# Animals And Plants (I-N)

Ibex
The ibex is a wild goat.

Iguana
The iguana is a type of lizard.

Iguanodon
Iguanodon was a herbivore dinosaur of the cretaceous period. For defence it had a 40cm long sharp thumb spike. Iguanodon lived in herds.

Ilex
see "Holl"

Ilex verticillata
see "Winter Berry"

Impala
The impala is an African antelope.

Impatiens
The impatiens are a genus of plants with elastic valves of the seed-pod which discharge the seeds when ripe or when touched.

Impatiens Noli-me-tangere
see "Touch-me-not"

Impennes
Impennes is a name given to swimming birds which have only rudimentary feathers, such as penguins.

Impey Pheasant
The Impey Pheasant (Monaul, Lophophorus refulgens) is a bird of the pheasant family with splendid plumage found in the higher regions of the Himalayas. It is the size of a small turkey.

Improved Apulian
see "Gentile di Puglia"

Inaja Palm
The Inaja Palm is a South American palm growing to heights of over 30 meters with leaves 10 to 12 meters long.

Indian Fig
see "Prickly Pear"

Indian millet
Indian millet (Sorghum vulgare) is a grass of the genus Sorghum.

Indian Shot
Indian Shot (Canna indica) is an ornamental plant of the Arrow-root family found in most tropical countries. The seeds are round, black and hard, hence the name Indian Shot.

Indigo-bird
The Indigo-bird (Cyanospiza cyanea) is a North American bird of the Finch family. It is a deep-blue colour and a good songster.

Indigofera
Indigofera is a genus of plants, the Indigo plants. They are herbaceous or shrubby plants with pinnate leaves and small, blue, purple or white pea shaped flowers disposed in axillary racemes. The dye Indigo was formerly obtained from the leaves of the plant by fermentation.

Infusoria
Infusoria is a class of minute animals. They are provided with a mouth, are without pseudopodia, and are furnished with vibratile cilia.

Ingested
see "ingestion"

Ingestion
Ingestion is the process of getting food within the confines of the body.

Insect
see "insecta"

Insecta
Insecta is the insect class of arthropods. The body is divided into; head, thorax and abdomen. When wings are present they arise from the second and third thoracic segments. There are three thoracic segments each with a pair of walking legs.

Insectivora
Insectivora is an order of small eutheria which eat insects. The teeth are small and have pointed cusps.

Insectivore
An insectivore is a mammal which feeds predominantly on insects.

Insectivorous
Something which is insectivorous feeds predominantly upon insects. Insectivorous plants and animals both occur. Insectivorous plants are unique in their ability to digest animal protein as a source of nitrogen and are common to marshy ground where there is a shortage of nitrogen. Examples of insectivorous plants are the sundews, the butterwort, the bladderworts and the venus fly trap.

Insects
see "insect"

Intestine
The intestine is the longest part of the alimentary canal. It follows the stomach. The intestine is divided into parts.

Invertebrate
An invertebrate is an animal without a backbone.

Iomud
The Iomud (Iomudskaya, Yamud) is a breed of horse originating from the ancient Turkmenian horses. It was developed by the Iomud tribe in the Tashauz oasis in southern Turkmenia. As the breed occupied the margin of the Turkmenian breed area, it was influenced by steppe breeds. During the 14th century, it was influenced by Arabian stallions. In contrast to the Akhal-Teke, the Iomud breed is kept in herds in the desert and semi-desert. The Iomud conformation has a large clean-cut head, sometimes Roman-nosed, medium-long neck; medium-high withers, solid back with small curve to the withers, nicely turned and regularly sloping croup, shallow chest; clean fine legs, often bowed; sparse mane and tail; delicate skin. The colour is grey or chestnut, rarely golden chestnut or black. The Iomud is a long-lived healthy horse. It shows soft "floating" action. The purebred population has declined substantially. Stud farms to preserve the Iomud genotype were set up in Turkmenia in 1983. They are charged with protecting the breed and restoring the breeding nucleus to a size of 240-250 mares from the present 140 mares. A conservation farm is being established in the Kyzyl-Atrek district.

Iomudskaya
see "Iomud"

Ipecacuanha
Ipecacuanha (Psychotria ipecacuanha) is a small shrubby plant found in Brazil and Columbia. the root is used in medicine as an emetic, digestive aid and as an expectorant.

Ipomoea
The ipomoea is a genus of twining tropical plant which includes the sweet potato.

Irish Moss
see "Carrageen"

Is-ze-kn
see "Arrowhead"

Isonandra gutta
see "Gutta-percha Tree"

Isopoda
Isopoda is an order of malacostraca where the carapace is absent and the body is flattened dorsoventrally. The abdomen is often reduced. The endopodites of the abdominal appendages function as gills.

Istoben
The Istoben is a breed of cow first established in the former Vyatka province by crossing the local Great Russian cattle with the Kholmogory, Swiss Brown, Dutch and East Friesian breeds. The animals of this breed have clearly-defined dairy features; their constitution is strong and conformation compact. The head is somewhat coarse with a long face. The chest is deep and long but not wide enough; the ribs are well sprung, flat with a large distance between them. The withers are narrow and medium in height. The back and loin are long enough; the rump is long and fairly wide at the hips but narrow at the pinbones. The legs are frequently wrongly set; cow hocks and knock knees as well as bowed hind legs are occasionally observed. The musculature is poorly developed. Common defects are as follows: narrow chest, sway back, sloping and narrow rump, wrongly set legs. Coat colour is mostly black or black-and-white (up to 70%), sometimes (about 25%) red or red-and-white. The udder of most cows is cup-shaped and medium in size.

Istrian Pramenka
The Istrian Pramenka is a breed of sheep that originates in Istria and Karst. The name comes from the peninsula Istria. The sheep belongs to the group (Zackel) which are used for milk production. This breed now exists in two countries, Slovenia and Croatia. In Slovenia about 300 breeding ewes are reared, whereas breeding material and conservation programs are run in both countries.

Italian Merino
see "Gentile di Puglia"

Ivesti
see "Awassi"

Ivory
Ivory is a hard white substance of which some animals teeth and tusks are composed.

Jacaranda
The jacaranda is a genus of American tropical ornamental trees.

Jacare
see "Cayman"

Jack-by-the-hedge
Jack-by-the-hedge (Alliaria officinalis) is a white-flowered biennial plant growing to 70 cm high.

Jack-in-the-box
Jack-in-the-box (Hernandia Sonora) is a tree of the Hernandia genus. It is so named because of the noise the wind makes whistling through its persistent involucels.

Jackal
The jackal is a carnivorous member of the dog family.

Jacob
The Jacob is a British breed of sheep. Slight of build, with the narrow, lean carcass typical of some of the ancient British breeds, they are immediately noticeable due to their black and white fleeces and prominent horns. Both males and females are horned, sporting two, four and occasionally six horns. Most striking to many people are four-horned rams with two vertical center horns as much as two feet long, and two side horns curling down along the side of the head. Two-horned rams develop the more familiar classic double curl. Horns on the ewe are always shorter and more delicate than the rams' horns. The Jacob fleece, which is properly described as white with black spots, is prized by hand spinners and weavers. The white and the black wool, which may fade at the tips to dark brown, may be blended to various shades of greys. The wool is of medium grade, and interestingly, the black wool, which grows out of black skin, frequently is shorter than the white wool, which grows from white skin. Ideally, the animal should be 40% black and 60% white, with certain characteristic patterns. The legs should be predominantly white, with black hooves and black knees and hocks desirable. The desired Jacob face is frequently referred to as "badger faced', with black cheeks and muzzle, but a white blaze down the front of the face. The nose should be black as well as the horns and ears.

Jaguar
The jaguar is a large carnivorous mammal of the cat family.

Jamaica Sarsaparilla
Jamaica Sarsaparilla (Smilax ornata) is a large perennial climber of the natural order Liliaceae. The stems are erect, semi-woody and with large very sharp prickles one cm long. The leaves are large, alternate, stalked and almost evergreen with prominent veins. Jamaica Sarsaparilla is native to Central America but was introduced to Europe via Jamaica in the middle of the 16th century as a remedy for syphilis, and later came to be used for other chronic diseases. The leaves were smoked as a remedy for asthma. Confusingly, in Jamaica the term 'Sarsaparilla' is now used to describe high quality cannabis by the dealers.

Jasmine
Jasmine is an Asian plant of the oleaceae family. It is a slender shrub or woody climber. The flowers are tubular with spreading lobes and the fruit is a berry.

Jay
The jay is a bird of the crow family.

Jersey
The Jersey is a small, short-horned fawn or yellow brown coloured breed of domestic dairy cattle.

Jesuits' Nut
see "Trapa"

Jezerskosolcavska
The Jezerskosolflorinavska is a breed of sheep that resulted from the crossbreeding of native white sheep with the Bergamasca sheep and with the Padova sheep. It resembles the Austrian Bergschaf that has a similar origin. The breed got its name after the breeding centers of Jezersko and Solflorinava. Its head has a convex profile and hanging ears. Its legs are long and strong. This breed is very convenient for lamb production in the Alpine and Pre-Alpine region. It used to be reared in farms in combination with cattle. From June to September the sheep grazed in the mountains and mountainous pastures while in spring and autumn they grazed in farms together with cattle. Since 1980 Jezersko-Solflorinavska sheep has been crossed by Romanovska sheep, hence number of pure breed animals has been decreased quickly. Therefore, a special program on preservation the pure breed has been started in 1991. It is financed by the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry. Bovska sheep and Istrian Pramenka are also included in the preservation program.

Juglans cinerea
see "Butternut"

Juncus
see "Rush"

Juniper
Juniper is an evergreen shrub of the genus Juniperus. Juniper has prickly leaves and dark purple berries of a pungent taste. The juice of the berries is extracted and used as a diuretic and flavouring in gin etc.

Kale
Kale is a type of cabbage.

Kalmia latifolia
see "Mountain Laurel"

Kalo
see "Taro"

Kangaroo
Kangaroo is the name of any marsupial of the family Macropodidae found in Australia, Tasmania, and New Guinea. Kangaroos are plant-eaters and most live in groups. They are adapted to hopping, the vast majority of species having very large back legs and feet compared with the small forelimbs. The larger types can jump 9 m in a single bound. Most are nocturnal. Species vary from small rat kangaroos, only 30 cm long, through the medium-sized wallabies, to the large red and great grey kangaroos, which are the largest living marsupials. These may be 1.8 m long with 1.1 m tails.
In New Guinea and North Queensland, tree kangaroos (Dendrolagus) occur. These have comparatively short hind limbs. The great grey kangaroo Macropus giganteus produces a single young (called a 'joey') about 2 cm long after a very short gestation, usually in early summer. At birth the young kangaroo is too young even to suck. It remains in its mother's pouch, attached to a nipple which squirts milk into its mouth at intervals. It stays in the pouch, with excursions as it matures, for about 280 days.

Kauri pine
The Kauri pine is one of the dammar pine family of trees. It is found in the north island of New Zealand where it grows to 160 feet in height.

Keaki
The keaki is a Japanese tree.

Kelef K'naani
see "Canaan Dog"

Kelt
Kelt is the name given to a female Salmon which has spawned.

Kentish
see "Romney Marsh"

Kermani
see "Baluchi"

Kestrel
The kestrel is a British bird of the falcon family.

Khorasani
see "Baluchi"

Khurasani
see "Baluchi"

Kid
A kid is a baby goat.

Kidney Bean
see "French Beans"

Kiger Mustang
The Kiger Mustang is a north American breed of horse of Spanish descent from the Beaty Butte region in Lake County, Oregon. They are uniformly of a dun colouration, ranging from brown-dun to nearly white with dorsal stripes and zebra striped legs.

Kingfish
see "Opah"

Kinglet
see "Golden-crested Wren"

Kipper
Kipper is the name given to a male salmon after it has spawned.

Kirdi
see "West African Dwarf"

Kirdimi
see "West African Dwarf"

Kite
The kite is a bird of prey of the falcon family.

Kiwi
The kiwi is a group of three species of bird only found in New Zealand. They are about the size of a domestic fowl, have short stout legs terminated in four toes and a long bill with nostrils at the tip.

Knapweed
Knapweed is a plant of the genus Centaurea.

Koala
The koala is a marsupial found only in east Australia.

Krait
The Krait (Bungarus candidus) is a poisonous snake of Bengal and Southern India. It is dark brown or bluish black above with bands or spots of white or yellow and uniform white below. They grow to about one meter long.

Krasnaya belorusskaya
see "Belarus Red"

Krasnobelorusskaya
see "Belarus Red"

Krill
Krill is a malacostraca.

Kudu
The kudu is a breed of antelope. It is found in Africa. The males have twisted horns up to 60 inches long, and stand about 6 feet tall at the shoulder and weigh around 700 pounds. The females are hornless.

Labba
The labba is an edible Guinea Pig eaten in South America.

Labridae
see "Wrasses"

Labrus maculatus
see "Ballan Wrasse"

Labrus mixtus
see "Striped Wrasse"

Laburnum
Laburnum is a small leguminous tree of the genus Laburnum with poisonous seeds and bright yellow flowers.

Lacertilia
Lacertilia is a suborder of squamata. These are the lizards. Limbs are usually present, and traces of a girdle are always present, even in the limbless species.

Lady's Mantle
Lady's Mantle is the popular name for the common species of alchemilla.

Lady's Tresses
see "Briza"

Ladybird
The ladybird is a beetle of the family coccinellidae.

Lagomorpha
Lagomorpha are the rabbit order of eutheria. They have a second pair of upper incisors immediately behind the first pair.

Lagostomus Trichodactylus
see "Viscacha"

Lakka
see "West African Dwarf"

Lamb
A lamb is a young sheep.

Lamb's-Lettuce
see "Corn Salad"

Lamellibranchiata
Lamellibranchiata is a class of phylum mollusca. They are the mussels, oysters, scallops etc. The head is reduced and the mantle encloses the body and secretes a bivalved shell.

Lamprey
The lamprey is a member of the cyclostomi subclass.

Lamp shell
see "phylum brachiopoda"

Land-rail
see "Corncrake"

Landrail
see "Corn-crake"

Langur
The langur is a leaf eating monkey found in south Asia.

Laniidae
see "Shrike"

Lanius
see "Butcher-bird"

Lapwing
The lapwing is a British bird of the plover family.

Larch
The larch is a tree of the pinaceae family.

Lark Sparrow
The Lark Sparrow (Chondestes grammacus) is a bird of the order Passeriformes, family emberizidae. It is a medium-small bird with stubby bill; back brown; front and neck whitish; black spot on belly; head of adult with bold brown and white stripes; black chin strap; bill yellow; tail with white corners visible in flight; immatures with brown and beige head stripes. Feeds on ground in grassy and other open areas. It is a fairly common permanent resident of cismontane California; winter visitor in southern deserts; most commonly occurs in grasslands; also found near agricultural fields, in desert scrub and montane habitats.

Launces
see "Sand-eel"

Lavender
Lavender is a herb of the family labiatae.

Leek
The leek is a liliaceae.

Leguminosae
The leguminosae family of plants have pods containing dry fruits and nitrogen rich roots.

Leguminous
see "Leguminosa"

Leicester
The Leicester is a breed of long-wooled British sheep. It has a small, usually bare head, white face, large nose and no horns.

Lemon
Lemon is the fruit of Citrus Limonum, a tree or shrub belonging to the orange group. It is a native of India, but has been naturalized and cultivated in many sub-tropical parts of the world. It is a much-branched, thorny bush about 4 meters tall, bearing oval leaves and five-petalled flowers, followed by yellow ovoid fruits.

Lemur
Lemurs are species of omnivorous forest dwelling primates found in Madagascar and the Comoro Islands. They have large eyes and bushy tails.

Lemuroidea
The lemuroidea is an order of eutheria. They are related to the monkeys, but are more primitive. They are adpated to arboreal life.

Lemurs
see "lemur"

Lentil
The lentil is an annual plant of the legumionsae family.

Lentinese
see "Comisana"

Leopard
The leopard is a member of the cat family.

Lepidosteus
see "Gar-Fish"

Lepismidae
Lepismidae is a family of minute wingless insects of the order Thysanura, having the abdomen furnished at its extremity with three caudal bristles which are used in leaping.

Leptoplana
Leptoplana is a member of the order polycladida.

Leptostraca
Leptostraca is a marine order of malacostraca. The carapace takes the form of a bivalved shell. In the front of the head region is a movable head plate.

Lesothosaurus
Lesothosaurus was a herbivore dinosaur from the triassic era. It was a small dinosaur, about 1m long with a long tail.

Lesser Weever
see "Adder Pike"

Lichwort
see "Pellitory-of-the-wall"

Liliaceae
The liliaceae is the lilly family. They are stemless plants, with a simple or branched trunk, and have bulbous or fascicled roots.

Lillies
see "lilly"

Lilly
A lilly is a liliaceae

Linaceae
Linaceae is the flax family, a small natural order of exogenous plants. they are principally characterized by their regular flowers, with imbricate glandular sepals having a disc of five glands outside the satminal tube.

Lincoln
The Lincoln is the largest breed of English sheep. It has a lustrous and heavy fleece of very long wool. It has a white face and legs and no horns.

Lineus
Lineus is a nemertea.

Lingula
Lingula is a phylum brachiopoda.

Linnet
The linnet is a bird of the finch family.

Linum
Linum is the flax genus of plants which gives its name to the natural order Linaceae. There are about 80 species, herbs or rarely small shrubs, chiefly found in the temperate and warmer extra-tropical regions of both hemispheres.

Lion
The lion is a member of the cat family panthera leo. They are now only found in Africa and in north west India. The male lion has a heavy mane and a tuft at the end of the tail.

Liquorice
Liquorice is a perennial herb of the leguminosae family and found in Europe.

Liriodendron
~Tulip tree

Lizard
The lizards are reptiles.

Lizards
see "lizard"

Loa
The loa is a genus of parasitic nematode.

Loach
The loach is a carp like fresh water fish.

Lob worm
Lob worm is an old English name for the common earth worm.

Lobster
The lobster is a malacostraca.

Locomotion
Locomotion is the idea of movement from one place to another.

Locust Tree
see "Carob"

Lota vulgaris
see "Burbot"

Lotus
Lotus is a genus of plant of the legumionosae family.

Lumbricus
The lumbricus are oligochaeta.

Lung fish
see "crossopterygii"

Lung fishes
see "lung fish"

Lycopersicum esculentum
see "Tomato"

Lynx
The lynx is a member of the cat family found in rocky and forested areas of north America and Europe.

Macaca Sylvanus
see "Barbary Ape"

Mackerel
The mackerel is a pelagic fish found in the north atlantic and mediterranean.

Macropodidae
see "Kangaroo"

Macropus giganteus
see "Kangaroo"

Madoqua
The madoqua is a small Abyssinian antelope.

Madrepora
Madrepora is a member of the order zoantharia.

Magpie
The magpie is a bird of the crow family.

Maiden's hair
see "Briza"

Maine a tete bleue
see "Bleu du Maine"

Maine Coon
The Maine coon is a hardy breed of long-haired cat known for its resemblance to a raccoon and for being the oldest known breed of cat in the USA. The coat is thick and shaggy and can be any variety of colours with lighter, wavy patterns mixed in. The ears are large, tufted, and tapering to a point, the tail is as long as the body, bushy, and wide, the eyes are round and complement the coat colour. The Maine Coon cat likes to curl up in odd positions while sleeping in any of a variety of favourite locations and enjoys retrieval games. Maine coon cats have an easy going nature and are good mousers and hunters of small game.

Maine-Anjou
see "Bleu du Maine"

Malacostraca
Malacostraca is a subclass of crustacea. The eyes are usually stalked. Typically the carapace covers the thorax which consists of eight segments. The abdomen is made up of six appendage-bearing segments.

Malcomia maritima
see "Virginia Stock"

Mallard
The mallard is a British duck.

Mallow
Mallow is a wild plant of the genus Malva with hairy leaves and stem and rose-purple flowers.

Malva moschata
see "Musk-mallow"

Malvaceae
Malvaceae is a large natural order of exogenous plants (the mallows), having polypetalous flowers, monadelphous stamens, unilocular anthers, valvate estivation and often an external calyx.

Mammal
see "mammalia"

Mammalia
Mammalia is the mammal class of craniates. The young are nourished by milk. The skin is covered in two types of glands: sweat glands and sebaceous glands. The sweat glands secrete a watery fluid to assist body cooling. The sebaceous glands secrete an oily fluid to maintain water resistance in the hair. The heart has two auricles and two ventricles.

Mammals
see "mammal"

Manatee
A manatee is a herbivorous marine mammal of the family Manatidae of the order Sirenia inhabiting the warm shores and great river mouths of South America, Central America, Florida and west Africa.

Manatidae
see "Manatee"

Mandasuchus
Mandasuchus was a carnivorous reptile from the triassic era. It was the size of a car.

Mandrill
The Mandrill (Papio maimon) is a West African baboon. It has a bright red nose and blue striped cheeks. The buttocks exhibit red calluosities and the fur is brown with a yellow beard.

Mangel-Wurzel
The Mangel-Wurzel (Mangold) is a variety of beet derived from the sea beet and used chiefly as a feed for cattle and sheep.

Mangifera indica
see "Mango"

Mango
The mango (Mangifera indica) is a tree native to India but found in warm climates where it is cultivated for its oval fruits.

Mangold
see "Mangel-Wurzel"

Manihot utilissima
see "Cassava"

Mantis
The mantis is an insect of the family Mantidae which has the ability to change its colouration in accordance with its surroundings. There are over 800 species of mantis, of which the praying mantis (Mantis religiosa) of southern Europe is perhaps the best known. It is so named from adopting an attitude characteristic of praying while waiting for its prey of flies, grasshoppers and caterpillars.

Manul
see "Pallas cat"

Manx
The manx is a breed of tailless shorthaired cat that has a small, tufted hollow where a tail would normally grow. The coat has the texture of a rabbit's and can be any variety of colours or patterns. The ears are medium-sized with slightly rounded tips. The eyes are large and round and vary with the coat colour.

Maple
The maple is a deciduous tree of the genus Acer comprising some 115 species. It has opposite, stalked, palmately lobed leaves and green flowers, followed by two-winged samaras.

Mara
The mara is one of two species of rodents, genus Dolichotis of the guinea-pig family, occurring in Argentina, with long back limbs and a short tail. They can grow to 75 cm long and are sometimes known as 'Patagonian cavies' or 'hares'.

Maranta arundinaceae
see "Arrowroot"

Mare
A mare is a female horse.

Mareca penelope
see "Wigeon"

Margay
The margay is a small wild cat.

Markhor
The markhor is a large wild goat found in the himalayas.

Marrow
The Marrow (Cucurbia Pepo ovifera) is an annual trailing plant of the gourd order grown for its fruits which are eaten as a vegetable.

Marsh-Trefoil
see "Buck-bean"

Marshmallow
Marshmallow is a perennial herb of the order Malvaceae, with a yellow, branched root, tall, erect, leafy stems and large alternate, lobed and irregularly toothed leaves. The root can be boiled and eaten as a vegetable.

Marsupial
see "metatheria"

Marsupials
see "marsupial"

Marten
The marten is a carnivorous mammal of the genus Martes. It resembles a large weasel and has valuable fur.

Martes pennanti
see "Fisher"

Massospondylus
Massospondylus was one of the earliest dinosaurs. It lived during the triassic era. It was an omnivore with a latge bulky body and a tiny head. It grew to about 6m long. It had a strange thumb claw which could have been used for defense and also digging.

Mastigophora
The mastigophora (Flagellata) are a class of phylum protozoa. They are small protozoa whic are motile in the adult stage, swimming by means of flagella. They reproduce by logitudinal fission.

Matamata
The matamata is a south American fresh water turtle.

May-Fly
see "Caddis-Fly"

Maynne Blue
see "Bleu du Maine"

Meandrina
see "Brain Coral"

Medicago sativa
see "Alfalfa"

Medusae
see "scyphozoa"

Medusidae
see "scyphozoa"

Megalornithidae
see "Crane"

Megalosaurus
Megalosaurus was a large carnivorous dinosaur from the jurrasic period. Remains have been found in oxfordshire, england. It was estimated to be about the size of two cars.

Melaleuca leucadendron
see "Cajeput Tree"

Melolontha vulgaris
see "Cockchafer"

Mengali
see "Baluchi"

Menispermaceae
Menispermaceae is an order of Diclinous Exogens. It consists of sarmentaceous shrubs, with alternate, generally entire leaves, reticulated and often palminerved. The wood developes only on one side of the pith. The flowers are small, in racemes, generally dioecious. The sepals are in a ternary series or in binary rows.

Merina Gentile
see "Gentile di Puglia"

Merino
The merino is a type of sheep with fine silky wool.

Merino d'Italia
see "Gentile di Puglia"

Merino di Puglia
see "Gentile di Puglia"

Merle
Merle is an alternative name for the Blackbird.

Merocystis
Merocystis is a member of the coccidia vera order.

Mesostoma
Mesostoma is a member of the order rhabdocoelida.

Metatheria
Metatheria is a subclass of mammal. These are the marsupials. The young are born in an immature state and migrate into a pouch on the mother's abdomen where they are nourished on milk.

Mezereon
Mezereon is a deciduous shrub with fragrant purple flowers.

Mignonette
Mignonette (Reseda odorata) is a plant with fragrant greyish-green blossoms.

Mildew
Mildew is a growth of minute white fungi. It occurs on plants and objects exposed to damp.

Milfoil
Milfoil is another name for Yarrow.

Milk
Milk is a secretion of modified skin glands of female mammals.

Millepede
A millepede is a myriapod with numerous legs placed one each of the segments in double pairs.

Millepora
Millepora is a member of the order milleporina.

Milleporina
Milleporina is an order of marine hydrozoa with the hydroid colony on the surface of a massive calcareous corallum perforated by pores into which the polyps can be retracted.

Millet
Millet is the name of several grasses of the genus Sorghum. They have a jointed stem rising to height of three meters, and are extensively cultivated in warm countries as cereal and for feeding cattle and poultry. The branched panicles are made into carpet-brooms and brushes. Millet is also known as Broom-Corn and Broom-Grass.

Mimosa
Mimosa is a genus of leguminous plants, sub-division of Mimoseae.

Mimoseae
Mimoseae is a subfamily of plants of the Leguminosae family. They are native to tropical and warmer parts of the world and have small flowers in globular heads or cylindrical spikes and often sensitive leaves.

Mimosoideae
see "Mimoseae"

Mimusops
Mimusops is a genus of large, milky-juiced tropical trees.

Mimusops Balata
see "Bullet-Tree"

Mina Bird
The Indian Mina Brid is a deep velvet black bird with a whitespot on the wing. A member of the genus Grakle, the Mina Bird can imitate the human voice and be taught tricks.

Mink
The mink is two species of carnivorous mammal of the weasel family. It is semi-aquatic, burrowing on the banks of rivers and ponds and eating frogs and fish.

Minnow
The minnow (Leuciscus phoxinus) is a species of fish of the carp family. They rarely grow longer than 7cm and are often used as bait for catching trout.

Mint
Mint is the name given to several herbaceous aromatic plants of the genus Mentha, natural order Labiatae. They are nearly all perennial, having square stems which bear opposite and simple leaves.

Mirabilis
Mirabilis is a genus of plants of the natural order Nyctagineae.

Mistletoe
Mistletoe is a European plant of the genus Viscum, order Loranthaceae which grow parasitically on various trees. It was sacred to the Druids, especially when it was found growing on the oak tree. It is a small shrub with sessile, rectangular, leathery leaves and small yellowish-green flowers. In winter the bush is covered in white berries.

Mite
see "acarina"

Mithan
see "Gayal"

Mitre
Mitre is a name given to many molluscs which inhabit a small and pretty turreted shell found in the seas around hot climates.

Miyako
The Miyako is a breed of horse that originated on the Japanese island of Miyako. It is used for riding and light draft.

Moccasin Snake
The Moccasin Snake is a very venomous snake found in swamps in the warmer parts of America. It grows to around 60 cm in length, is dark brown above and grey underneath.

Mocking-bird
The mocking-bird is an American bird of the thrush family. It is renowned for being able to immitate the calls of most animals.

Mockingbird
The mockingbird is a North American songbird (Mimus polyglottos) of the mimic thrush family Mimidae, found in the USA and Mexico. About 25 cm long, it is brownish grey, with white markings on the black wings and tail. It is remarkable for its ability to mimic the songs of other species.

Mole
The mole is a burrowing mammal of the talpidae family.

Mole-rat
The mole-rat is a rodent of the genus Spalax, family Spalacidae. They are dumpish, stout-bodied rodents with short strong limbs and a very short tail.

Mollusc
see "phylum mollusca"

Mollusca
see "phylum mollusca"

Molluscoida
Molluscoida is a group of animals comprising the Polyzoa, Tunicata and Brachiopoda. The nervous system consists of a single ganglion or a principal pair of ganglia and the heart is imperfect.

Molluscs
see "phylum mollusca"

Moloch Lizard
The moloch lizard is a genus of ferocious looking, but harmless lizards of Australia. It has a horned head and spiny body.

Monaul
see "Impey Pheasant"

Mongoose
The mongoose is a small carnivorous mammal that is often kept for its ability to kill snakes.

Monitor
The monitor is any of various lizards of the family Varanidae, found in Africa, South Asia, and Australasia. Monitors are generally large and carnivorous, with well-developed legs and claws and a long powerful tail that can be swung in defence. Monitors include the Komodo dragon, the largest of all lizards, and also the slimmer Salvador's monitor Varanus salvadorii, which may reach 2.5m. Several other monitors, such as the lace monitor (Varanus varius), the perentie Varanus giganteus of Australia, and the Nile monitor (Varanus niloticus) of Africa, are up to 2m long.

Monkey
A monkey is a small, usually tree dwelling, primate.

Monkey puzzle
see "Chile pine"

Monkey-pot tree
The Monkey-pot tree (Lecythis Ollaria) is a large forest tree of Brazil.

Monkeys
see "monkey"

Monkshood
see "Aconite"

Monocystis
Monocystis is a member of the gregarinida order.

Monogenea
Monogenea is an order of trematoda. They are ectoparasitic flukes with relatively simple life histories which do not involve an intermediate host. They feed on aquatic animals. Both hooks and suckers are present.

Monotremata
The monotremata is a subclass of mammals. They lay large eggs. There are no mammae, but the young are nourished by a secretion poured into a depression in the abdomen.

Monotreme
Monotreme refers to any member of the order Monotremata, the only living egg-laying mammals, found in Australasia. They include the echidnas and the platypus.

Moonfish
see "Opah"

Moorhen
The moorhen is a British water bird.

Moose
see "Elk"

Morel
The morel is a genus of edible mushrooms.

Moreton Bay Chestnut
see "Black Bean"

Morgan horse
The Morgan horse is a breed of riding and driving show horse originating in the USA in the 1780s from a single stallion named Justin Morgan after his owner. They are marked by high, curved necks and high stepping action. The breed is valued for its strength, endurance, and speed.

Morinda citrifalia
see "Aal"

Morinda tinctoria
see "Aal"

Morphology
Morphology is the study of animal form.

Morrhua Callarius
see "Dorse"

Morris fish
The morris fish is the young of the conger.

Morse
see "Walrus"

Mosquito
Mosquito is a term applied to any fly of the family Culicidae. The female mosquito has needle-like mouth-parts and sucks blood before laying eggs. Males feed on plant juices. Some mosquitoes carry diseases such as malaria. Human odour in general is attractive to mosquitoes, also lactic acid in sweat and heat at close range. Peoples' varying reactions to mosquito bites depend on the general allergic reaction and not on the degree of the bite; the allergic reaction is caused by the saliva injected from the mosquito's salivary glands to prevent coagulation of the host's blood. Natural mosquito repellents include lavender oil, citronella (from lemon grass), thyme, and eucalyptus oils. Mosquitos are remarkable for their quick genetic development, new species develope in around 100 years, as was discovered when mosquitos became trapped in the London Underground system when it was built, and in 1998 were discovered to have become distinct species developing to feed first on rats and then on humans rather than their usuall sheep hosts.

Motacilla
Motacilla is the wagtail genus of insectivorous passerine birds.

Moth
The moth is an insect family, being one of the order of lepidoptera.

Mother-in-law's-tongue
Mother-in-law's-tongue (Sanseveria trifasciata) is a perennial plant of the family Agavaceae. It is native to wetsren Africa and has stiff, erect, sword-shaped, fleshy dark green leaves with pale bands. It grows to a height of one meter and has greenish-white flowers and ornage berries. It is widely grown in Britain as a house plant. It is also known as sanseveria and snake plant.

Moufflon
The moufflon is a species of European wild sheep (ovis musimon). It is found in Corsica and Sardinia. It stands about 70 cm tall and has reddish brown wool with white underparts. The horns are curved and in the male may reach one meter in length.

Mouflon
The mouflon is a sheep (Ovis ammon) found wild in Cyprus, Corsica, and Sardinia. It has woolly under-fur in winter, but this is covered by heavy guard hairs. The coat is brown with white belly and rump. Males have strong, curving horns. The mouflon lives in mountain areas.

Mound Bird
Mound Bird is a popular name for birds of the family megapodes so called from their habit of depositing their eggs in mounds of decaying vegetable matter where the heat of the decaying matter and the sun incubates them. There are about fifteen species found mainly in Australasia and the Pacific.

Mountain Collie
see "Bearded Collie"

Mountain Laurel
Mountain Laurel (Kalmia latifolia) is an evergreen shrub or small tree of the family Ericaceae, native to North America. It has elliptical, leathery leaves and saucer-shaped flowers which are five-lobed and white, pink or red in colour. It is also called the calico bush.

Mourning Dove
The Mourning Dove (Zenaida macroura) is a dove of the family Columbidae, native to North America and the Caribbean. It has short legs, a thin bill and a long tail. It lives in woodland, semi-desert and the outskirts of towns where it nests in trees, buildings or on the ground and feeds on seeds and invertebrates.

Mouse
Mouse is a general term applied to small rodents, particularly those of the muridae family.

Mousebird
The mousebird is a bird of the order Coliiformes, including a single family (Coliidae) of small crested species peculiar to Africa. They have hair-like feathers, long tails, and mouse-like agility. The largest is the blue-naped mousebird Colius macrourus, about 35cm long.

Mouthbrooder
The Mouthbrooder (Sarotherodon niloticus) is a freshwater fish of the family Cichlidae, widespread in central Africa and along the Nile. It grows to 50 cm long and has a deep, compressed body. The female broods the eggs in her mouth (hence the name). In some areas it is an important food fish.

Mud-fish
see "Bowfin"

Mudnester
The mudnester is any of an Australian group of birds that make their nests from mud, including the apostle bird (Struthidea cinerea), the white-winged chough (Corcorax melanorhamphos), and the magpie lark (Grallina cyanoleuca).

Mudpuppy
The mudpuppy is a brownish salamander of the genus Necturus in the family Proteidae. There are five species, living in fresh water in North America. They all breathe in water using external gills. Necturus maculatus is about 20cm long. Mudpuppies eat fish, snails, and other invertebrates.

Mudskipper
The mudskipper is a fish of the goby family, genus Periophthalmus, found in brackish water and shores in the tropics, except for the Americas. It can walk or climb over mudflats, using its strong pectoral fins as legs, and has eyes set close together on top of the head. It grows up to 30cm long.

Mulberry
The mulberry is a group of trees of the genus morus and family moraceae. The Common Mulberry (Morus nigra) is a handsome tree, 6 to 10 meters tall, of rugged, picturesque appearance forming a dense, spreading head of branches, usually wider than the height of the tree, springing from a rough, short trunk. It bears unisexual flowers.

Mule
The mule is a hybrid animal, the result of an ass and a mare breeding.

Mullein
Mullein (Verbascum Thapsus) is a plant of the natural order Scrophulariaceae. It is a tall rough plant with yellow flowers which are almost sessile and are disposed in a long cylindrical spike.

Mullet
The mullet is two groups of acanthopterygian fish, the grey mullets (Mugilidae) and the red mullets (Mullidae).

Mungoose
Mungoose is an alternative 19th century spelling of Mongoose.

Muntjac
The muntjac is a small deer found in south east Asia.

Muraena
Muraena is a genus of adopal malacopterygious fish of the family Muraenidae. They resemble the eels in form having no pectoral fins, and the dorsal and anal fins are very low and are united.

Murex
Murex is a genus of gasteropod molluscs resembling the whelk. They have a spiral shell, rough with three or more ranges of spines simple or branched.

Murices
Murices is the plural form of Murex.

Muridae
Muridae is the family of animals which includes the mice and rats.

Murray Grey
The Murray Grey is an Australian hornless, silver to grey coloured breed of domestic beef cattle.

Murry
Murry (Muraena helena) is a Mediterranean fish of the genus Muraena. It grows to 150cm long and is considered good eating.

Musaceae
Musaceae is a natural order of endogenous plants. The order includes the banana, plantain and abaca.

Musca vomitoria
~Blue bottle

Muscari racemosum
see "Grape Hyacinth"

Muscidae
Muscidae is a family of two-winged flies which includes the common house-fly.

Mushroom
Mushroom is the popular name for numerous cryptogamic plants of the natural order Fungi. Some are edible and others are toxic.

Musk
Musk is a perennial plant Mimulus moschatus of the Order Scrophulariaceae. It has small rectangular leaves which excrete a scent from which it takes its name.

Musk Ox
see "Musk-ox"

Musk-deer
Musk-deer is a genus of deer forming the family Moschidae. They are not true deer, and are found primarily in Asia. The male Musk-deer yields musk, which is secreted from an abdominal gland.

Musk-duck
The Musk-duck (Cairina moschata) is a native American duck.

Musk-mallow
Musk-mallow (Malva moschata) is a British perennial plant.

Musk-ox
The musk-ox (Ovibos moschatus) is a ruminant animal of the sub-family Caprinae intermediate between an ox and a sheep. It resembles a large goat-like sheep, its body is covered with a coat of thick, tufted brown hair. It is an active and agile animal found in mountainous regions of Arctic America.

Musk-rat
The Musk-rat (Fiber zibethicus) or musquash, is an American rodent allied to the beaver. It is about the size of a small rabbit, with a flattened lanceolate tail, and is covered with small scales and a few hairs.

Muskrat
The muskrat (Ondatra zibethicus) is a rodent of the family Cricetidae, about 30cm long, living along streams, rivers, and lakes in North America. It has webbed hind feet, a side-to-side flattened tail, and shiny, light-brown fur. It builds up a store of food, plastering it over with mud, for winter consumption. It is hunted for its fur.

Musquash
see "Musk-rat"

Mussel
Mussel is a term popularly given to several lamellibranchiate molluscs of the section Asiphonida.

Mustang
The mustang is a small wild horse found in south west USA and north Mexico.

Mustard
Mustard (Sinapis) are several annual plants of the cruciferae family.

Mustela
Mustela is the weasel genus of carnivorous animals.

Mycelium
Mycelium is an interwoven mass of threadlike filaments which form the main body of most fungi.

Mycetes
see "Howler Monkey"

Mycetozoa
The mycetozoa are an order of rhizopoda. They are slime fungi which form encrusting masses on rotten wood. Reproduction occurs by fission and the formation of spores out of which hatch amoebae.

Mygale
Mygale is a genus of spiders of the family Mygalidae. They are furnished with four pulmonary sacs and spiracles, four spinnerets, eight eyes, and hairy legs.

Mylabris
Mylabris is a genus of coleopterous insects.

Mylodon
The mylodon is a genus of extinct edentate mammalia. Their remains have been found in South America. It was a herbivore terrestial animal.

Myosotis
Myosotis is a genus of plants belonging to the Boraginaceae.

Myoxus
Myoxus is the dormouse genus of animals.

Myriapoda
Myriapoda is a class of arthropod with a clearly demarcated head region.

Myristica
Myristica is the genus of the natural order Myristicaceae.

Myrtle
The myrtle is an evergreen shrub of the genus myrtus and family myrtaceae.

Mysidacea
Mysidacea is an order of malacostraca in which the thorax is covered by the carapace and the exopodite of the antenna is scale-like. The abdomen terminates in a tail fan.

Myxine
see "Hag"

Naeini
see "Baluchi"

Nanotragus campestris
see "Steinbok"

Narcissus
The narcissus is a genus of bulbous plants.

Narwhal
The narwhal is a whale found only in the arctic.

Nassa
The nassa is a genus of Buccinidae. The shell resembles that of Buccinium, but is smaller. The genus is chiefly distinguished from the Whelks by having a columellar lip expanded with callous, with a tooth near the anterior canal. Nassa reticulata is common on English shores at low-water and is commonly known as the Dog-Whelk.

Nassaviaceae
Nassaviaceae is a tribe of Composites, sub-order Labiatiflorae. The style is never tumid, the branches long, linear, truncate and fringed only at the point. There are three sub-tribes: Polyachyridae, Nassavieae and Trixideae.

Nasturtium
Nasturtium is a genus of Cruciferae of the family Arabidae. Common watercress is one of four British varieties of nasturtium. The plants have a nearly-cylindrical pod with concave valves which are neither nerved nor keeled. The seeds are arranged in a double row.

Nasua
see "Coati"

Nathecium ossifragum
see "Bog Asphodel"

Natter's Bat
The Natter's Bat (Vespertilio Nattereri) is a social bat found in the Midlands and in Central and Southern England. It has reddish-grey fur with white beneath, leading to its alternate name of the Reddish-grey bat.

Natter-Jack Toad
Natter-Jack Toad (Bufo calamita) is another name for the Rush Toad. It is light yellowish-brown in colour, clouded with dull olive and with a bright yellow line running down the back. The warts of the skin and the eyes are more prominent than in the Common Toad but the glandular swellings on the head are less. The Natter-Jack Toad lays eggs in water which hatch into very small tadpoles which take about six weeks to metamorphosise. The Natter-Jack Toad is rare in England but found across Europe and Tibet.

Naucoris
Naucoris is a genus of Nepidae. The body is almost circular and slightly convex. Naucoris cimicoides is found in Britain, is about a centimeter long and when touched can inflict a painful wound.

Nautilus
The nautilus is a shelled cephalopod of the genus Nautilus, found in the Indian and Pacific oceans. The pearly nautilus (Nautilus pompilius) has a chambered spiral shell about 20cm in diameter. Its body occupies the outer chamber. The nautilus has a large number of short, grasping tentacles surrounding a sharp beak.
The living nautiluses are representatives of a group common 450 million years ago.

Ne-ne
The ne-ne or Hawaiian goose is a species of goose, genus Branta sandvicensis of the order Anseriformes, related to the Canada goose but with shorter wings and reduced webs on the feet. About 100 years ago, around 25,000 ne-nes lived on Hawaii, but the introduction of pigs, cats, dogs, rats, and mongooses has almost led to the extinction of this ground-nesting bird.

Nectar
Nectar is a sugary liquid secreted by some plants.

Nectariniidae
see "Sun Birds"

Negundo aceroides
see "Box elder"

Neini
see "Baluchi"

Nematode
The nematodes (roundworms) are a group of helminths (worms) which have an unsegmented cylindrical body which tapers at both ends.

Nemertea
The nemertea are the proboscis worms. They are triploblastic animals with a very extensible body. Both a mouth and anus are present. A simple blood vascular system is present. The excretory system is a flame-bulb system.

Neornithes
The neornithes are a subclass of bird. The metarcarpals are fused, and the tail is short. Teeth are absent.

Neosporidia
Neosporidia is a subclass of sporozoa. They are obscure sporozoans.

Nepidae
The Nepidae are the water-scorpions. They are aquatic, insectivorous Hydrocores with three or four jointed antennae and a body flat above and elliptic below. The fore legs are raptorial, the rest simple, fringed or flattened and used for swimming.

Neptune's Cup
Neptune's Cup (Poterion) is a Pacific Ocean sponge which grows to over one meter tall.

Nereis
Nereis are polychaeta.

Nettion crecca
see "Teal"

Nettle
The nettle is a plant of the family urticaceae.

Neurone
A neurone is a cell which receives and transmits electrical impulses. Neurones are the basic component of an animal's nervous system.

Newfoundland
The newfoundland is a bearlike breed of working dog known for aiding fishermen and sailors by jumping overboard to rescue people and by barking to warn of reefs.
They are strong swimmers, and can retrieve people and boats in turbulent waters. They are also used to carry goods between ships. To this end the coat is water-repellent and very long, dense, and lush.
The colour may be solid black, bronze, or come in patches of black and white (called landseer). The ears are long, broad, shaggy, and hang to below the bottom of the jaw. The tail is long and full and curves naturally at the end. The eyes are small, deep-set, and dark brown.
The adult dog stands about 70cm tall at the shoulder and weighs about 60kg. The newfoundland is renowned for its gentle nature.

Newt
The newt is an urodela.

Nicotiana
Nicotiana is the tobacco genus of plants.

Nigerian Dwarf
see "West African Dwarf"

Nightingale
The nightingale is a song bird of the thrush family.

Nightjar
The nightjar is any of about 65 species of night-hunting birds forming the family Caprimulgidae. They have wide, bristly mouths for catching flying insects. Their distinctive calls have earned them such names as whippoorwill and church-will's-widow. Some are called

Nilgai
The nilgai is a large, short horned Indian antelope.

Northern Harrier
The Northern Harrier (Circus cyaneus) is an American medium-large hawk of the order Falconiformes, family Accipitridae, with long wings, and a floppy flight low over ground with the wings help up at an angle. It has a white rump patch and banded tail. The male is grey the female brown and larger than the male. It flushes its prey from hiding with its low swooping flight.

Norway Carp
see "Bergylt"

Norway Haddock
see "Bergylt"

Norwegian Forest
The Norwegian forest is a breed of long-haired cat renowned for its wild, rugged, and hardy nature and appearance and its remarkably fast-drying coat. The thick and heavy overcoat covers a wooly undercoat and forms an abundant ruff around the neck. The ears are long and pointed and set high on the head, the tail is flowing and as long as the body, the eyes are bright and attentive and vary with the coat colour. In the summer it sheds its fur and only its tail, ear and toe tufts distinguish it as a long-haired cat. The Norwegian forest originated centuries ago in Norway, where it is called a Skogkatt and is mentioned in Norse mythology where it is referred to as a fairy or troll cat because it comes from the woodlands.

Notochord
A notochord is an axial stiffening rod extending along the length of an animal and lying immediately above the alimentary canal.

Notonecta glauca
see "Boat-fly"

Nubian
The nubian is a breed of domesticated goat with long legs, long ears and a large nose kept for its milk in India, the Middle East, North Africa, Britain and the USA.

Nutcracker
The nutcracker is a bird of the crow family.

Nuthatch
The nuthatch is a small bird of the family Sittidae, with a short tail and pointed beak. Nuthatches climb head first up, down, and around tree trunks and branches, foraging for insects and their larvae. The 14 cm long white-breasted nuthatch Sitta carolinensis of North America has a black cap, grey wings, and white under-parts.

Nutmeg
Nutmeg is a tree. The nut of the nutmeg is used in cooking as a spice.

Nutria
The nutria or coypu is a South American water rodent (Myocastor coypus), it is about 60 cm long and weighs up to 9kg. It has a scaly, rat-like tail, webbed hind feet, a blunt, muzzled head, and large, orange incisors. The fur is reddish brown. It feeds on vegetation and lives in burrows in river and lake banks. Taken to Europe and then to North America to be farmed for their fur, many escaped or were released and became established, often to the detriment of native species.

Nutrition
Nutrition is the process of taking in food and obtaining energy and vital substances from it.

Nyala
The nyala (Tragelaphus angasi) is an antelope found in the thick bush of southern Africa. About one meter at the shoulder, it is greyish-brown with thin vertical white stripes. Males have horns up to 80cm long.

Nycticorax nycticorax
see "Black-crowned Night-heron"

Nymphaeaceae
see "Water Lily"

Copyright 1997,1998 Servile Software Enquiries to Matthew Probert

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