Animals And Plants (H-N)
Animals And Plants (H-N)
The hackberry is an American tree of the nettle-tree family introduced into Britain in 1636.
Haddock is a marine fish of the cod family found in the north atlantic.
Haematopus is a genus of wading birds which includes the common oyster-catcher.
Haemosporidia is a suborder of coccidiomorpha. They are parasites which live in warm-blooded animals and produce various types of malaria.a
Hag is the popular name of fish of the genus Myxine. They are of worm-like form and have no eyes or scales. The mouth is formed for suction and is without lips and is furnished with barbels. The hag has horny teeth which it uses to eat into the interior of other fish.
Haliaetus is a genus of birds which includes the British white-tailed sea-ragle and the American bald eagle.
Halibut is a large flatfish found in the north atlantic.
The halichondria is an order of sponges of the demospongia class.
Haliotis is a genus of gateropodous molluscs commonly called ear-shells or sea-ears and found adhering to rocks on the sea-shore. They are remarkable for the pearly iridescence of their inner surface.
Halistemma is a member of the order of siphonophora.
The Halophytes are a class of plants which inhabit salt marshes, and by combustion yield barilla.
Hamamelidaceae is a small natural order of epiygynous exogenous trees or shrubs, varying in height from 2 to 10 meters. These are the witch-hazels.
The hammer-oyster is a bivalve shell fish. Malleus vulgaris, found in the Indian Ocean. It resembles the pearl-oyster when young, but becomes more hammer-like as it gets older by the lengthening of its ears.
The hammerhead is a species of shark.
The hamster (Cricetus) is a genus of rodent animals belonging to the Muridae (mice) family, and closely allied to the rats. They are distinguished by a short hairy tail and cheek pouches.
The hand-plant (Cheirostemon platanoides) is a Mexican tree of the order Sterculiaceae. It grows to about 10 meters in height and has flowers, the stamen of which looks a bit like a human hand.
Hard-fern is the popular name of Lomaria spicant, a common fern found throughout Britain growing on heaths and glens.
The hare (Lepus) is a genus of rodent with long ears, long hind legs, a shirt tail, soft hair and a divided upper lip. The young hare is called a leveret and are born in litters of between 3 and 6 leverets upto 4 times a year.
Harebell (Scotch bluebell, Campanula rotundifolia) is a plant of the natural order Campanulaceae with a bell shaped blue, and sometimes white flower. The radical leaves are cordate or reniform, the stem-leaves partly ovate or lanceolate. It is a slender plant growing to about 12 cm tall.
The hareld (Harelda glacialis) is the long-tailed duck, an oceanic duck with a short thick bill, a high forehead and two very long feathers in the tail of the male. It inhabits the northern seas and is often found around Orkney and Shetland.
The Harlequin Duck (Clangula histrionica) is a species of duck with white, grey and black plumage found in Arctic regions.
The harp-shell is a genus of molluscs (Harpa) belonging to the gasteropoda and to the whelk family. The species are found around Mauritius. The shells are very attractive, but exposure to light causes their colours to fade.
The harpy-eagle is a large, powerful bird of South America. It has a crooked bill, and strong sharp claws. The harpy-eagle feeds on birds, sloths, racoons, fawns, fish and tortoise eggs.
The Harrier is a breed of dog intended for hare hunting. It is similar to the foxhound, but smaller.
Hart is the name given to a male stag.
Hart's-tongue is a genus of highly ornamental fern with simple, undivided fronds.
The hartebeest (Alcelaphus) is a south African antelope which measures about 1.5 meters high at the shoulder, has a long head, horns projecting outwards and backwards, black marks on the face and legs, a white mark on the rump and a bushy tail. They are generally found in small herds.
The harvest-bug (Leptus autumnalis) is a small larval insect of the family Acaridae. It is bright red in colour and about the size of a grain of cayenne pepper. It attacks livestock and humans, burrowing under the skin and so causing red pustules.
The harvest-mouse (Musmessorius) is the smallest British quadruped. It builds a nest suspended amongst stalks of wheat.
The harvest-spider (Phalangium longipes) is a British spider with very long legs. It has a peculiar habit of throwing off one or more legs.
Haustellata is an extensive division of insects in which the mouth is furnished with a haustellum or proboscis adapted for suction. It includes the butterflies and moths, and two winged flies.
The hawfinch is a species of grossbeak. It is one of the largest of the finches. It resembles the Chaffinch in colour, but is distinguished by its enormous beak, larger size, and bill-hook formation of some of its wing feathers. It feeds on all kinds of berries and is found throughout Britain.
The Hawk-moth is one of the sphinx moths, so called from its hovering motion which resembles that of a hawk.
Hawkweed (Hieracium) is a genus of composite plants, sub-order Cichoraceae, consisting of numerous species with yellow flowers.
Hawthorn (Cratoegus Oxyacantha) is a small spiny European tree, belonging to the sub-order Pomeae of the order Rosaceae, rising sometimes to the height of 6 meters. The leaves are alternate, obovate, 3 to 5 lobed. The flowers are white, sometimes with a reddish tinge, disposed in corymbs and smell rather nice.
The hazel is a tree of the genus corylus, family corylaceae. The leaves are roundish-cordate, alternate and shortly petiolate. It produces nuts known as filberts.
The hazel-grouse is a species of grouse inhabiting Europe and Asia. It is found in heathy tracts, woods and forests. It feeds on berries, buds, insects and worms.
The heart is a muscular organ used to maintain circulation of blood through an animal.
Heather is a low growing evergreen shrub that is common on sandy and acid soil.
Hedera is the genus of plants to which ivy belongs.
Hedge-mustard (Sisymbrium officinale) is a cruciferous plant once used as a remedy for catarrh.
The hedge-warbler (hedge-sparrow, Accentor modularis) is a bird of the family Sylvidae, common in Britain and the temperate parts of Europe. It feeds on insects, worms and seeds. It grows to about 14 cm long and has reddish-brown plumage streaked with dark-brown.
Helamys is a genus of rodents allied to the jerboas. They are the jumping-hare or jumping-rat.
Helianthemum is a genus of herbaceous undershrubs and shrubby or creeping plants, also known as the rock-rose genus.
Helicidae is the name by which the land shell-snails are distinguished.
Helictis is a genus of carnivorous quadrupeds allied to the skunk. They are found in China and Nepal.
Heliotrope (Heliotropium) is a genus of plants of the natural order Boraginaceae. The species are herbs or undershrubs mostly native of the warmer parts of the world and have alternate leaves and small flowers usually disposed in scorpioid cymes.
The heliozoa are an order of rhizopoda. The body is radially symetrical and the pseudopodia are thin and stiff. Reproduction is by fission and sexually by the fusion of gametes.
Helix is a genus of gasteropodous molluscs comprising the land shell-snails.
Hellebore (Helleborus) is a genus of plants of the natural order Ranunculaceae, consisting of perennial low-growing plants with palmate or pedate leathery leaves, yellowish, greenish or white flowers having five conspicuous persistent sepals and eight to ten small tubular petals.
Helmet-shell is a common name for molluscs of the genus Cassis, gasteropods of the family Buccinidae found mainly on tropical shores.
Heloderma is a genus of Mexican lizard. They are about 1 meter in length and some are venomous. They have a thick, squat body covered with rough scales and form burrows under the roots of trees.
Hemerobiidae are the lace-wing flies, a family of neuropterous insects.
Hemichordata is a class of sub-phylum acrania. They are peculiar marine worm-like creatures.
Hemidesmus is a genus of twining plants of the natural order Asclepiadaceae, having opposite leaves, and cymes of small greenish flowers. Sarasparilla is derived from them.
Hemimetabola is the section of the insect class which undergo complete metamorphosis, the larva differing from the perfect insect chiefly in the absence of wings and size.
Hemipodius is a genus of rasorial birds allied to the quail.
Hemiptera is an order of four-winged insects, having a suctorial proboscis, the outer wings, or wing-covers, are leathery at the base and transparent towards the tips.
Hemlock (Conium maculatum) is a poisonous plant of the natural order Umbelliferae. It is a tall, erect, branching biennial, with a smooth, shining, hollow stem usually marked with purple spots. It has elegant, much divided leaves which when bruised emit a nauseous odour. The flowers are white in compound umbels of ten or more rays surrounded by a general involucre of three to seven leaflets.
Hemp is an annual plant of the genus Cannabis, cultivated for its fibres that are used to make rope.
Hemp-palm (Chamoerops excelsa) is a Chinese and Japanese species of palm. Rope is made from the fibres of its leaves.
Henbane is a plant of the genus Hyoscyamus, natural order Solanaceae. It is a coarse, erect biennial herb having soft, clammy, hairy foliage of a disagreeable odour and pale yellowish-brown flowers streaked with puple veins.
Henna (Lawsonia inermis) is a shrub of the natural order Lythraceae, bearing opposite entire leaves and numerous small white fragrant flowers disposed in terminal panicles.
Heracleum is a genus of large umbelliferous herbs, the cow-parsnips.
Herb-bennet (Benedict's herb, Avens) is an aromatic plant used as a tonic and astringent.
Herb-robert (Geranium Robertianum) is a common British plant. It is astringent and aromatic.
A plant said to be herbaceous is a perennial plant of which the stem perishes annually, while the roots remain permanent and send forth a new stem in the following season.
A herbivore is an animal that eats plants.
The Hercules-beetle (Scaraboeus) is a very large Brazilian lamellicorn beetle. An enormous horn projects from the head, and a smaller one from the thorax. The beetle grows to 12cm long.
An hermaphrodite animal is one in which both male and female gametes are present.
Hermit-crab is the popular name of the Paguridae family of decapod crustaceans. They take posession of and occupy cast-off univalve shells of various molluscs, carrying this habitation about with them, and changing it for a larger one as they increase in size.
Hernandia is a genus of large Indian trees of the natural order Hernandiaceae. They have alternate entire leaves and flowers arranged in axillary or terminal spikes or corymbs.
Heron is a popular name for birds of the genus Ardea, constituting with the bitterns the family Ardeidae. Herons are spread over almost all the world. They are distinguished by having a long bill cleft beneath the eyes, a compressed body, long slender legs naked above the tarsal joint, three toes in front, the two outer united by a membrane, and by moderate wings. The tail is short, rounded, and composed of ten or twelve feathers. The common Heron is about 1 meter in length.
The herring (Clupea harengus) is an edible fish found in the north Atlantic. It comes close to the shore in large shoals to spawn.
The Hessian Fly (Cecidomyia destructor) is a fly of the family Tipulidae, of the order Diptera, the larva of which is very destructive to wheat, barley and rye crops.
Heteropoda is an order of marine molluscs, the most highly organized of the Gasteropoda. In this order the foot is compressed into a vertical muscular lamina, serving for a fin, and the gills, when present, are collected into a mass on the hinder part of the back.
Heteroptera is a section of hemipterous insects comprising those in which the two pairs of wings are of different consistence, the anterior part being horny or leathery, but generally tipped with membrane. They comprise the land and water bugs.
Heterotricha is an order of ciliata vera. They are covered in cilia, and have a spiral band of tough cilia leading towards the cytostome.
Hexactinellida is a class of sponge with a skeleton built of six-rayed spicules made of silica.
Hibiscus is an extensive genus of plants, natural order Malvaceae chiefly natives of tropical climates. They have large showy flowers, borne singuarly on stalks towards the ends of the branches, these flowers having an outer calyx of numerous leaves in addition to the true five-lobed persistent calyx.
Hickory is several species of timber trees of the genus Carya of the natural order Juglandaceae. They are natives to North America. The wood is heavy, strong and tenacious.
Hind is the name of a female stag or deer.
A Hinny is a hybrid, the product of a stallion mating with a she-ass. It is smaller and weaker than the mule.
Hippocampus (the Sea-Horse) is a genus of fish closely allied to the pipe-fish, of singular construction and peculiar habits. The upper parts look rather like a horse's head and neck in miniature. When swimming they maintain a vertical position. They are generally about 15cm to 25cm long and are found mainly in the Mediterranean and Atlantic.
Hippomane are a genus of plants belonging to the Euphorbiaceae.
The hirudinea are the leeches. They are an ectoparasitic class of annelids with few true segments but each segment shows numerous annuli. Suckers are present at both ends of the body. They lay eggs in cocoons secreted by the clitellum.
The hoatzin is a bird found only in the Amazon.
The Hog-fish are teleostean fish of the genus Scorpoena, family Scorpaenidae.
The Hog-plum are plants of the genus Spondias, natural order Anacardiaceae. Some of them yield pleasant fruit. The name Hog-plum comes from the West Indies where the fruit was once fed to pigs (hogs).
Holcus is a genus of grasses, natural order Gramineae.
Holly (Ilex) is a genus of plants of the order Aquifoliaceae, embracing a number of evergreen trees or shrubs. The common holly is a conical evergreen tree growing to a height of 10 meters in Britain. It's leaves are dark-green, shiny and leathery, abundantly armed with prickles on the lower branches but free from them on the higher branches.
Hollyhock is a biennial or perennial herb with tall, erect, leafy stems. It is native to central Europe and China. It is an important plant in medicine providing a dark pigment which is also used in cooking.
Holm-oak (Quercus Ilex) is a shrub-like tree native to Mediterranean countries with holly-like leaves.
Holothurioidea is an order of Echinoderms, the sea-cucumbers.
The holothuroidea are the sea cucumbers. The body is elongated and appears worm-like. Skeletal plates are minute and imbedded in the fleshy body wall. There are no spines. The mouth is at one end of the body, the anus at the other. Feeding is carried out by tube feet near the mouth.
Holotricha are an order of ciliata vera. They are covered in alike cilia.
Holy Grass (Hierochloe) is an odoriferous genus of grass belonging to the Phalarideae.
The honey-ant (Myrmecocyctus mexicnus) is a Mexican ant. They live in subterranean galleries and in summer some secrete a kind of honey from their abdomen.
Honey-eater is a name given to a number of insessorial birds forming the family Meliphagidae, of the tribe Tenuirostres. They form a large group, feeding mainly on honey and the nectar of flowers. These birds are found in Australia and surrounding islands. They have long curved sharp bills, with a tongue terminating in a pencil of delicate filaments.
The honey-guide is a South African cuckoo of the genus Indicator, which by its cries and motions directs people to the nests of wild honey bees.
The Honey-locust (Gleditschia triacanthos) is an American forest tree belonging to the natural order Leguminosae. The leaves are pinnated, divided into small leaflets and the foliage has a light and elegant appearance.
Honeysuckle (Woodbine) is the Lonicera genus of Linnaeus of the natural order Caprifoliaceae. It is a twining shrub with distinct leaves and red berries found in Britain.
The hooded seal (Cystophora cristata) is a species of seal, the male of which has a movable, inflatable muscular bag stretching from the muzzle to behind the eyes. The prevailing colour is black.
A hoof is the horny casing of the foot of a ruminant, horse, swine or similar animals.
Hoofed is the term applied to animals with hooves.
The hoopoe (Upupa) is a bird about 30cm long with a fine crest of pale cinnamon-red feathers tipped with black. It is a ground feeder eating mainly insects.
Hooves is the plural of hoof.
The hop is a plant of the family cannabiaceae. The root is perennial giving out several herbaceous, rough, twining stems with large lobed leaves. The catkins are added to beer to give it flavour.
Hop-clover (Trifolium procumbens) is a plant of the order Leguminosae, distinguished from other species of clover by its bunch of yellow flowers which wither to brown.
Hops are the dried flowers of the hop plant.
Horehound (Marrubium vulgare) is a labiate plant with whitish, downy leaves and stem. The flowers are small, nearly white in crowded whorls. The flowers are aromatic and have a bitter taste. An infusion of horehound was a popular English remedy for coughs and colds.
The Hornbills (Bucerotidoe) are a remarkable group of birds found in southern Asia and Africa. They are akin to the Toucans and Kingfishers. The hornbills are remarkable for the size of their bill and a horny protruberance which surmounts the bill.
The horned-screamer (Palamedea cornuta) is a South American grallatorial bird having a long, slender, movable horn projecting from its forehead. It has a loud and shrill voice.
Horned-toad is a popular name for the Phrynosoma genus of lizards. They are found in America and look rather like toads and are covered with spine-like scales.
The hornet is an insect of the genus Vespa, much larger and stronger than the ordinary wasp. Hornets are voracious, feeding on fruit and honey and preying on other insects. The nest is formed in hollow-trees and walls. The hornet sting is very painful and usually causes considerable swelling.
The horse is a hoofed, odd toed grass eating mammal.
Horse Chestnut is a tall deciduous tree native to south-eastern Europe. The fruit is a green spiny capsule containing one or more hard brown seeds known as "conkers".
The Horse-fly is a winged insect of the family Hippoboscidae which is parasitic on the horse.
Horse-radish (Cochlearia Armoracia) is a cruciferous plant found in the temperate parts of Europe in moist locations. The root is cylindrical, whitish in colour and forms a popular condiment. It is a pungent tasting and smelling root, excellent with roast beef.
Horse-tail is a popular name for plants of the genus Equisetum of the natural order Equisetaceae. The cuticle abounds in siliceous cells, a property which allows the horse-tail to be used for polishing wood.
Horseradish is a cruciferae native to south east Europe. The root is used in cookery as a condiment of beef.
A hound is a hunting dog which hunts by scent. There are several varieties; bloodhound, staghound, foxhound, harrier and beagle.
The Houseleek (Sempervivum tectorum) is a succulent plant of the natural order Crassulaceae. It grows on old walls and roofs. The stem reaches about 20cm in length and bears a few purplish flowers which have twelve or fifteen petals.
The Howler Monkey (Mycetes) is a genus of South American monkey characterized by a remarkable loudness of voice. They are prehensile, tailed, large and heavy of body with a high pyramidal head flattened on the summit.
Hoya is a genus of Asclepiadaceae common in tropical Asia.
Huia-bird is a Maori name for New Zealand's starlings.
A human is an animal of the genus homo.
Humming-bird is the popular name for the Trochilidae family of munte and beautiful birds, so called from the sound of their wings in flight. The beak is slender, generally long, sometimes straight and sometimes curved. The tongue is long and filiform. They feed by hovering by a plant and use their tongue to catch insects.
The Huon Pine is a tree of the Yew family found in Tasmania and yielding a useful timber.
Hura is a genus of tropical American plants of the natural order Euphorbiaceae.
Hyacinth is a genus of liliaceous bulbous plants including about thirty species.
The hyalonema is a member of the hexactinellida class.
The hydra is of the order hydrida.
Hydrangea is a genus of shrubs or herbs of the natural order Saxifragaceae, containing about thirty-three species native to Asia and America. The British garden hydrangea was introduced from China in 1790 by Sir J. Banks.
Hydrida is an order of hydrozoa. They are solitary hydroid freshwater forms which reproduce by budding and sexual reproduction.
Hydrozoa is a class of sub-phylum cnidaria. They are mainly marine colonial forms which during the life-history have both hydroid and medusoid stages.
The hymenoptera is an order of insects which includes the bees, wasps and ants.
Hypericaceae is a natural order of plants. They are herbs, shrubs or rarely trees with simple opposite leaves. They have terminal or axillary, solitary, cymose or paniculate flowers which are usually yellow or white.
Hypermastigina are an order of zoomastigina. They are small flagellates with numerous flagella. They live in the gut of insects. Hypermastigina in the gut of termites assist in the digestion of wood.
Hypotricha is an order of ciliata vera. They are flattened ciliates with large stiff ciliates on the lower surface which act similarly to legs.
The hyracoidea are an order of eutheria. They are small rabbit-like creatures.
Hyssop is an aromatic herb of the family labiatae.
The ibex is a wild goat.
The iguana is a type of lizard.
Iguanodon was a herbivore dinosaur of the cretaceous period. For defence it had a 40cm long sharp thumb spike. Iguanodon lived in herds.
The impatiens are a genus of plants with elastic valves of the seed-pod which discharge the seeds when ripe or when touched.
Impennes is a name given to swimming birds which have only rudimentary feathers, such as penguins.
The Impey Pheasant (Monaul, Lophophorus refulgens) is a bird of the pheasant family with splendid plumage found in the higher regions of the Himalayas. It is the size of a small turkey.
The Inaja Palm is a South American palm growing to heights of over 30 meters with leaves 10 to 12 meters long.
Indian millet (Sorghum vulgare) is a grass of the genus Sorghum.
Indian Shot (Canna indica) is an ornamental plant of the Arrow-root family found in most tropical countries. The seeds are round, black and hard, hence the name Indian Shot.
The Indigo-bird (Cyanospiza cyanea) is a North American bird of the Finch family. It is a deep-blue colour and a good songster.
Indigofera is a genus of plants, the Indigo plants. They are herbaceous or shrubby plants with pinnate leaves and small, blue, purple or white pea shaped flowers disposed in axillary racemes. The dye Indigo was formerly obtained from the leaves of the plant by fermentation.
Infusoria is a class of minute animals. They are provided with a mouth, are without pseudopodia, and are furnished with vibratile cilia.
Ingestion is the process of getting food within the confines of the body.
Insecta is the insect class of arthropods. The body is divided into; head, thorax and abdomen. When wings are present they arise from the second and third thoracic segments. There are three thoracic segments each with a pair of walking legs.
Insectivora is an order of small eutheria which eat insects. The teeth are small and have pointed cusps.
An insectivore is a mammal which feeds predominantly on insects.
The intestine is the longest part of the alimentary canal. It follows the stomach. The intestine is divided into parts.
An invertebrate is an animal without a backbone.
The ipomoea is a genus of twining tropical plant which includes the sweet potato.
Isopoda is an order of malacostraca where the carapace is absent and the body is flattened dorsoventrally. The abdomen is often reduced. The endopodites of the abdominal appendages function as gills.
Ivory is a hard white substance of which some animals teeth and tusks are composed.
The jacaranda is a genus of American tropical ornamental trees.
Jack-in-the-box (Hernandia Sonora) is a tree of the Hernandia genus. It is so named because of the noise the wind makes whistling through its persistent involucels.
The jackal is a carnivorous member of the dog family.
Jasmine is a plant of the oleaceae family.
The jay is a bird of the crow family.
Juniper is an evergreen shrub of the genus Juniperus. Juniper has prickly leaves and dark purple berries of a pungent taste. The juice of the berries is extracted and used as a diuretic and flavouring in gin etc.
Kale is a type of cabbage.
The Kauri pine is one of the dammar pine family of trees. It is found in the north island of New Zealand where it grows to 160 feet in height.
The keaki is a Japanese tree.
The kestrel is a British bird of the falcon family.
The kite is a bird of prey of the falcon family.
The kiwi is a group of three species of bird only found in New Zealand. They are about the size of a domestic fowl, have short stout legs terminated in four toes and a long bill with nostrils at the tip.
The kudu is a breed of antelope. It is found in Africa. The males have twisted horns up to 60 inches long, and stand about 6 feet tall at the shoulder and weigh around 700 pounds. The females are hornless.
Laburnum is a small leguminous tree of the genus Laburnum with poisonous seeds and bright yellow flowers.
Lacertilia is a suborder of squamata. These are the lizards. Limbs are usually present, and traces of a girdle are always present, even in the limbless species.
The ladybird is a beetle of the family coccinellidae.
Lagomorpha are the rabbit order of eutheria. They have a second pair of upper incisors immediately behind the first pair.
Lamellibranchiata is a class of phylum mollusca. They are the mussels, oysters, scallops etc. The head is reduced and the mantle encloses the body and secretes a bivalved shell.
The lamprey is a member of the cyclostomi subclass.
The langur is a leaf eating monkey found in south Asia.
The lapwing is a British bird of the plover family.
The larch is a tree of the pinaceae family.
Lavender is a herb of the family labiatae.
The leguminosae family of plants have pods containing dry fruits and nitrogen rich roots.
Lemurs are species of omnivorous forest dwelling primates found in Madagascar and the Comoro Islands. They have large eyes and bushy tails.
The lemuroidea is an order of eutheria. They are related to the monkeys, but are more primitive. They are adpated to arboreal life.
The lentil is an annual plant of the legumionsae family.
The leopard is a member of the cat family.
Lepismidae is a family of minute wingless insects of the order Thysanura, having the abdomen furnished at its extremity with three caudal bristles which are used in leaping.
Leptoplana is a member of the order polycladida.
Leptostraca is a marine order of malacostraca. The carapace takes the form of a bivalved shell. In the front of the head region is a movable head plate.
Lesothosaurus was a herbivore dinosaur from the triassic era. It was a small dinosaur, about 1m long with a long tail.
The liliaceae is the lilly family. They are stemless plants, with a simple or branched trunk, and have bulbous or fascicled roots.
Linaceae is the flax family, a small natural order of exogenous plants. they are principally characterized by their regular flowers, with imbricate glandular sepals having a disc of five glands outside the satminal tube.
The linnet is a bird of the finch family.
Linum is the flax genus of plants which gives its name to the natural order Linaceae. There are about 80 species, herbs or rarely small shrubs, chiefly found in the temperate and warmer extra-tropical regions of both hemispheres.
The lion is a member of the cat family panthera leo. They are now only found in Africa and in north west India. The male lion has a heavy mane and a tuft at the end of the tail.
The loa is a genus of parasitic nematode.
The loach is a carp like fresh water fish.
Locomotion is the idea of movement from one place to another.
Lotus is a genus of plant of the legumionosae family.
The lynx is a member of the cat family found in rocky and forested areas of north America and Europe.
The mackerel is a pelagic fish found in the north atlantic and mediterranean.
Madrepora is a member of the order zoantharia.
The magpie is a bird of the crow family.
Malacostraca is a subclass of crustacea. The eyes are usually stalked. Typically the carapace covers the thorax which consists of eight segments. The abdomen is made up of six appendage-bearing segments.
The mallard is a British duck.
Mallow is a wild plant of the genus Malva with hairy leaves and stem and rose-purple flowers.
Malvaceae is a large natural order of exogenous plants (the mallows), having polypetalous flowers, monadelphous stamens, unilocular anthers, valvate estivation and often an external calyx.
Mammalia is the mammal class of craniates. The young are nourished by milk. The skin is covered in two types of glands: sweat glands and sebaceous glands. The sweat glands secrete a watery fluid to assist body cooling. The sebaceous glands secrete an oily fluid to maintain water resistance in the hair. The heart has two auricles and two ventricles.
Mandasuchus was a carnivorous reptile from the triassic era. It was the size of a car.
The mango is a tree native to India but found in warm climates.
The maple is a deciduous tree of some 200 species.
A mare is a female horse.
The margay is a small wild cat.
The markhor is a large wild goat found in the himalayas.
Marshmallow is a perennial herb of the order Malvaceae, with a yellow, branched root, tall, erect, leafy stems and large alternate, lobed and irregularly toothed leaves. The root can be boiled and eaten as a vegetable.
The marten is a carnivorous mammal of the genus Martes. It resembles a large weasel and has valuable fur.
Massospondylus was one of the earliest dinosaurs. It lived during the triassic era. It was an omnivore with a latge bulky body and a tiny head. It grew to about 6m long. It had a strange thumb claw which could have been used for defense and also digging.
The mastigophora are a class of phylum protozoa. They are small protozoa which are motile in the adult stage, swimming by means of flagella. They reproduce by logitudinal fission.
The matamata is a south American fresh water turtle.
Megalosaurus was a large carnivorous dinosaur from the jurrasic period. Remains have been found in oxfordshire, england. It was estimated to be about the size of two cars.
The merino is a type of sheep with fine silky wool.
Merocystis is a member of the coccidia vera order.
Mesostoma is a member of the order rhabdocoelida.
Metatheria is a subclass of mammal. These are the marsupials. The young are born in an immature state and migrate into a pouch on the mother's abdomen where they are nourished on milk.
Mezereon is a deciduous shrub with fragrant purple flowers.
Mignonette (Reseda odorata) is a plant with fragrant greyish-green blossoms.
Mildew is a growth of minute white fungi. It occurs on plants and objects exposed to damp.
Milfoil is another name for Yarrow.
Milk is a secretion of modified skin glands of female mammals.
A millepede is a myriapod with numerous legs placed one each of the segments in double pairs.
Millepora is a member of the order milleporina.
Milleporina is an order of marine hydrozoa with the hydroid colony on the surface of a massive calcareous corallum perforated by pores into which the polyps can be retracted.
Millet is the name of several grasses of the genus Sorghum.
Mimosa is a genus of leguminous plants, sub-division of Mimoseae.
Mimusops is a genus of large, milky-juiced tropical trees.
The Indian Mina Brid is a deep velvet black bird with a whitespot on the wing. A member of the genus Grakle, the Mina Bird can imitate the human voice and be taught tricks.
The mink is 2 species of carnivorous mammal of the weasel family. It is semi-aquatic, burrowing on the banks of rivers and ponds and eating frogs and fish.
The minnow (Leuciscus phoxinus) is a species of fish of the carp family. They rarely grow longer than 7cm and are often used as bait for catching trout.
Mint is the name given to several herbaceous aromatic plants of the genus Mentha, natural order Labiatae. They are nearly all perennial, having square stems which bear opposite and simple leaves.
Mirabilis is a genus of plants of the natural order Nyctagineae.
Mistletoe is a European plant of the order Loranthaceae which grow parasitically on various trees. It was sacred to the Druids, especially when it was found growing on the oak tree. It is a small shrub with sessile, rectangular, leathery leaves and small yellowish-green flowers. In winter the bush is covered in white berries.
Mitre is a name given to many molluscs which inhabit a small and pretty turreted shell found in the seas around hot climates.
The Moccasin Snake is a very venomous snake found in swamps in the warmer parts of America. It grows to around 60 cm in length, is dark brown above and grey underneath.
The mocking-bird is an American bird of the thrush family. It is renowned for being able to immitate the calls of most animals.
The mockingbird is a North American songbird (Mimus polyglottos) of the mimic thrush family Mimidae, found in the USA and Mexico. About 25 cm long, it is brownish grey, with white markings on the black wings and tail. It is remarkable for its ability to mimic the songs of other species.
The mole is a burrowing mammal of the talpidae family.
The mole-rat is a rodent of the genus Spalax, family Spalacidae. They are dumpish, stout-bodied rodents with short strong limbs and a very short tail.
Molluscoida is a group of animals comprising the Polyzoa, Tunicata and Brachiopoda. The nervous system consists of a single ganglion or a principal pair of ganglia and the heart is imperfect.
The moloch lizard is a genus of ferocious looking, but harmless lizards of Australia. It has a horned head and spiny body.
The mongoose is a small carnivorous mammal that is often kept for its ability to kill snakes.
The monitor is any of various lizards of the family Varanidae, found in Africa, South Asia, and Australasia. Monitors are generally large and carnivorous, with well-developed legs and claws and a long powerful tail that can be swung in defence. Monitors include the Komodo dragon, the largest of all lizards, and also the slimmer Salvador's monitor Varanus salvadorii, which may reach 2.5m. Several other monitors, such as the lace monitor (Varanus varius), the perentie Varanus giganteus of Australia, and the Nile monitor (Varanus niloticus) of Africa, are up to 2m long.
A monkey is a small, usually tree dwelling, primate.
The monkey puzzle is a tree from the southern Andes.
The Monkey-pot tree (Lecythis Ollaria) is a large forest tree of Brazil.
Monocystis is a member of the gregarinida order.
Monogenea is an order of trematoda. They are ectoparasitic flukes with relatively simple life histories which do not involve an intermediate host. They feed on aquatic animals. Both hooks and suckers are present.
The monotremata is a subclass of mammals. They lay large eggs. There are no mammae, but the young are nourished by a secretion poured into a depression in the abdomen.
Monotreme refers to any member of the order Monotremata, the only living egg-laying mammals, found in Australasia. They include the echidnas and the platypus.
The moorhen is a British water bird.
The moose is a large deer (Alces alces) inhabiting northern Asia and northern Europe, where it is known as the elk. It is brown in colour, stands about 2m at the shoulders, and has very large palmate antlers, a fleshy muzzle, a short neck, and long legs. It feeds on leaves and shoots.
The Morgan horse is a breed of riding and driving show horse originating in the USA in the 1780s from a single stallion named Justin Morgan after his owner. They are marked by high, curved necks and high stepping action. The breed is valued for its strength, endurance, and speed.
Morphology is the study of animal form.
Mosquito is a term applied to any fly of the family Culicidae. The female mosquito has needle-like mouth-parts and sucks blood before laying eggs. Males feed on plant juices. Some mosquitoes carry diseases such as malaria. Human odour in general is attractive to mosquitoes, also lactic acid in sweat and heat at close range. Peoples' varying reactions to mosquito bites depend on the general allergic reaction and not on the degree of the bite; the allergic reaction is caused by the saliva injected from the mosquito's salivary glands to prevent coagulation of the host's blood. Natural mosquito repellents include lavender oil, citronella (from lemon grass), thyme, and eucalyptus oils.
The moth is an insect family, being one of the order of lepidoptera.
The mouflon is a sheep (Ovis ammon) found wild in Cyprus, Corsica, and Sardinia. It has woolly under-fur in winter, but this is covered by heavy guard hairs. The coat is brown with white belly and rump. Males have strong, curving horns. The mouflon lives in mountain areas.
Mouse is a general term applied to small rodents, particularly those of the muridae family.
The mousebird is a bird of the order Coliiformes, including a single family (Coliidae) of small crested species peculiar to Africa. They have hair-like feathers, long tails, and mouse-like agility. The largest is the blue-naped mousebird Colius macrourus, about 35cm long.
The mudnester is any of an Australian group of birds that make their nests from mud, including the apostle bird (Struthidea cinerea), the white-winged chough (Corcorax melanorhamphos), and the magpie lark (Grallina cyanoleuca).
The mudpuppy is a brownish salamander of the genus Necturus in the family Proteidae. There are five species, living in fresh water in North America. They all breathe in water using external gills. Necturus maculatus is about 20cm long. Mudpuppies eat fish, snails, and other invertebrates.
The mudskipper is a fish of the goby family, genus Periophthalmus, found in brackish water and shores in the tropics, except for the Americas. It can walk or climb over mudflats, using its strong pectoral fins as legs, and has eyes set close together on top of the head. It grows up to 30cm long.
The mulberry is a group of trees of the genus morus and family moraceae.
The mule is a hybrid animal, the result of an ass and a mare breeding.
Mullein (Verbascum Thapsus) is a plant of the natural order Scrophulariaceae. It is a tall rough plant with yellow flowers which are almost sessile and are disposed in a long cylindrical spike.
The mullet is two groups of acanthopterygian fish, the grey mullets (Mugilidae) and the red mullets (Mullidae).
Mungoose is an alternative 19th century spelling of Mongoose.
The muntjac is a small deer found in south east Asia.
Muraena is a genus of adopal malacopterygious fish of the family Muraenidae. They resemble the eels in form having no pectoral fins, and the dorsal and anal fins are very low and are united.
Murex is a genus of gasteropod molluscs resembling the whelk. They have a spiral shell, rough with three or more ranges of spines simple or branched.
Murices is the plural form of Murex.
Muridae is the family of animals which includes the mice and rats.
Murry (Muraena helena) is a Mediterranean fish of the genus Muraena. It grows to 150cm long and is considered good eating.
Musaceae is a natural order of endogenous plants. The order includes the banana, plantain and abaca.
Muscidae is a family of two-winged flies which includes the common house-fly.
Mushroom is the popular name for numerous cryptogamic plants of the natural order Fungi. Some are edible and others are toxic.
Musk is a perennial plant Mimulus moschatus of the family Scrophulariaceae. It has small rectangular leaves which excrete a scent from which it takes its name.
Musk-deer is a genus of deer forming the family Moschidae. They are not true deer, and are found primarily in Asia. The male Musk-deer yields musk, which is secreted from an abdominal gland.
The Musk-duck (Cairina moschata) is a native American duck.
Musk-mallow (Malva moschata) is a British perennial plant.
The musk-ox (Ovibos moschatus) is an animal intermediate between an ox and a sheep. It resembles a large goat-like sheep, its body is covered with a coat of thick, tufted brown hair. It is an active and agile animal found in mountainous regions of Arctic America.
The Musk-rat (Fiber zibethicus) or musquash, is an American rodent allied to the beaver. It is about the size of a small rabbit, with a flattened lanceolate tail, and is covered with small scales and a few hairs.
The muskrat (Ondatra zibethicus) is a rodent of the family Cricetidae, about 30cm long, living along streams, rivers, and lakes in North America. It has webbed hind feet, a side-to-side flattened tail, and shiny, light-brown fur. It builds up a store of food, plastering it over with mud, for winter consumption. It is hunted for its fur.
Mussel is a term popularly given to several lamellibranchiate molluscs of the section Asiphonida.
The mustang is a small wild horse found in south west USA and north Mexico.
Mustard is an annual plant of the cruciferae family.
Mycelium is an interwoven mass of threadlike filaments which form the main body of most fungi.
The mycetozoa are an order of rhizopoda. They are slime fungi which form encrusting masses on rotten wood. Reproduction occurs by fission and the formation of spores out of which hatch amoebae.
Mygale is a genus of spiders of the family Mygalidae. They are furnished with four pulmonary sacs and spiracles, four spinnerets, eight eyes, and hairy legs.
Mylabris is a genus of coleopterous insects.
The mylodon is a genus of extinct edentate mammalia. Their remains have been found in South America. It was a herbivore terrestial animal.
Myosotis is a genus of plants belonging to the Boraginaceae.
Myoxus is the dormouse genus of animals.
Myriapoda is a class of arthropod with a clearly demarcated head region.
Myristica is the genus of the natural order Myristicaceae.
The myrtle is an evergreen shrub of the genus myrtus and family myrtaceae.
Mysidacea is an order of malacostraca in which the thorax is covered by the carapace and the exopodite of the antenna is scale-like. The abdomen terminates in a tail fan.
The narcissus is a genus of bulbous plants.
The narwhal is a whale found only in the arctic.
The nautilus is a shelled cephalopod of the genus Nautilus, found in the Indian and Pacific oceans. The pearly nautilus (Nautilus pompilius) has a chambered spiral shell about 20cm in diameter. Its body occupies the outer chamber. The nautilus has a large number of short, grasping tentacles surrounding a sharp beak.
The living nautiluses are representatives of a group common 450 million years ago.
Nectar is a sugary liquid secreted by some plants.
The nematodes are a group of worms which have an unsegmented cylindrical body which tapers at both ends.
The nemertea are the proboscis worms. They are triploblastic animals with a very extensible body. Both a mouth and anus are present. A simple blood vascular system is present. The excretory system is a flame-bulb system.
The neornithes are a subclass of bird. The metarcarpals are fused, and the tail is short. Teeth are absent.
Neosporidia is a subclass of sporozoa. They are obscure sporozoans.
The nettle is a plant of the family urticaceae.
A neurone is a cell which receives and transmits electrical impulses. Neurones are the basic component of an animal's nervous system.
The newt is an urodela.
The nightingale is a song bird of the thrush family.
The nightjar is any of about 65 species of night-hunting birds forming the family Caprimulgidae. They have wide, bristly mouths for catching flying insects. Their distinctive calls have earned them such names as whippoorwill and church-will's-widow. Some are called
The nilgai is a large, short horned Indian antelope.
A notochord is an axial stiffening rod extending along the length of an animal and lying immediately above the alimentary canal.
The nutcracker is a bird of the crow family.
The nuthatch is a small bird of the family Sittidae, with a short tail and pointed beak. Nuthatches climb head first up, down, and around tree trunks and branches, foraging for insects and their larvae.
The 14 cm long white-breasted nuthatch Sitta carolinensis of North America has a black cap, grey wings, and white under-parts.
Nutmeg is a tree. The nut of the nutmeg is used in cooking as a spice.
The nutria or coypu is a South American water rodent (Myocastor coypus), it is about 60 cm long and weighs up to 9kg. It has a scaly, rat-like tail, webbed hind feet, a blunt, muzzled head, and large, orange incisors. The fur is reddish brown. It feeds on vegetation and lives in burrows in river and lake banks.
Taken to Europe and then to North America to be farmed for their fur, many escaped or were released and became established, often to the detriment of native species.
Nutrition is the process of taking in food and obtaining energy and vital substances from it.
The nyala (Tragelaphus angasi) is an antelope found in the thick bush of southern Africa. About 1 m at the shoulder, it is greyish-brown with thin vertical white stripes. Males have horns up to 80cm long.