Glossary

Keeled Scales (click to enlarge)

Paratoid Glands of an American Toad (outlined in image)

Arthropod- A class of invertebrates. Insects, spiders, crustaceans etc. "Insect-like" creatures.

Carapace- Top part of a shell e.g. spiders, turtles, crabs

Carrion- A dead and decaying carcass or meat.

Conifer- A tree or shrub that has needles instead of leaves and produces cones.

​Coniferous- A forest that contains primarily conifer type trees such as pines, spruces and firs. 

Deciduous- A type of forest that contains trees that lose their leaves in autumn and re-bud in spring.  (mixed refers to a forest with both conifers and deciduous trees.

Diurnal- Active during the day.

Instar- A stage in an insect's larval life; as certain insects grow they shed their exoskeleton to make room for their growing body. Examples are praying mantids, true bugs, and caterpillars. Sometimes displayed as L1, L2, L3, etc. 

Invertebrates- Organisms without a backbone, these include spiders, insects, crustaceans, earthworms, etc. 

Keeled- Refers to small ridge on each scale of certain species of snake. It make the snake's skin feel rough. ​

Nocturnal- Active at night.

Paratoid Gland- The set of kidney shaped "warts" on the back of a toad. These contain toxins which are secreted when an animal bites the toad. 

Plastron- The lower part of a shell, e.g. crabs, turtles

Plumage- A bird's feathers, many change in fall and return to normal in the breeding season. 
​
Predacious- predatory

Refuse- trash

Tussock- A dense tuft of grass often in a hump shape.