living in the Nearctic biogeographic province, the northern part of the New World. This includes Greenland, the Canadian Arctic islands, and all of the North American as far south as the highlands of central Mexico.

living in the southern part of the New World. In other words, Central and South America.

the paired openings of the nasal cavity in vertebrates, nostrils. Singular: naris.

Associated with an animal's birth.

specialized for swimming

the area in which the animal is naturally found, the region in which it is endemic.

A free-swimming larvae with three pairs of appendages (antennules, antennae and mandibles)on an unsegmented body. Synapomorphy of the Crustacea.

an animal that mainly eats nectar from flowers

a specialized cell in the tentacles of cnidarians (Phylum Cnidaria, jellyfish, corals, and anemones) and ctenophores (Phylum Ctenophora, comb jellies). Each nematocyst typically contains a barbed and/or venomous coiled thread that can be ejected in defense or to capture prey. Synapomorphy for Cnidaria.

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.

a structure for protection from the elements and/or predators, usually used for protecting and raising babies.

Cells which migrate during neurulation and form most of the peripheral nervous system (as well as many other structures) in the embryo. Synapomorphy of the Craniata.

waste products of the metabolism of proteins and nucleic acids.

no parental care is provided by the parents to the young after fertilization of the egg.

Indicates there is no parental involvement by either males or females after fertilization of the egg(s). As in broadcast spawning species that simply release eggs and sperm into the environment and have no further involvement with their offspring.

active during the night

generally wanders from place to place, usually within a well-defined range.

invertebrate prey besides insects and spiders. For example, crustaceans (shrimp or crabs), molluscs (snails, clams, or squid), echinoderms (starfish or sea urchins), or cnidarians (jellyfish, coral).

A rodlike cellular structure running the length of the organisms body which strengthens and supports the body in place of a vertebral column, and supports muscle attachment and bends to support a broad range of locomotory movements. Remains as a cellular structure in protochordates and jawless vertebrates; in jawed vertebrates it is largely or completely replaced during development by cartilage or bony vertabrae. Synapomorphy of the Chordata.

Required.

areas dominated by accumulations of sand which is shaped and formed by the action of wind and/or water. This habitat type also includes desert dune areas and lake coasts characterized by dune formation.

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.

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.

Referring to fish that live entirely within oceans.

See estrus cycle.

The individual optical units of a compound eye. Found in Arthropoda.

an animal that mainly eats all kinds of things, including plants and animals

a living thing (plant, animal, or microbe)

found in the oriental region of the world. In other words, India and southeast Asia.

referring to the means by which water content and salt and mineral concentrations of body fluids are controlled in animals and protozoans.

any small bony or chitinous structure found in various skeletal parts of animals. Usually used to refer to the bones of the middle ear in vertebrates.

plural form of ostium, which is any small opening in a body organ or part. Usually used to refer to small openings or pores in the tissues of sponges (Phylum Porifera).

reproduction in which eggs are released by the female; development of offspring occurs outside the mother's body.

reproduction in which eggs develop within the maternal body without additional nourishment from the parent and hatch within the parent or immediately after laying.