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Glossary

Adaptations                                                                               

Inherited traits that help animals to survive and reproduce

Camouflage   

Disguise through the use of colors or patterns that make something appear to be part of its surroundings

Endangered   

A species or population of plants or animals so few in numbers that it may become extinct

Environment

Everything that surrounds a living thing

Extinct

A species of plants or animals that no longer exists

Generation

Refers to all those of the same kind that were born about the same time

Habitat

The physical place where a plant or animal is able to obtain its needs for life; food, air, water, sun, and shelter

Individual

One of the same kind

Life Functions

Refer to what an individual plant or animal does in order to survive or carry on the species

Migrate

Refers to animals that move form one region to another, generally with the change of seasons

Mimicry

The physical or behavioral likeness of one species to promote itself or both species

Natural Selection

The theory that individuals with the most successful adaptations to a particular habitat are able to survive and reproduce, the passing these traits on to their offspring

Population

All animals or plants of the same kind in a specified area

Predator

An animal that kills and eats other animals

Prey

Animals that are killed and eaten by other animals

Species

All the plants or animals of the same kind that exist on Earth

Trait

Features or qualities that make animals differ from each other

All definitions taken from or based on (HCPS Curriculum Guide, 2002).

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