GLOSSARY OF TERMS

UNDERLINED TEXT IS LINKED TO AN ILLUSTRATION OF TERM

use your browser's back button to return to this page

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

A

• Anterior - toward the front

• Arboreal - living in or among the trees

B

• Basking - holding the body in a position directly exposed to the sun

• Bifurcated - divided into two, forked

C

• Canthus Rostralis - (pl. Canthi Rostrales) slight ridge separating the top and side surfaces of the mouth in some amphibians and reptiles, normally extending from the front corner of the eye to the nostril.

• Casque - the upward projecting cap or helmet at the back of a chameleon's head

• Cranial - of or denoting the skull

• Crest - a bony or scaly extrusion

• Cloaca - the opening used for urinary, digestive, and reproductive discharges (Vent). It is located at the base of the tail

• Conical - cone shaped

D

• Dorsal - pertaining to the back

E

F

• Flank - the fleshy side of a person or animal between the ribs and hip

G

• Gular - connected to the chin

H

• Hemipenal Bulge  - the swollen area of the tail base created by the presence of the male sexual organ (hemipenis)

• Heterogeneous Squamation - scales of varied colors sizes or patterns

• Homogeneous Squamation - scales of the same color or pattern

I

• Interstitial Skin - the skin that fills between scales

J

K

L

• Lateral - pertaining to the side of the body

• Lenticular - double convex, shaped like a lentil

• Longitudinal - lengthwise

 M

• Montane - pertaining to mountainous terrain or species dwelling in mountains 

N

O

• Occipital - pertaining to the back of the head

• Oviparous - egg laying, reproducing by laying eggs tha hatch OUTSIDE the females body

• Ovoviviparous - reproducing by eggs which the female carries in her body until they hatch

P

• Parietal - pertaining to the bones forming the roof and sides of the skull

• Posterior - toward the rear

• POTZ - Preferred Optimal Temperature Zone or the temperature range a reptile is most comfortable in when a variety of temperatures are available. For more information on Mammalian temperature regulation visit here

• Prehensile - adapted for grasping or grabbing by wrapping around; the chameleons tail

Q

R

• Rostral - pertaining to the part of the head from the mouth tip to the nostrils

S

• Scalation - the arrangement of scales on the body of reptiles

• Sexual Dimorphism - the existence of noticeable physical differences in males and females

• Spatulate - flat, like a spatula

• Spinose - shaped like a thorn

• Squamation - the arrangement of scales

T

• Tarsal Spur - an outgrowth on the heel 

• Thanatosis - posture suggestive of death "playing possum"

• Thermoregulation - control of body temperature through behavioral or physiological means i.e. basking and color change 

• Tubercles - warty protuberances

U

V

• Ventral - pertaining to the lower portion of the body or its parts

WXYZ

E-mail me bosschicken@msn.com