What is an octopus? An octopus (plural: octopi or octopuses) is a soft-bodied animal with eight limbs. They belong to the order Octopoda which consists of about 300 octopus species. The true octopi belong to the genus octopus. Octopuses belong to the class Cephalopoda which is the same class with squids, nautiloids, …
Definition of Endotherms Endotherms are organisms that maintain their bodies at a metabolically favorable temperature by using the heat released by their internal body functions. They don’t rely on ambient heat to regulate their body temperature. The internally generated heat is a result of routine metabolism in the animal. However, under excess …
What are Ectotherms? Ectotherms are organisms or animals that regulate their body temperature solely based on the environment. The word ectotherm originates from the Greek word ‘ektos’ meaning outside and ‘thermos’ meaning hot. These organisms’ internal physiological heat sources are of negligible importance in regulating their body temperature. Rather, they depend on …
Echinoderms are an ancient group of animals. They extend back to at least the Cambrian period. An enigmatic fossil Arkarua, from the Vendian about 560 million years ago has been identified as the earliest known echinoderm. Though many authorities have considered this identification inconclusive. However, it seems clear that the echinoderms descended …
What are Corals? Corals are animals or marine invertebrates of the phylum Cnidaria within the class Anthozoa. They are the important reef builders that secrete limestone (calcium carbonate) to form a hard skeleton and inhabit tropical oceans. Corals form compact colonies of genetically identical sac-like animals called polyps. Almost all corals are …
What are Aphids? Aphids on plants are small soft-bodied piercing and sucking phloem-feeding animals, specifically insects (order Homoptera) from the superfamily (a taxonomic category that is above family but below order) Aphidoidea that feed on the sap and fluids of several types of plants. They are also sometimes referred to as the …
Endangered Species Definition Endangered species are species of animals or plants that are at risk of extinction, either in a specific political jurisdiction or globally. These organisms are listed as endangered because they are threatened and are likely to go extinct in the near future. Currently, Planet Earth is experiencing its 6th …
What Animals are extinct? Animals are said to be extinct when the last individual species of the animal dies and the animal’s entire genetic heritage is lost for life. Extinction however can be defined as a natural phenomenon where a kind of organism or species no longer exists on earth. An organism …