Glossary
Here are some terms you might come across on this site. These definitions may only apply in the context in which the terms are used on this site.
- allopatric
- refers to species that do not inhabit the same broad area
- anterior
- the front end, or towards the front end. This is generally in the direction of the head.
- arboreal
- relating to climbing trees. Koalas are arboreal. Wombats are not.
- congener
- species in the same genus
- congeneric
- species in the same genus
- crepuscular
- active just before dawn and again just after dusk
- cross-section
- a direction that is at right angles to the long axis
- diastema
- a space between teeth
- dichotomous key
- a set of pairs of mutually exclusive characters/options that enable the identification of a species
- dichotomous keys
- a set of pairs of mutually exclusive characters/options that enable the identification of a species
- diurnal
- active during the day
- dorsal
- referring to the top side of an animal. For four-legged animals (and animals with no legs, such as snakes), this is the 'back' of an animal. The term 'dorsal' is not used to refer to aspects of two-legged animals (such as humans).
- dorsal scales
- the scales on the back and sides of a snake
- dorsally
- referring to the top side of an animal. For four-legged animals (and animals with no legs, such as snakes), this is the 'back' of an animal. The term 'dorsal' is not used to refer to aspects of two-legged animals (such as humans).
- ectotherm
- an organism that does not generate enough internal heat to maintain a stable body temperature, but that may use external sources of heat to maintain a stable body temperature. Ectotherms may be thermoconformers, thermoregulators or a combination of both.
- endotherm
- an organism that generates enough internal heat to maintain a fairly stable body temperature above that of its environment
- femoral pores
- pores on the thigh region
- fossorial
- relating to living underground
- heat pits
- heat sensitive organs located on the lower jaw of most Australian pythons. Also found in pit vipers.
- holotype
- the orginal specimen upon which a species description is based
- infralabials
- scales on the lip
- lateral
- referring to the side, or the flanks, of an animal
- laterally
- referring to the side, or the flanks, of an animal
- live-bearing
- reproducing by giving birth to live young. This term is used when the exact type of live-bearing (i.e., ovoviviparity or true viviparity) is unknown.
- loreal
- a scale found on the snout of pythons and most colubrids
- maxillary
- referring to the maxilla, the bone at the posterior of the upper jaw
- mid-body scales
- the scales on the back and sides of a snake
- midbody scales
- the scales on the back and sides of a snake
- monophyletic
- meaning all members of a taxon are descended from a common ancestor
- nocturnal
- active during the night
- nomen nudum
- literally 'nude name'. Used to refer to a scientific name that has been published without an official description of the species.
- nuchal
- pertaining to the neck
- oviparous
- reproducing by laying eggs
- ovoviviparous
- reproducing by giving birth to live young, but where the mother simply retains the eggs under they fully develop. There is no exchange of nutrients between the mother and the embryos.
- paraphyletic
- meaning members of a taxon are descended from more than one common ancestor
- paratype
- specimens in the type series other than the holotype
- pelagic
- referring to the open ocean
- posterior
- the back end, or towards the back end. This is generally in the direction of the tail.
- prefrontal scales
- scales on the snout of a snake
- reticulate
- a mesh-like pattern
- reticulated
- a mesh-like pattern
- saxicoline
- relating to living on and around rocks
- sexual dimorphism
- a species is sexually dimorphic if the male and the female have different external characteristic (apart from the obvious)
- sexually dimorphic
- a species is sexually dimorphic if the male and the female have different external characteristic (apart from the obvious)
- sympatric
- refers to species inhabiting the same broad area. Note that habitat preferences may still mean that the species rarely come into contact.
- synonym
- synonyms are different scientific names used for a single taxon. They might arise when someone mistakenly describes a species that has already been described, or when two described taxa are later found to be the same species.
- synonymous
- synonyms are different scientific names used for a single taxon. They might arise when someone mistakenly describes a species that has already been described, or when two described taxa are later found to be the same species.
- synonymy
- synonyms are different scientific names used for a single taxon. They might arise when someone mistakenly describes a species that has already been described, or when two described taxa are later found to be the same species.
- taxa
- groups of organisms. Plural form of 'taxon'.
- taxon
- a group of organisms. Singular form of 'taxa'.
- thermoconformer
- an animal whose body temperature is the same as its environment. Many nocturnal reptiles are thermoconformers.
- thermoregulation
- the act of actively controlling temperature, e.g., a lizard may thermoregulate by basking in the Sun to raise its body temperature above the temperature of the environment.
- transverse
- a direction that is at right angles to the long axis
- twitch
- relating to bird watching
- type locality
- the location from which the original specimen (the 'type specimen' or 'holotype') was collected
- type location
- the location from which the original specimen (the 'type specimen' or 'holotype') was collected
- ventral
- referring to the underside, or belly, of an animal
- ventrally
- referring to the underside, or belly, of an animal
- vertebral
- pertaining to the backbone, e.g., a vertebral crest runs down the middle of the animal's back
- viviparous
- reproducing by giving birth to live young, with a transfer of nutrients from the mother to the developing embryos