Glossary

Glossary: H

habitat

The natural characteristics of the area where an organism lives; the particular location where an organism normally lives.

hallux

The single, backwards pointing toe possessed by many birds

haul out

Referring to an animal such as a seal pulling itself ashore.

heath

An area dominated by low-growing shrubs with woody stems and narrow leaves (e.g. heather), which often predominate on acidic or upland soils.

helper

An animal, usually without young of its own, which contributes to the survival of the offspring of others by behaving parentally towards the offspring.

hemocoel

the primary body cavity of most invertebrates, containing circulatory fluid.

herbaceous

Referring to a plant that has little or no woody tissue and usually persists for a single growing season.

herbivore

An animal that eats mainly plants or parts of plants.

hermaphroditic

an animal which possesses both male and female functioning sex organs and can, therefore, mate both as a male or as a female. Common in invertebrates but rare in vertebrates.

heterothermic

animals that have little or no ability to regulate their body temperature, body temperatures fluctuate with the temperature of their environment, often referred to as 'cold-blooded'.

See also: homoiotherm

hibernation

hibernator

the state that some animals enter during winter in which bodily functions slow down, reducing their energy requirements so that they can live through a season with little food.

holarctic

Found in northern North America and northern Europe or Asia.

holoblastic

a pattern of egg cleavage in early development in which the entire egg is divided with each cell division. Contrast to meroblastic cleavage.

home range

The area in which an animal normally lives, whether or not it defends the area from other animals; the area that an animal learns thoroughly and habitually patrols.

homeotherm

see homoiotherm

homoiotherm

homoiothermy::homeothermy

animals that maintain body temperatures that are different from the temperature of their surroundings, often referred to as 'warm-blooded'.

See also: heterothermic

host

an organism that provides food or shelter for another organism; often refers to parasitic relationships.

hybrid

The offspring of parents of different species.