General animal types

biology an animal such as a frog or toad that lives mainly on land, but produces its eggs and develops into its adult form in water

animal (noun)

biology any living thing that can move independently and that has senses for recognizing and reacting to the environment around it. Animals are divided into two groups, vertebrates and invertebrates

arachnid (noun)

a member of a type of animal called arthropods that have four pairs of legs. Spiders and scorpions are arachnids.

arthropod (noun)

a type of animal that has jointed legs, a body divided into several parts, and a skeleton on the outside. Insects are arthropods.

bear (noun)

used in the name of some animals that are similar to bears

beast (noun)

mainly literary an animal, especially a dangerous or strange one

beast of burden (noun)

old-fashioned an animal that is used for carrying heavy things, for example a donkey or a camel

the Big Five (noun)

the five biggest and most dangerous African mammals: rhinoceros, elephant, buffalo, lion, and leopard

big game (noun)

large wild animals such as lions that people hunt as a sport

biped (noun)

an animal that walks on two legs

bird (noun)

an animal covered in feathers, with two wings for flying and a hard pointed mouth called a beak or a bill. Birds build nests, in which female birds lay eggs.

breed (noun)

a group of animals that have particular characteristics that make them different from others of the same species. The characteristics have often been produced in a controlled way by mating particular animals.

brute (noun)

a big strong animal

brute (noun)

an animal that you do not like or that frightens you

clone (noun)

biology an exact copy of an animal or plant created in a laboratory from the animal’s or plant’s DNA

companion animal (noun)

an animal that someone keeps for company and enjoyment. The more usual word is ‘pet’.

cross (noun)

an animal that is a mixture of two different breeds

crossbreed (noun)

an animal that is a mixture of two different breeds

crustacean (noun)

a sea animal such as a crab or a lobster with a hard shell and several pairs of legs

ectotherm (noun)

an animal such as a fish or a reptile that cannot maintain its body temperature independently of its environment

endangered species (noun)

a type of animal or plant that may soon become extinct (=disappear from the world)

endotherm (noun)

an animal such as a bird or a mammal that can maintain its body temperature independently of its environment

flyer (noun)

a bird, insect, or animal that flies in a particular way

fowl (noun)

an old word for ‘bird’

freak of nature ()

an animal or plant that develops physical features that are not normal for its type

game (noun)

wild animals, birds, and fish that people hunt, usually for food

gastropod (noun)

a mollusc such as a snail that moves by using one large flat foot

grey (noun)

an animal that is grey in colour, especially a horse or a cat

hermaphrodite (noun)

a person, animal, or plant that has both male and female sex organs

hominid (noun)

a human, or an ancient creature from which humans developed

insect (noun)

a small animal that has six legs and often has wings. There are many different types of insects, such as bees, flies, and beetles.

invertebrate (noun)

a small animal without a backbone, for example an insect or a worm

jumper (noun)

a person or animal that jumps

mammal (noun)

an animal that is born from its mother’s body, not from an egg, and drinks its mother’s milk as a baby. Humans, dogs, and cows are all mammals.

marsupial (noun)

an animal whose babies live in a pocket in the mother’s skin on the outside of her stomach until they are completely developed

migrant (noun)

a bird or animal that travels to a different part of the world for warmer weather at a particular time of the year

mollusc (noun)

an animal that has a soft body with no bones and is usually covered by a hard shell, for example a snail or an octopus

mollusk ()

the American spelling of mollusc

mutant (noun)

a plant or animal that is different from others of its type as a result of a change in its genes

our feathered friends ()

birds

pachyderm (noun)

a large animal with thick skin, for example an elephant or a rhinoceros

pack animal (noun)

an animal such as a horse or donkey that is used for carrying heavy loads

parasite (noun)

biology a plant or animal that lives in or on another type of animal and feeds on it

parent (noun)

an animal or plant that produces a new animal or plant

pedigree (noun)

an animal whose parents, grandparents etc were all of the same breed (=type)

pest (noun)

an insect or small animal that damages plants or supplies of food

pet (noun)

an animal or bird that you keep in your home and look after

pet (noun)

kept as a pet or relating to pets

polymorph (noun)

an animal or plant that has different forms at different stages of its development

prey (noun)

an animal that is caught by another animal and eaten

primate (noun)

biology an animal belonging to the same group as humans, which includes monkeys and apes

quadruped (noun)

an animal that walks on four legs

reptile (noun)

biology a type of cold-blooded animal that gives birth to young animals as eggs and whose body is covered in scales (=flat hard pieces of skin). Snakes and crocodiles are reptiles.

rodent (noun)

a type of small animal that has long sharp front teeth, for example a mouse

runt (noun)

the smallest and weakest animal of a litter (=a group born at the same time)

serpent (noun)

literary a snake, especially a large one

snake (noun)

a long thin animal with no legs and a smooth skin. Some snakes have a poisonous bite that can kill.

sport (noun)

science a plant or animal that is different in a noticeable way from other plants or animals of the same type

strain (noun)

a particular type of animal, insect, or plant