Animal Kingdom Vocabulary Chart
Word
Innate behavior
Book Definition
A behavior that is influenced by genes (DNA)
and does not depend on learning
Learned behavior
A behavior that has been learned by experience
or observation
Hibernation
A period of inactivity in winter that allows
organisms to survive on stored body fat
Estivation
A period of reduced activity
that some animals experience in the summer
Migration
The movement of animals from one place to
another in response to the seasons or
environmental conditions
Circadian rhythm
A natural, daily cycle
Pheromone
A chemical produced by animals for
communication
Radial Symmetry
A body plan in which the parts of the body are
arranged in a circle around the central point
Bilateral
Symmetry
A body plan in which two halves of an
organism’s body are mirror images of each
other
Exoskeleton
An external skeleton made of protein and chitin;
found on arthropods
Endoskeleton
An internal skeleton
Segment
One of many identical or almost identical
repeating body parts.
Endothermic
An animal that maintains a constant body
temperature despite temperature changes in the
environment
An animal whose body temperature fluctuates
with the environment’s temperature
An animal without a backbone
Ectothermic
Invertebrate
Vertebrate
An animal with a skull and a backbone; includes
mammals, fish, birds, reptiles, and amphibians
Example (written or drawn)