Glossary of terms used on this site

calcareous secretion produced by bivalves to line the inner side of shells as well as to coat intruding particulate matter

opening of the respiratory system to the outside environment

lymphocyte that can kill cells infected with viruses or tumor cells

field of science that is related to the physical world and its phenomena and processes

reproduction of individuals with favorable genetic traits that survive environmental change because of those traits, leading to evolutionary change

larval stage in the early development of crustaceans

liquid rich in sugars produced by flowers to attract animal pollinators

pigment pattern on a flower that guides an insect to the nectaries

feedback to a control mechanism that increases or decreases a stimulus instead of maintaining it

growth away from Earth’s gravity

ssRNA viruses with genomes complementary to their mRNA

harpoon-like organelle within cnidocyte with pointed projectile and poison to stun and entangle prey

phylum of worm-like animals that are triploblastic, pseudocoelomates that can be free-living or parasitic

phylum of dorsoventrally flattened protostomes known as ribbon worms

birds other than the Paleognathae