reproduction in which eggs develop within the maternal body without additional nourishment from the parent and hatch within the parent or immediately after laying.
generates and uses light to communicate
Photic/Bioluminescent
Breeds and thrives in caves
snakes, lizards, turtles, crocodilians
reproduction in which fertilization and development take place within the female body and the developing embryo derives nourishment from the female.
defends an area within the home range, occupied by a single animals or group of animals of the same species and held through overt defense, display, or advertisement
in deserts low (less than 30 cm per year) and unpredictable rainfall results in landscapes dominated by plants and animals adapted to aridity. Vegetation is typically sparse, though spectacular blooms may occur following rain. Deserts can be cold or warm and daily temperates typically fluctuate. In dune areas vegetation is also sparse and conditions are dry. This is because sand does not hold water well so little is available to plants. In dunes near seas and oceans this is compounded by the influence of salt in the air and soil. Salt limits the ability of plants to take up water through their roots.
desert or dune
protected migratory bird
extinct
data deficient
Appendix I
lower risk
no special status
Appendix III
critically endangered
no special status
Appendix II
endangered
endangered
Conservation status
least concern
threatened
vulnerable
no special status
extinct in the wild
This terrestrial biome includes summits of high mountains, either without vegetation or covered by low, tundra-like vegetation.
condition of hermaphroditic animals (and plants) in which the male organs and their products appear before the female organs and their products
describing an animal with a substance capable of killing, injuring, or impairing other animals through its chemical action (for example, the skin of poison dart frogs).
fertilization takes place outside the female's body
External fertilization
development takes place in an unfertilized egg
Describe the extent and kind of parental investment found in this species. Include information on the duration of various forms of parental investment, including parental investment that occurs pre-fertilization, pre-hatching, or pre-independence. Describe the kinds of investment provided by parents (food, protection, resources, learning, etc.) and which parents make this investment.
Parental care text
mature spermatozoa are stored by the male before copulation or by the female following copulation
Produces fertilizer
living on or in the soil; used of an organism that spends most of its active life on the ground.
reproduction in which eggs are released by the female; development of offspring occurs outside the mother's body.
breeding takes place throughout the year
Year-round breeding
specialized for swimming
young are born in a relatively underdeveloped state
Anti-predation adaptations keyword
Pollinates crops
Eats body fluids
animals that regulate their body temperature independently of ambient temperature fluctuations.
introduced
native
Describe the limits of the range according to this map:
http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/images/worldmap.2001.jpg
Biogeographic region
Economic importance negative
m^2
imitates a communication signal of another kind of organism
living near a coast, or shoreline.
an area where a freshwater river meets the ocean and tidal influences result in fluctuations in salinity.
able to detect which way light is polarized and use that information
Polarized light
TODO: create requirement that if there are species here, the mutualist keyword is true
Mutualist species
Broadcast (group) spawning
the regions of the earth that surround the north and south poles, from the north pole to 60 degrees north and from the south pole to 60 degrees south.
In the text box describe the habitat types that this species occupies, including the elevational (terrestrial) or depth (aquatic) ranges, and any other information on habitat requirements.
Habitat text
an animal that mainly eats seeds, grains, nuts
an animal that mainly eats fish
living in sub-Saharan Africa (south of 30 degrees north) and Madagascar.
Referring to a burrowing life-style or behavior, specialized for digging or burrowing.
Interacting taxon
a female pairs with several males, each of which also pairs with several different females.
specialized for leaping or bounding locomotion; jumps or hops.
living in landscapes dominated by human agriculture.
living in the oriental region of the world. In other words, India and southeast Asia.
Plant foods
on or near the ocean floor in the deep ocean. Abyssal regions are characterized by complete lack of light, extremely high water pressure, low nutrient availability, and continuous cold (3 degrees C).
the region of the earth that surrounds the equator, from 23.5 degrees north to 23.5 degrees south.
Time unit
eats worms
Primary: Other
makes seasonal movements between breeding and wintering grounds
an animal that mainly eats fruit
Post-partum estrous
Causes or carries domestic animal disease
having a body temperature that fluctuates with that of the immediate environment; having no mechanism or a poorly developed mechanism for regulating internal body temperature.
to jointly display, usually with sounds, at the same time as two or more other individuals of the same or different species
Body Symmetry
Mating system
Primary: Herbivore
An animal that eats mainly plants or parts of plants.
Reproduction general
Creates habitat
forest biomes are dominated by trees, otherwise forest biomes can vary widely in amount of precipitation and seasonality.
Arctic Ocean
the body of water between Europe, Asia, and North America which occurs mostly north of the Arctic circle.
Animals with indeterminate growth continue to grow throughout their lives.
Indeterminate growth
Indicate the time of year (span of months, for instance) in which breeding occurs. This should be the time when copulation and nesting occurs, and does not necessarily include pair formation (that can go in 'Mating Behavior...').
an animal that mainly eats meat
Primary: Carnivore
Use the text box to describe as fully as possible behavior in this species. Is this a solitary or social species? Does it move around or is it sessile? Are there any notable aspects of its behavior that you think distinguish it, such as the way it moves, what its activity patterns are, or how it behaves with others of its species? If social, describe the social system. Are there social hierarchies? On what are they based? This is a very broad category, and you are welcome to mention any aspect of the animal's behavior that is interesting. Note that mating behavior belongs in the reproduction box, not here.
Behavior text
photosynthetic or plant constituent of plankton; mainly unicellular algae.
An aquatic biome consisting of the open ocean, far from land, does not include sea bottom (benthic zone).
uses electric signals to communicate
Electric signals
Stores or caches food
places a food item in a special place to be eaten later. Also called "hoarding"
living in the northern part of the Old World. In otherwords, Europe and Asia and northern Africa.
Wood, bark, or stems
daily torpor
breaking down and decomposing dead plants and/or animals
Commensal species
TODO: create requirement that if there are species here, the commensal keyword is true
"many forms." A species is polymorphic if its individuals can be divided into two or more easily recognized groups, based on structure, color, or other similar characteristics. The term only applies when the distinct groups can be found in the same area; graded or clinal variation throughout the range of a species (e.g. a north-to-south decrease in size) is not polymorphism. Polymorphic characteristics may be inherited because the differences have a genetic basis, or they may be the result of environmental influences. We do not consider sexual differences (i.e. sexual dimorphism), seasonal changes (e.g. change in fur color), or age-related changes to be polymorphic.
breeding is confined to a particular season
Seasonal breeding
female more colorful
male more colorful
reproduction that is not sexual; that is, reproduction that does not include recombining the genotypes of two parents
Food habits
Economic importance positive
that region of the Earth between 23.5 degrees North and 60 degrees North (between the Tropic of Cancer and the Arctic Circle) and between 23.5 degrees South and 60 degrees South (between the Tropic of Capricorn and the Antarctic Circle).
Geographic range
Economic importance negative keyword
Geographic range text
Describe the limits of the range. For migratory species describe which parts of the range this species occupies for which parts of the year. Indicate both native and introduced ranges.
living in residential areas on the outskirts of large cities or towns.
Key reproductive feature
animals that use metabolically generated heat to regulate body temperature independently of ambient temperature.
animals that use metabolically generated heat to regulate body temperature independently of ambient temperature.
Physical description
offspring are all produced in a single group (litter, clutch, etc.)and then the parent usually dies.
to jointly display, usually with sounds in a highly coordinated fashion, at the same time as one other individual of the same species, often a mate
fertilization takes place within the female's body
Internal fertilization
Development keyword
an animal that mainly eats all kinds of things, including plants and animals
an animal that mainly eats dead animals
Found in coastal areas between 30 and 40 degrees latitude, in areas with a Mediterranean climate. Vegetation is dominated by stands of dense, spiny shrubs with tough (hard or waxy) evergreen leaves. May be maintained by periodic fire. In South America it includes the scrub ecotone between forest and paramo.
helpers provide assistance in raising young that are not their own
Cooperative breeding
a female mates with several males during one breeding season
Indian Ocean
offspring are produced in more than one group (litters, clutches, etc.) over time
Mass unit
flies
To enter a state of dormancy in seasonal hot, dry weather, when food is scarce. Sometimes spelled "estivation."
Communication channel
Known food
gonochoristic/dioecious (sexes separate)
particles of organic material from dead and decomposing organisms.
Sap or other plant fluids
Injures humans
ice cap
Lifespan range
animals which must use heat acquired from the environment and behavioral adaptations to regulate body temperature
Neotenic or paedomorphic
neotenic: retaining larval characteristics after reaching sexual maturity. The rate of growth of somatic (nonreproductive) parts of the body is slowed whereas development of reproductive organs proceeds normally.
used loosely to describe any group of organisms living together or in close proximity to each other - for example nesting shorebirds that live in large colonies. More specifically refers to a group of organisms in which members act as specialized subunits (a continuous, modular society) - as in clonal organisms.
Home range
The process by which an animal locates itself with respect to other animals and objects by emitting sound waves and sensing the pattern of the reflected sound waves.
ranking system or pecking order among members of a long-term social group, where dominance status affects access to resources or mates
dominance hierarchies
a wetland area that may be permanently or intermittently covered in water, often dominated by woody vegetation.
an animal that mainly eats leaves and flowers
Use this text box to describe what these animals eat. If there are special structures or adaptations for feeding, describe them. Try to use summarizing terms like "insectivore," "frugivore," "omnivore," etc., but also describe the foods used in more detail. If your animal is a dietary generalist, provide some specific examples of foods eaten identified by scientific name.
Food habits text
Tactile signals
uses touch to communicate
Male sexual maturity
Physical description keyword
mosses, liverworts, etc.
Eats terrestrial vertebrates
Time to independence
Chemical signals
uses smells or other chemicals to communicate
imitates appearance of another kind of organism to avoid predation
animal constituent of plankton; mainly small crustaceans and fish larvae.
a wetland area rich in accumulated plant material and with acidic soils surrounding a body of open water. Bogs have a flora dominated by sedges, heaths, and sphagnum.
reproduction that includes combining the genetic contribution of two individuals, a male and a female
flesh of dead animals.
remains in the same area
specialized for climbing.
Primary diet keyword
Causes disease in humans
Crop pest
living in the northern part of the New World. In other words, North America (including Mexico) and Greenland.
http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/glossary/popup/20020914235803.html
an animal that mainly eats fungus
Referring to an animal that lives in trees; tree-climbing.
jellyfish, sea anemones, coral, hydras
sea urchins, starfish, sand dollars, brittle stars, etc.
Gestation Period
Paragraph text
Simultaneous hermaphrodite
condition of hermaphroditic animals (and plants) in which the reproductive organs of both sexes are present and functional at the same time
Other foraging keyword
At about the time a female gives birth (e.g. in most kangaroo species), she also becomes receptive and mates. Embryos produced at this mating develop only as far as a hollow ball of cells (the blastocyst) and then become quiescent, entering a state of suspended animation or embryonic diapause. The hormonal signal (prolactin) which blocks further development of the blastocyst is produced in response to the sucking stimulus from the young in the pouch. When sucking decreases as the young begins to eat other food and to leave the pouch, or if the young is lost from the pouch, the quiescent blastocyst resumes development, the embryo is born, and the cycle begins again. (Macdonald 1984)
Embryonic diapause
has a special ability to detect the Earth's magnetic fields.
Economic importance negative text
Describe what is known about how this species adversely affects humans. Does this species adversely affect humans? If so, describe what is known about these affects. If not, please write: 'There are no known adverse affects of _your species_ on humans.'
the business of buying and selling animals for people to keep in their homes as pets.
Pet trade
living only on an island or set of islands.
Island endemic
having the capacity to move from one place to another.
Food items
Scent marks
communicates by producing scents from special gland(s) and placing them on a surface whether others can smell or taste them
pre-weaning
pre-independence
pre-hatching_or_birth
Kind of care
pre-fertilization
Disperses seeds
associates with others of its species; forms social groups.
Soil aeration
Sequential hermaphrodite
Territory size
polychaetes, oligochaetes, nematodes, etc.
Aquatic or marine worms
Eats marine invertebrates
body of water between the southern ocean (above 60 degrees south latitude), Australia, Asia, and the western hemisphere.
Pacific Ocean
the condition in which individuals in a group display each of the following three traits: cooperative care of young; some individuals in the group give up reproduction and specialize in care of young; overlap of at least two generations of life stages capable of contributing to colony labor
snails, clams, squid, etc.
Visual signals
uses sight to communicate
Bites or stings
Seeds, grains, and nuts
Field text
the area of shoreline influenced mainly by the tides, between the highest and lowest reaches of the tide. An aquatic habitat.
uses sound above the range of human hearing for either navigation or communication or both
Aquatic crustaceans
amphipods, crabs, crayfish, shrimp, etc.
Mating system keyword
A large change in the shape or structure of an animal that happens as the animal grows. In insects, "incomplete metamorphosis" is when young animals are similar to adults and change gradually into the adult form, and "complete metamorphosis" is when there is a profound change between larval and adult forms.
eats mollusks, members of Phylum Mollusca
means of moving about
Host species
TODO: create requirment that if there are species here, the parasite keyword is true
Address any known causes of vulnerable, threatened, or endangered status. What is being done to help the species or subspecies recover? (If your species has several subspecies that differ in conservation status, fill out the checkboxes for the most threatened subspecies and explain the status of all subspecies in the text box.)
Conservation status text
female larger
male larger
Longest captive lifespan
lives on Antarctica, the southernmost continent which sits astride the southern pole.
having a worldwide distribution.
reeding interval
Describes how frequently, or at what intervals, individuals of this species breed. For example: "Wood frogs breed once yearly", or: "White-footed mice breed every 3 to 4 weeks during the warmer months and less frequently during winter".
Known predators
Controls pest population
living in the southern part of the New World. In other words, Central and South America.
active at dawn and dusk
Perception channel
Measurement units
Animal foods
Ecosystem role
terrestrial habitat
Body fluids
Colonial growth
animals that grow in groups of the same species, often refers to animals which are not mobile, such as corals
able to detect movements of a hard surface that are produced by animals as signals to others
frogs, salamanders, caecilians
oceanic vent
Areas of the deep sea floor where continental plates are being pushed apart. Oceanic vents are places where hot sulfur-rich water is released from the ocean floor. An aquatic biome.
describing an animal which has an organ capable of injecting a poisonous substance into a wound (for example, scorpions, jellyfish, and rattlesnakes).
Maternal position affects young
sexes are somehow different in appearance.
Atlantic Ocean
the body of water between Africa, Europe, the southern ocean (above 60 degrees south latitude), and the western hemisphere.
Acoustic signals
uses sound to communicate
Number of offspring
TODO: deal with the fact that this isn't float and doesn't need units
Coniferous or boreal forest, located in a band across northern North America, Europe, and Asia. This terrestrial biome also occurs at high elevations. Long, cold winters and short, wet summers. Few species of trees are present; these are primarily conifers that grow in dense stands with little undergrowth. Some deciduous trees also may be present.
mm^2
Female sexual maturity
Inherits maternal paternal territory
seaweed. Algae that are large and photosynthetic.
pre-independence
precocial
pre-birth
pre-weaning
altricial
Parental Care
Eats sap or other plant foods
rivers and stream
crustaceans, arachnids, etc.
Eats non_insect arthopods
a substantial delay (longer than the minimum time required for sperm to travel to the egg) takes place between copulation and fertilization
Delayed fertilization
Other comments text
Include here anything else that you find interesting about this species. Examples might include taxonomic changes relevant to this animal (such as alternative classification schemes and other scientific names by which this species is known), scientific name etymology, fossil history, cultural or historical significance of this animal, or adaptations not covered in other categories.
living or located adjacent to a waterbody (usually, but not always, a river or stream).
The act or condition of passing winter in a torpid or resting state, typically involving the abandonment of homoiothermy in mammals.
Carries human disease
Diurnal
active during the day
rainforests, both temperate and tropical, are dominated by trees often forming a closed canopy with little light reaching the ground. Epiphytes and climbing plants are also abundant. Precipitation is typically not limiting, but may be somewhat seasonal.
Briefly describe what is known about the lifespan of this species in the wild and in captivity. You may wish to include information on what typically limits lifespan, such as tooth wear in elephants, if it is known. Sometimes data is presented as %mortality per year, please present these data as well.
Lifespan text
Area unit
Use the text box to describe any anti-predator adaptations found in this species, including behaviors, structures, color patterns, or life history modifications. Identify known predators of this species and provide details on differences in predators and anti-predator adaptations among different life stages of this species, if appropriate.
Anti-predator adaptations text
Pending
intermediate_advanced
Data object
Shelved
beginner
Submitted
Visible
In progress
Published
Ecosystem roles text
Include as much information as you can find on the role that these animals play in the ecosystems to which they belong. Use the text box to describe these roles and their impact on the community. Then check all keywords that apply to this species and list any host species (if your species is parasitic or commensal on another), mutualist partners, and commensal species (if your species is a host to other commensals). Often this kind of information is difficult to find labeled as an 'ecosystem role', but you can speculate to some extent based on available information. For instance, all animals are prey for their predators or act as predators, these are ecosystem roles.
Communication other keyword
A substance that provides both nutrients and energy to a living thing. (in this context, an animal provides food for humans)
Oceanic Islands
islands that are not part of continental shelf areas, they are not, and have never been, connected to a continental land mass, most typically these are volcanic islands.
Time to weaning fledging
Living in Australia, New Zealand, Tasmania, New Guinea and associated islands.
having body symmetry such that the animal can be divided in one plane into two mirror-image halves.
generally wanders from place to place, usually within a well-defined range.
areas with salty water, usually in coastal marshes and estuaries.
one of the sexes (usually males) has special physical structures used in courting the other sex or fighting the same sex. For example: antlers, elongated tails, special spurs.
Latitude information
humans benefit economically by promoting tourism that focuses on the appreciation of natural areas or animals.
e.g. earthworms, leeches, nematodes
Terrestrial worms
Expected captive lifespan
active during the night
Economic importance positive text
Describe what is known about benefits this species provides to humans. Please also suggest how humans benefit from the ecosystem functions of this species.
Habitat keyword
Behavior keyword
Research and education
Other comments
Use the text box to describe the reproductive cycle of this species. Be certain that you are reporting all of the important information relevant to reproduction. In the case of a mammal, this would include season of breeding, number of offspring per breeding season, gestation period, when weaning occurs, and age at sexual maturity. It might also include a description of any peculiarities of the system or anything that is notable or interesting. Examples might include descriptions of delayed implantation or fertilization, induced or spontaneous ovulation, or, in the case of hoofed mammals, whether the young are "followers" or "hiders."
Reproduction general text
Temperature sex determination
Data range
Extended period of juvenile learning
a distribution that more or less circles the Arctic, so occurring in both the Nearctic and Palearctic biogeographic regions.
Describe how this species communicates with others and perceives the environment. Which senses are developed and what are they used for? Are there forms of social communication? How do potential mates communicate? Describe important and notable forms of communication, such as how social rank is communicated among wild dogs or how bees convey information about food sources.
Communication text
a method of feeding where small food particles are filtered from the surrounding water by various mechanisms.
Expected wild lifespan
ovulation takes place following conception (not spontaneously)
Induced ovulation
scrub forest
scrub forests develop in areas that experience dry seasons.
Other geographic keyword
living on or near the bottom of a body of water. Also an aquatic biome consisting of the ocean bottom below the pelagic and coastal zones.
e.g. shell, fur, leather, wool, feathers, pigments, etc.
Body parts are source of valuable material
structure produced by the calcium carbonate skeletons of coral polyps (Class Anthozoa). Coral reefs are found in warm, shallow oceans with low nutrient availability.
Mating system text
In this section describe the mating system and mating behavior of this species. Include information on finding, attracting, and defending mates, and on how mating behaviors affect social structure.
Longest wild lifespan
an animal that mainly eats plankton
Terrestrial non-insect arthropods
spiders, mites, scorpions, isopods, etc.
chemicals released into air or water that are detected by and responded to by other animals of the same species
an animal that mainly eats blood
A terrestrial biome with low, shrubby or mat-like vegetation found at extremely high latitudes or elevations, near the limit of plant growth. Soils usually subject to permafrost. Plant diversity is typically low and the growing season is short.
Economic importance positive keyword
a form of body symmetry in which the parts of an animal are arranged concentrically around a central oral/aboral axis and more than one imaginary plane through this axis results in halves that are mirror-images of each other. Examples are cnidarians (Phylum Cnidaria, jellyfish, anemones, and corals).
Ecosystem impact keywords
a species whose presence or absence strongly affects populations of other species in that area such that the extirpation of the keystone species in an area will result in the ultimate extirpation of many more species in that area (Example: sea otter).
Keystone species
non-motile; permanently attached at the base.
sessile or motile
living in cities and large towns, landscapes dominated by human structures and activity.
Taxon account section
Length unit
Economic importance
eats wood, bark, or stems
Metabolic rate
an animal that mainly eats the dung of other animals
a wetland area that may be permanently or intermittently covered in water, often dominated by woody vegetation.
having markings, coloration, shapes, or other features that cause an animal to be camouflaged in its natural environment; being difficult to see or otherwise detect.
males having more than one female as a mate at one time
Delayed implementation
in mammals, a condition in which a fertilized egg reaches the uterus but delays its implantation in the uterine lining, sometimes for several months.
Having one mate at a time.
Other food
condition of hermaphroditic animals (and plants) in which the female organs and their products appear before the male organs and their products
young are relatively well-developed when born
Parental care keyword
an animal that mainly eats nectar from flowers
longest in Captivity
keyword value
IUCN Red list
basic physiology
describes when the care occurs with respect to the offspring
Drawn from a taxonomic authority
U.S. Endangered Species Act
Brief text
biogeographic region
U.S. Migratory Bird Act
intermediate advanced
longest in Wild
neotenic or paedomorphic