GLOSSARY OF SCIENTIFIC TERMS.
Extracted principally from Professor Owen's learned work entitled, "Lectures on the
Comparative Anatomy and Physiology of the Invertebrate Animals."
Ambulacra (L. ambulacrum, an avenue, or place for walking). The perforated series of plates in the shell of the Sea-star, or Sea-urchin, through which the sucking-feet are protruded.
Acalepha (Gr. akalephe, a nettle). The class of radiated animals with soft skins which have the power of stinging like a nettle. Commonly called Sea-nettles or Jelly-fish.
Actinæ (Gr. aktin, a ray). The genus of Polypes which have many arms radiating from around the mouth.
Alternate generation. That modification of generation in which the young do not resemble the parent, but the grandparent; so that the successive series of individuals seem to represent two species, alternately reproduced, in which also parthenogenesis alternates with the ordinary engendering by impregnation.
Algæ (sea-weeds). A large class of cryptogamic plants inhabiting salt and fresh water.
Anomoura (Gr. anomos, irregular, and oura, a tail). A section of crustaceous animals distinguished like the Hermit crabs, by the irregular form of the tails.
Annelid. The Anglicised singular of annelleta.
Adductor muscles, are those which hold together the shell of a bivalve, such as the Oyster, Mussel, &c.
Animalcules. Those extremely small animals which are invisible to the naked eye.
Antenna (from the Latin for yard-arm). Applied to the jointed feelers or horns upon the head of insects and crustacea.
Balanoids (Gr. balanos, an acorn). A family of Sessile cirripeds, the shells of which are commonly called Acorn-shells.
Bivalve. When a shell consists of two parts, closing like a double door. The mollusca so protected are commonly called bivalves, as the Mussel.
Brachyura (Gr. brachus, short; oura, tail). The tribe of crustacea with short tails, as the Crabs.
Branchiæ The gills or respiratory organs which extract the oxygen from air contained in water, as in fishes and other aquatic animals.
Buccal (L. bucca, mouth). Belonging to the mouth.
Byssus (Gr. byssos, fine flax). A term applied to the silken filaments or 'beard' of the Mussel and Pinna.
Carapace. The upper shell of the Crab, &c.
Calcareous. Composed more or less of lime.
Carnivorous (L. caro, flesh; voro, I devour). The animals which feed on flesh.
Caudal (L. cauda, the tail). Belonging to the tail.
Cephalópoda (Gr. kephale, a head; pous, a foot). The class of Molluscous animals in which long prehensile processes, or feet, project from the head, as in the Cuttle-fish.
Ciliogrades (L. cilium, an eyelash; gradior, I walk). The order of the acalephæ (as the Beröe) which swims by action of cilia.
Cilia (L. cilium, an eyelash). The microscopic hair-like bodies which cause, by their vibratile action, currents in the contiguous fluid, or a motion of the body to which they are attached.
Cirri (L. cirrus, a curl). The curled filamentary appendages, as at the feet of the Barnacles.
Cirripedes, or Cirripedia (L. cirrus, a curl; pes, a foot). A class of articulate animals having curled, jointed feet; sometimes written Cirrhipedia and Cirrhopoda.
Conchifera (L. concha, a shell; fero, I bear). Shell-fish; usually restricted to those with bivalve shells.
Comminuted. Broken or ground down into small pieces.
Conchology. The department of science which treats of shells.
Convoluted (L. convolutus). Rolled together.
Cornea (L. corneus, horny). The transparent horny membrane in front of the eye.
Crinoid (Gr. krinon, a lily; eidos, a discourse). A family of Star-fishes which bear some resemblance to the form of a lily. The fossils called Stone-lilies, or Encrinites, are examples.
Crustacea (L. crusta, a crust). The class of articulate animals (which includes the Crab, Lobster, &c.) with a hard skin or crust, which they cast periodically.
Decapoda (Gr. deca, ten; pous, a foot). The crustaceous and molluscous animals, which have ten feet, such as the Crab, Cray-fish, &c.
Digitate (L. digitus, a finger). When a part supports processes like fingers.
Effete. Barren, worn out.
Elytra (Gr. elytron, a sheath). The sheath or wing covers of coleopterous insects (Beetles).
Entomostraca (Gr. entoma, insects; ostracon, a shell). The order of small crustaceans, many of which are enclosed in an integument like a bivalve shell.
Entomology (Gr. entoma, insects; logos, a discourse). The branch of science treating of insects.
Exuvium, Pl. exuviæ (L. exuo, I cast off). The shell or skin of an animal which is shed in moulting.
Epizoa (Gr. epi, upon; zoon, an animal). The class of low organized parasitic crustaceans which live upon other animals.
Fissiparous (L. fissus, divided; pario, I produce). The multiplication of a species by the self-cleavage of the individual into two parts.
Frond (L. frons, a leaf). A term applied to that part of flowerless plants resembling true leaves.
Fucivorous (L. fucus, sea-weed; voro, I devour). Animals which subsist on sea-weed.
Flora. The plants which belong to a country or district.
Foliaceous (L. folium, a leaf). Shaped or arranged like leaves.
Gasteropoda (Gr. gaster, stomach; pous, a foot). That class of animals which (like the Snail) have the locomotive organ attached to the under part of the body.
Gemmiparous (L. gemma, a bud; pario, I produce). Propagation by the growth of the young like a bud from the parent.
Habitat. The locality in which an animal habitually resides.
Hinge. That part of a shell at which the valves cohere.
Hyaline (Gr. hualos, crystal). The pellucid substance which determines the spontaneous fission of cells.
Hydra (Gr. hudra, a water serpent). The modern generic name of certain fresh water polypes.
Hydrogen (Gr. hydor, water; gemmæ, I produce). A gas forming one of the components of water and atmospheric air.
Infusoria. The class of animalcules which abound in vegetable and animal infusions.
Lamellibranchiata (L. lamella, a plate; branchiæ, gills). The class of acephalous molluscs, with gills in the form of membraneous plates, of which the oyster and mussel are familiar examples.
Larva (L. larva, a mask). Applied to an insect in its first active state, which is generally different from, and, as it were, masks the ulterior form.
Ligament. A membrane close by the hinge which connects the valves.
Mantle. The external soft, contractile skin of the mollusca, which covers the viscera and a great part of the body like a cloak.
Macroura (Gr. makros, long; oura, a tail). A tribe of ten-footed crustacea (as the Lobster, Cray-fish), which have long tails.
Medusæ. A genus or family of soft radiated animals or Acalephæ, so called because their organs of motion and prehension are spread out like the snaky hair of the fabled medusa.
Molecules. Microscopic particles of matter.
Mollusc—Mollusca (L. mollis, soft). The primary division of the animal kingdom. It contains most shell-fish, slugs, &c.
Monograph (Gr. monos, one; grapho, I write). A written description of a single thing, or class of things.
Multivalve (L. multus, many; valvæ, folding doors). Shells composed of many pieces or valves, as the Chiton.
Nudibranchiate (L. nudus, naked; branchiæ, gills). An order of gasteropods, in which the gills are exposed, as the Eolis, Doris, &c.
Oxygen. A gas which is one of the constituent parts of water and of atmospheric air. It is essential to animal life.
Oviparous (L. ovum, an egg; pario, I bring forth). The animals which bring forth eggs.
Operculum (from the Latin for lid). Applied to the horny or shelly plate which closes certain univalve shells, as the Whelk, Periwinkle, &c.
Papillæ (L. papilla, a nipple). Soft prominences which resemble in form the teats of animals.
Palpi (L. palpo, I touch). The organs of touch commonly called 'feelers,' developed from the lablum and maxillæ of insects.
Pectinated (L. pecten, a comb). Toothed like a comb.
Physograde (Gr. physis, air; gradior, I advance). The acalephes that swim by means of air-bladders.
Phytophagous (Gr. phuton, a plant; phago, I eat). Plant-eating animals.
Pulmonigrade (L. pulmo, a lung; gradior, I walk). The tribe of Medusæ which swim by contraction of the respiratory disc.
Rotifera (L. rota, a wheel; fero, I bear). The name of a class of infusorial animalcules, characterized by the vibratile and apparently rotating ciliary organs upon the heads.
Rhodospermes. The red-coloured sea-weeds.
Serrated (L. serra, a saw). Toothed like a saw.
Sessile. Attached by a base.
Silicious (L. silex, a flint). Flinty.
Setæ. Bristles, or similar parts.
Spicula (L. spiculum, a point or dart). Fine-pointed bodies, like needles.
Tuberculate. Warty, or carved with small rounded knobs.
Testacea (L. testa, a shell). Molluscs with a shelly covering, as the Oyster, Whelk, &c.
Univalve (L. unus, one; valvæ, doors). A shell composed of one calcareous piece, as the Periwinkle.
Umbones. The base of a shell about the hinge.
Viviparous (L. vivus, alive; pario, I bring forth). The animals which bring forth their young alive. See Oviparous.
Whorl. The spiral turn of a shell.
Zoology (Gr. zoon, animal; logos, a discourse). That branch of science that treats of the habits, structure, and classification of animals.
Zoologist. One who is acquainted with the science of Zoology.
Zoophyte (Gr. zoon, an animal; phyton, a plant). The lowest primary division of the animal kingdom, which includes many animals that are fixed to the ground and have the form of plants.