Hibernation and Migration Vocabulary

            Amphibian: any of a class (Amphibia) of exothermic vertebrates (as frogs, toads,  

            or newts) intermediate in many characteristics between fishes and reptiles and  

             having gilled aquatic larvae and air-breathing adults

            Bird: any of a class (Aves) of endothermic vertebrates distinguished by having the

            body more or less completely covered with feathers and the forelimbs modified as

            wings

            Exothermic: having a body temperature not internally regulated but approximating

            that of the environment (cold-blooded)

            Endothermic: having a relatively high and constant body temperature independent

            of the surroundings (warm-blooded)

Hibernate: a severe reduction in body temperature (but always above the freezing

point) for long periods of time, resulting in a decreased metabolism and respiration

(for example lowering from 98.6 ^o to 55 ^o); requires a period of time for the

animal to become fully active again

             Insect: an animal of phylum Arthropoda, class Insecta with well-defined head,

            thorax, and abdomen, only three pairs of legs, and typically one or two pairs of 

            wings

Mammal: any of a class (Mammalia) of higher vertebrates animals that nourish

their young with milk secreted by mammary glands and have the skin usually more

or less covered with hair of dermal origin

            Migrate: to periodically or seasonally pass distances greater than 100 miles from

            one region or climate to another for feeding or breeding

Reptile: any of a class (Reptilia) of vertebrates that include the alligators and

crocodiles, lizards, snakes, turtles, and extinct related forms and are characterized

by ribs attached to the sternum and a body usually covered with scales or bony

plates

            Storage: the act of storing or safekeeping of goods       

            Torpor: a slight lowering of the body temperature (a “suspended animation”) of an

            animal by 10 ^o to 20 ^o below normal, but normally significantly above the ambient

            temperature (for example 98.6 ^o lowered to 80 ^o) to conserve energy in order to

            survive a cold spell; can resume an active start relatively quickly compared to  

            hibernation