle and surrounded by an involucre of whorled bracts. The flowers are monopetalous.

Compsognathus

Compsognathus was a tiny carnivorous dinosaur from the jurassic period. It was 70cm tall, about the size of a hen. It was a fast and agile creature.

Condor

The condor (Sarcorhamphus gryphus) is a bird. It is one of the American vultu res. It is carnivorous. The condor is 4 feet long with a wing span of 10 feet.

Coney

see "Cony"

Confervaceae

Confervaceae are a family of marine algae which have green fronds which are composed of articulated filaments.

Conger-eel

The Conger eel is a genus of marine eel characterized by a long dorsal fin beginning near the nape of the neck, immediately above the origin of the pectoral fins, and by having the upper jaw longer than the lower. The common conger eel grows to about 10 feet long and weighs more than 100 pounds.

Coniferae

Coniferae are the conifers; pines, firs and their allies.

Conirostres

Conirostres is a subdivision of the order Insessores consisting of genera having a stout conical beak. The best known genera are the larks, tits, finches, sparrows, crows and linnets.

Conus

Conus is a genus of gasteropodous molluscs of the family Conidae. They are found in the southern and tropical seas.

Convallaria

Convallaria is a genus of plants of the natural order Liliaceae, the only species being the lily-of-the-valley.

Convoluta

Convoluta is a member of the order rhabdocoelida.

Convolvulaceae

Convolvulaceae is an order of plants comprising about 700 species of climbers.

Convolvulus

Convolvulus is a genus of plants of the order Convolvulaceae consisting of slender twining herbs with milky juice., bell-shaped flowers and five free stamens.

Cony

Cony (or coney) is an old English name for the rabbit.

Conyza

Conyza is a genus of plants of the natural order Compositae. They are annual or perennial herbs found throught warmer regions of the world.

Coot

The coot is a British water bird of the rail family.

Copaiba

Copaiba is the common name of several plants of the genus Copaifera, natural order Leguminose, which grow in Brazil, Peru and other countries in South America.

Copepoda

Copepoda is a subclass of free-living or parasitic crustaceans without a carapace. The antennules are frequently enlarged and used for swimming. The thoracic appendages are biramous.

Copper Head

The copper head (Trigonocephalus contortrix) is a north American snake allied to the rattlesnake.

Copper-head

The copper-head is a north American snake of the rattlesnake family.

Coptis

Coptis is a small genus of plants of the natural order Ranunculaceae.

Coquito

The coquito (Juboea spectabilis) is a palm tree found in Chile and allied to the coconut. It grows to about 15 meters and its sap when boiled makes palm-honey.

Coral

Coral is a marine organism related to sea anemones.

Corallium

Corallium is a member of the order alcyonaria.

Coriander

Coriander (Coriandrum sativum) is an umbelliferous plant native to Italy. The fruit, often called a seed though it is not, is dried and used in cookery.

Coriaria

Coriaria is a genus of shrub plants found in southern Europe. They are used in tanning and a black dye is extracted from them.

Cormogens

Cormogens are those plants in which there is a distinct axis of growth. They comprise the phanerogams and the higher cryptogams.

Cormorant

The cormorant (Phalacrocorax) is a genus of birds of the Pelicaniformes family. They are divers with long necks and strong, solid beaks. There are 30 species.

Corn Marigold

The Corn Marigold (Chrysanthemum segetum) is a rich orange coloured British wild flower.

Corn Salad

Corn Salad (lamb's-lettuce, Valerianella olitoria) is a plant of the order Valerianaceae nati e to Britain and Europe. It is a weak succulent herb which grows to about 25cm tall and is used as a salad in early spring.

Corn-beetle

The Corn-beetle (Cucujus testaceus) is a minute beetle, the larva of which is often very destructive to stores of grain, particularly wheat.

Corn-cockle

The corn-cockle (Agrostemma Githago) is a plant of the natural order Caryophyllaceae, with large purple flowers.

Corn-crake

The Corn-crake (landrail, Crex pratensis) is a species of bird of the order Grallae of the family Rallidae. It is a wading bird, reddish-brown in colour and feeds on worms and insects.

Corn-fly

Corn-fly is a popular name of several insects of the family Muscidae.

Corn-moth

The Corn-moth (Tinea granella) is a small moth the larva of which destroys corn sheaves in the field.

Corn-thrips

Corn-thrips is a minute species of thrips which feeds on the juice of corn.

Cornaceae

Cornaceae is a natural order of polypetalous exogens consisting of about 100 species of plants.

Cornel

The cornel (cornelian tree) is a species of dogwood tree of the order Cornace ae. It is native to Asia and southern Europe.

Cornelian Tree

see "Cornel"

Cornus

Cornus is a genus of plants of the natural order Cornaceae.

Coronellidae

Coronellidae is the smooth snake family of non-venomous snakes.

Coryne

The coryne is of the order gymnoblastea.

Corypha

Corypha is a genus of palms which includes the fa-palm, gebang palm and taliput.

Corythosaurus

Corythosaurus was a herbivore dinosaur from the cretaceous period. It had a duck-like bill filled with hundreds of tiny teeth which were used for mincing leaves. It had a hollow crescent on top of its head.

Cotton

Cotton is a tropical and sub tropical herbaceous plant.

Cotton-wood

The cotton-wood is a north American tree.

Cougar

The cougar is a large American cat. Also called the puma.

Cow

A cow is a female ox. Also the female of the elephant, rhinocerous, whale and seal.

Cow-bunting

The cow-bunting is a north American bird of the Sturnidae (Starling) family. It leaves its own eggs in other birds nests for them to hatch.

Cow-tree

see "Bread-fruit"

Cowslip

The Cowslip is a wild flower found in British pastures and hedge-rows. The flowers possess sedative properties and used to be made into wine.

Coyote

The coyote is a type of wild dog found in north America.

Coypou

The Coypou (Coypu) is a South American rodent about the size of and resembling a beaver.

Coypu

The coypu is a south American water rodent.

Crab

see "crabs"

Crab-apple

The Crab-apple is a small, wild and very sour species of English Apple.

Crabs

Crabs are malacostraca.

Cranberry

Cranberry is the fruit of the whortleberry bush. It is native to Europe, north asia and north America.

Crane

The crane (Megalornithidae) is a family of birds distinguished by long legs and neck and powerful wings.

Crane-fly

The Crane-fly is a genus of two-winged insects (Daddy-long-legs).

Cranium

The cranium is the skeleton enclosing the brain.q

Crawfish

see "Crayfish"

Crayfish

Crayfish are various crustaceans. The common crayfish is also known as the river lobster which resembles the lobster in appearance and habits. They are also called crawfish.

Creeper

The creeper is a family of birds which resemble the woopecker in their habbit of creeping up tree trunks.

Cress

Cress is the name of several species of plants, most of them of the order Cruciferae. Water cress is used in salad and was used as a medicine for its antiscorbutic properties.

Crinoidea

The crinoidea are the sea lily class of phylum echinodermata. The body is cup shaped and attached to the substratum by a stalk. Both the mouth and anus are on the side of the body away from the stalk. The five main arms bifurcate, and on the branches are small side branches.

Crocodile

The crocodile is a large aquatic carnivorous reptile. Related to the alligator.

Crocodilia

Crocodilia is an order of diapsida. They are large reptiles adapted to life in rivers and lakes. The tail is flattened from side to side and is a powerful swimming tool.

Crossbill

The crossbill (Loxia) is a genus of birds of the finch family. They are distinguished by the crossed tips of the bill.

Crossopterygii

The crossopterygii is a division of fish known as the lung fishes. They have a single or double lung, and a modified heart and vascular system. They live in shallow fresh water where oxygen levels are insufficient for gills.

Crow

The crow is a family of 35 species of bird.

Crowberry

Crowberry is a plant found in northern Europe, Asia, England and Scotland.

Cruciferae

Cruciferae is a family of dicotyledonous flowering plants with cross like four petaled flowers.

Crustacea

Crustacea is the crustacean class of arthropods. They are mainly aquatic animals breathing by gills. There are two pairs of antennae and three pairs of jaws.

Crustacean

see "crustacea"

Crustaceans

see "crustacea"

Cuckoo

The cuckoo (Cuculidae) is a family of birds. They lay their eggs in the nests of other birds.

Cucurbita

see "Gourd"

Cumacea

Cumacea is an order of malacostraca where the carapace is small exposing four or five of the thoracic segments. The abdomen is slender.

Cunina

Cunina is a member of the order trachylina.

Curlew

The curlew is a British water bird.

Cuttle-Fish

The Cuttle-Fish is a name applied to various ten-armed molluscs of the class Cephalopoda. They are distinguished by their internal calcerous shell (cuttle bone).

Cyclostomi

The cyclostomi are a subclass of agnatha. They are modern eel-like creatures which eat fish.

Cypress

Cypress is a family of trees.

Cystoflagellata

The cystoflagellata are an order of phytomastigina. They are transparent plankton.

Dab

The dab is a marine flat fish.

Dabchick

The dabchick is an English bird of the grebe family.

Dace

The dace is a fresh water fish of the carp family.

Dachshund

The dachshund is a small dog originally bred for badger hunting.

Daffodil

The daffodil are several species of plant of the genus narcissus.

Dahlia

The dahlia is a genus of perennial plants of the compositae family.

Daisy

The daisy is a genus of hardy perennial plants of the compositae family.

Dalbergia

Dalbergia is a genus of fine tropical forest trees and climbing shrubs of the order Leguminosae. The group includes the black-wood tree (also called the East Indian rosewood) and the sissoo.

Dalmatian

The dalmatian is a spotted dog. It was formerly known as the Danish spotted or coach dog.

Dames-violet

Dames-violet (Dames-wort) is a British perennial plant of the order Cruciferae. It grows to about 2 to 3 feet tall and flowers in May and June.

Dames-wort

see "Dames-violet"

Dammar Pine

The dammar pine is a genus of trees of the order Coniferae distinguished by their large lanceolated leathery leaves, and by their seeds having a wing on one side instead of proceeding from the end.

Damselfly

The damselfly is a predatory insect with 2 pairs of wings.

Damson

The damson is a type of plum tree.

Dandelion

The dandelion is a plant of the order Compositae indigenous to Europe. It gets its name from its appearance, dent de lion (French for Lion's tooth). The stems are hollow and have one bright yellow flower. The root was formerly used as a medicine for liver complaints.

Daphnia

Daphnia is a genus of minute crustaceans belonging to the division Branchiopoda. They are the water-fleas.

Darlingtonia

Darlingtonia is a genus of American pitcher plants of the order Sarraceniceae.

Darnel

Darnel (Lolium temulentum) is the only poisonous British grass.

Darters

Darters are a genus of web-footed birds of the pelican family. They are found near the eastern coast of tropical parts of north America, the west coast of Africa, and in Australia.

Dasyure

Dasyure are the brush-tailed opossums, a genus of plantigrade marsupials found in Australia and Tasmania.

Date

The date is a tree of the genus phoenix.

Date-plum

The date-plum is the name given to several trees of the Ebony family. Their fruit is edible.

Datura

Datura is a genius of plants of the order Solanaceae, with large trumpet- shaped flowers. They are all poisonous. The genus includes the thorn-apple.

Daucus

Daucus is a genus of umbelliferous plants, including the carrot.

Dauw

The dauw is a species of zebra found in the plains of South Africa north of the Orange River.

Dead-nettle

The dead-nettle is a species of plant of the genus Lamium, order Labriatae which resemble the nettle in appearance but have no sting.

Deal-fish

The deal-fish (Trachypterus arcticus) is a fish found around Iceland and Norway. It is between 4 and 8 inches long, a silvery colour and has minute scales. The dorsal fin extends along the whole length of the back.

Death-watch beetle

The death-watch beetle (Anobium tesselatum) is a coleopterous insect that inhabits the wood-work of houses.

Decaisnea

Decaisnea is a genus of plants of the order Lardizabalaceae found on the Himalayas. It has erect stalks which look like walking sticks and leaves 2 feet long. The fruit resembles a cucumber and has a sweet, yellow edible pulp.

Decandria

Decandria is the tenth class of plants. The flowers have 10 stamens, and 1, 2 3 or more pistils.

Decapoda

Decapoda is an order of malacostraca. The carapace completely covers the thorax. The exopodite of the maxilla is large. There are three pairs of maxillipeds.

Deciduous

Deciduous is a term referring to trees and shrubs that shed their leaves each year.

Deer

The deer is a family of ruminant hoofed mammals (Cervidae) allied to the Antelopes. They are distinguished by the presence of antlers.

Deerhound

The Deerhound is a breed of dog. It originated in the 14th century and was bred for stag hunting.

Deinonychus

Deinonychus was a carnivorous dinosaur of the cretaceous period. It was 3m long and 1.4M tall. A long tail aided balance as it ran. It had 12cm long claws on its feet which were used for tearing flesh from its prey.

Delphinium

The delphinium is a ranunculaceous plant with irregular shaped flowers.

Demospongia

The demospongia is a class of sponges with a skeleton of four-rayed spicules made of silica, or spongin fibres, or no skeleton at all.

Dendrocoelum

Dendrocoelum is a member of the order tricladida.

Dhole

The dhole is a species of wild dog found in Asia.

Diapsida

The diapsida is a subclass of reptiles. The skull has two temporal vacuities.

Didactyla

The didactyla is an order of metatheria. They are carnivorous and insectivorous. The digits are free.

Digenea

Digenea is an order of trematoda. They are endoparasitic flukes with no hooks or posterior sucker. They usually have a ventral sucker and an oral sucker. The life history requires an intermediate host, often a mollusc. The adults are chiefly parasites of warm-blooded vertebrates.

Digitalis

Digitalis is a genus of plants of the natural order Scrophulariaceae native to Europe and western Asia. The name Digitalis also applies to the medicinal extracts from the plants.

Dik dik

A dik dik is a tiny antelope found in Africa south of the sahara

Dill

Dill is a herb umbelliferae.

Dingo

The dingo is wild dog found in Australia.

Dinoflagellata

The dinoflagellata are an order of phytomastigina. These are the planktons. They have a definite capsule made of cellulose.

Dinosaur

The dinosaurs were a family of reptiles which lived on the earth millions of years ago. About 400 types of dinosaur have been identified. Dinosaurs ranged in size from about as big as a pigeon to twice the height of a giraffe. It is estimated that dinosaurs lived for between 70 and 130 years, and unusually continued growing for their entire life.

Diphyllobothrium

Diphyllobothrium is a cestoda.

Diplodinium

Diplodinium is a member of the order of oligotricha.

Diplopoda

The diplopoda is the millipede order of myriapoda. They have an anterior genital posterior.

Dipnoi

The dipnoi are an order of crossopterygii. The teeth form crushing plates.

Dipper

The Dipper is a family of birds (Cinclidae) of the order Passeriformes. They are allied to the wrens and thrushes but are aquatic.

Dog

A dog is a domesticated mammal of the order canidae descended from the wolf.

Dogfish

The dogfish is a small shark found in the north east atlantic ocean and mediterranean.

Dolphin

The Dolphin is a genus of cetaceans. They are highly intelligent.

Donkey

Donkey is another name for ass.

Dory

The Dory is a sea fish found in the Mediterranean and Atlantic. It is of the family Zeidae and order Zeomorphae.

Dotterel

The dotterel is a bird which visits Britain in the summer.

Dove

The dove is a bird of the family Columbidae (pigeon).

Dromedary

A dromedary is a type of Arabian camel.

Dromiceidae

The Dromiceidae are a family of the order Casuariformes. These are the emus. They are found only in Australia and Tasmania. It is incapable of flight.

Drone

A drone is a mature male bee which are produced at the same time as a virgin queen for the purpose of continuing the community.

Duck

A duck is a short legged water bird with webbed feet.

Dunlin

The dunlin is a British water bird.

Duodenum

The duodenum is the first part of the intestine.

Eagle

Eagle is the name given to several large birds of prey of the family accipitridae.

Ear-shell

see "Haliotis"

Earthworm

see "oligochaeta"

Earwig

The Earwig (Forifculidae) is a family of the order Dermaptera.

Ebony

Ebony is a tropical hardwood tree. The wood is black.

Echidna

The echidna or spiny anteater (Tachyglossus aculeatus) is an egg-laying, burrowing, nocturnal mammal. It has no teeth, but a long extensile tongue. The echidna is found in rocky districts of Australia.

Echinococcus

Echinococcus is a cestoda.

Echinoidea

The echinoidea are a class of phylum echinodermata. They are the sea urchins. The body is typically glubular. The skeletal plates fit closely together to form a rigid "test". Spines are present.

Echinus

Echinus are a member of the echinoidea class.

Ecology

Ecology is a study of the relationship between an organism and its environment.

Ectoprocta

Ectoprocta is a class of phylum polyzoa. They have a u shaped gut and the anus opens outside of the circlet of ciliated tentacles.

Edentata

The Edentata is an order of mammals with no teeth, or very simple teeth without enamel.

Egested

see "egestion"

Egestion

Egestion is the process of eliminating food which has not been digested.

Egg-plant

Egg-plant was the 19th century name, and is still used in America to describe the plant we now call the aubergine. It is an herbaceous plant of the order Solanaceae. The fruit is eaten.

Eider

The eider is a British coastal duck.

Eimeria

Eimeria is a member of the coccidia vera order.

Eisenia

The eisenia are oligochaeta.

Elephant

The elephant is the two surviving species of the order proboscidea.

Elk

The elk is a large deer found in north Europe, Asia and Scandinavia.

Elm

The elm is a tree of the family ulmaceae.

Embryology

Embryology is the study of animal development.

Emu

The emu is a flightless bird found in Australia.

Entoprocta

Entoprocta is a class of phylum polyzoa. They have a u shaped gut and the anus opens within a circlet of ciliated tentacles.

Epiphytes

see "Air-plants"

Epistylis

Epistylis is a member of the order of peritricha.

Equisetum

Equisetum is the Horse-tail genus of plants.

Eucalyptus

Eucalyptus is a tree native to Australia where it is called the gum tree.

Euglenoidina

The euglenoidina are an order of phytomastigina. They have an elongated spindle-shaped body and swim in a spiral path.

Euoplocephalus

Euoplocephalus was an armoured herbivore dinosaur from the cretaceous period. Even its eyelids were armoured. At the end of its powerful tail was a bulb. The tail could have been used to disable predators attacking it.

Euphausiacea

Euphausiacea is an order of malacostraca. The carapace encloses the thorax. There is one set of gills.

Euplectella

The euplectella is a member of the hexactinellida class.

Euplotes

Euplotes is a member of the order of hypotricha.

Euspongia

The euspongia, or bath sponge, is a member of the demospongia class.

Eutheria

The eutheria are a subclass of higher mammals. The young are born as miniature adults after a prolonged period of gestation.

Excretion

Excretion is the process of getting rid of unwanted substances from within the body.