Vocabulary

Understanding these terms may prepare your students for their lesson.

Amphibian- Animal that has a backbone, thin and usually scaleless skin, and needs water to lay its shell-less eggs

Bird- Warm blooded animal that lays eggs and has feathers, a backbone, and hollow bones

Classification- A system of organizing things into different groups

Fish- Animal with a backbone, gills, scaly skin, and lives in water

Genus- A group of closely related species; ex. house cats, lions, and ocelots are all in the same genus, Felis

Invertebrate- Animal without a backbone; ex. worm, insect

Kingdom- Largest grouping in the classification of living things

Mammal- Animal that has fur, gives birth to live young, and feeds its young milk

Reptile- Cold blooded animal with a backbone, and dry and scaly skin

Species- A particular type of living thing; ex. porcupine, eastern bluebird

Taxonomy- The study of the classification or grouping of living things

Vertebrate- Animal that has a backbone

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