Animals A-Z Vertical

AnimalsA-Z

Trillium Montessori

Animals

Animals are creatures that eat, breathe,

and can move. They range in size from

microscopic to over 100 ft long. We

currently know of 1.5 million animal species living today, and millions more that are now

extinct. Animals live all over the world, in

every habitat.

Trilliummontessori.org

Amphibian

Amphibians are vertebrates. They are cold

blooded and have gills as tadpoles and lungs

as adults. They can also breathe through

their skin! Frogs, toads, newts, salamanders, and caecilians are the kinds of amphibians

living today. Large amphibians lived millions

of years ago, but they are all extinct now.


Bird

Birds are a kind of vertebrate that lay hard

shell eggs, have feathers, wings, and hard

beaks. Most birds can fly! Birds evolved

from dinosaurs and are found all over the world. Birds are social creatures, singing and

calling to each other, flocking, and

sometimes passing on knowledge to offspring.


Carnivore

A carnivore is an animal that mostly eats

meat. This includes predators that hunt and

scavengers that eat already dead animals.

Many carnivores have sharp teeth, but some don’t, particularly those who eat insects,

fish, or invertebrates.



Dinosaurs

Dinosaurs are a collection of reptiles that

lived millions of years ago. They were the

dominant land animals of the Mesozoic era.

All of them are extinct, but several direct descendants are still alive today. We know

about dinosaurs by looking at their fossils,

and new discoveries are made all the time!


Eggs

Eggs are used by animals to grow their

young until they are strong enough to live

on their own. Some eggs have hard, rigid

shells, while others are soft and flexible. Many animals keep their eggs warm while

they are developing. Ostriches lay the

largest bird eggs, weighing over 1.5 pounds!


Fish

Fish are a type of vertebrates that live

their whole lives in water, lay eggs, have

gills, and are cold-blooded. There are more

fish than all land vertebrates! Fish are found in fresh or salt water. Many fish

have fins to help them move and scales to

protect their skin.


Gastropod

Gastropods are a group of invertebrates

that have a head with 2-4 tentacles and a

large muscular “foot” that is used for

movement. Many gastropods have a shell. Land gastropods include snails and slugs, and

the rest are marine animals like clams, sea

slugs, and conchs.


Herbivore

Herbivores are animals that eat only plants.

Some herbivores eat just leaves or fruit,

and some have special teeth to grind plant

material to be digested. There are a few who will eat eggs on occasion, but most can

not digest meat. There are many more

herbivores than carnivores in the world.


Invertebrate

An invertebrate is an animal that does not

have a hard skeleton backbone inside its

body. It may have an exoskeleton, like

beetles and other insects, or it may have no hard pieces at all, like a jellyfish. Common

invertebrates include worms, mollusks,

spiders, sea urchins, and corals.


Jaws

The jaws of an animal help it chew, grip,

and communicate. It is a bone that is

connected to the skull on the left and right.

Most mammals can move their jaw up, down, and sideways. Some snakes can unhinge their

jaws to swallow objects larger than their

head!


Kangaroo

Kangaroos are animals that live only in

Australia and New Guinea. They hop using

their powerful tail and legs, and can walk

on all fours when moving slowly. Kangaroos are nocturnal and crepuscular and live in

groups up to 100 called a mob. They are

marsupials and carry their babies in a pouch.


Life Cycle

The life cycle of an animal is the series of

changes it goes through from birth to death.

Sometimes these changes are gradual, and

sometimes they are very clear and different, like in insects or amphibians. Sometimes

animals have alternating life cycles by

generation, like jellyfish.


Mammals

Mammals are vertebrates that have fur or

hair, and are warm blooded. Almost all give

birth to live babies and make milk for them

to drink. Mammals have a neocortex in their brain, making it possible to learn and

have emotions. Humans are mammals!


Nest

A nest is a place built by an animal to hold

and raise its babies. Nests can be made of

twigs, mud, grass, leaves, and found

materials, or just a simple safe space like a hole in a tree. Almost all birds build a nest,

but many other vertebrates do as well. You

can find nests in all habitats.


Opposable Thumb

The opposable thumb is a finger that bends

in the other direction from the rest. This

allows an animals to pick things up more

easily, and have the capacity to use more complex tools with added hand dexterity.

Thumbs only have two bones and are

shorter than other fingers.


Pupa

The pupa is a resting life stage of many

insects, including butterflies, moths, beetles,

bees, and flies. Before the pupa stage the

animal is called a larva. After the pupa stage, the animal assumes its adult form. In

butterflies, we call the pupa stage a

chrysalis.


Queen

The queen is the leader of a colony of

bees, ants, wasps or termites. She is the

only insect that lays eggs in that group,

and secretes chemicals that prevent the other females from laying their own eggs.

The eggs from the queen are cared for by

other members of the colony.


Reptiles

A reptile is a vertebrate that has scaly

skin, lays eggs, and is cold blooded. Living

reptiles today include snakes, lizards,

crocodiles, and turtles. Millions of years ago there were many more kinds of reptiles,

which we call dinosaurs. The study of

reptiles is called herpetology.


Scavenger

A scavenger is a kind of animal that eats

animals or plants that are already dead.

Most scavengers will hunt if they can’t find

enough carrion (dead animal) to eat. Scavengers that have moved into human

populated areas include raccoons, rats,

opossums, and sometimes even coyotes and

hyenas!


Tentacle

A tentacle is an long muscular flexible

appendage, most common in invertebrates.

Some tentacles work similar to an arm by

grasping, reaching, and holding. Others are used more to sense the world around them,

using smell, taste, or touch.


Ungulate

Ungulates are large, hoofed mammals. This

includes horses, deer, cattle, pigs, giraffes,

elephants, and camels. Most hooved animals

actually walk on their tiptoes! Most ungulates are herbivores and have special

bacteria in their stomach to digest plant

matter.


Vertebrate

A vertebrate is an animal that posses a

rigid interior skeleton, complete with a

backbone. This backbone runs the length of

the animal with a hollow tube just above full of nerves (spinal column) and the

gastrointestinal system below it.

Vertebrates first appeared about 525

million years ago during the Cambrian period.


Wing

A wing is used by animals to move quickly

through air or water. Wings used for flying

are lightweight and strong, appearing on

birds, insects, and bats. Animals use their wings by flapping, or merely holding them

out to catch wind and water currents. The

angle of the wing is what allows it to

create lift and fly.


X Chromosome

The X chromosome is one of two

chromosomes that determines the biological

sex of an animal. It’s located in an animal’s

DNA, in every living cell of its body. The X chromosome is found in both males and

females, with females having two X and

males having an X and a Y.


Yolk

The yolk is part of an egg used to store

food for the developing animal inside. Yolks

are full of vitamins, minerals, fat, and

protein. The color of the yolk is directly related to what that animal ate, but isn’t

necessarily related to the nutritional value.

Sometimes eggs have double yolks!


Zooplankton

Zooplankton are a collection of animals that

drift in water. They include baby fish and

other marine life, single-celled protozoan,

krill and jellyfish. Most are microscopic, although some are large enough to see

without a microscope. Zooplankton are food

for many animals and are an important part

of the ocean food chain.


amphibian

bird

amphibian

bird


carnivore

dinosaur

carnivore

dinosaur


eggs

fish

eggs

fish


gastropod

herbivore

gastropod

herbivore


invertebrate

jaws

invertebrate

jaws


kangaroo

life cycle

kangaroo

life cycle


mammal

nest

mammal

nest


opposable thumb

pupa

opposable thumb

pupa


queen

reptile

queen

reptile


scavenger

tentacle

scavenger

tentacle


ungulate

vertebrate

ungulate

vertebrate


wing

x chromosome

wing

x chromosome


yolk

zooplankton

yolk

zooplankton


animalsanimals

animals

animalsTrilliummontessori.org

animalsAnimals are creatures that eat, breathe, and can move. They

range in size from microscopic to over 100 ft long. We currently know of 1.5 million

animal species living today, and millions more that are now extinct. Animals live all over the

world, in every habitat.

They are creatures that eat, breathe, and can move. They

range in size from microscopic to over 100 ft long. We currently know of 1.5 million species living

today, and millions more that are now extinct. They live all over the world, in every habitat.

animals

amphibian

amphibianTrilliummontessori.org

amphibianAmphibians are vertebrates. They are cold blooded and have gills as

tadpoles and lungs as adults. They can also breathe through their skin! Frogs, toads, newts,

salamanders, and caecilians are the kinds of amphibians living today. Large amphibians lived

millions of years ago, but they are all extinct now.

They are vertebrates. They are cold blooded and have gills as

tadpoles and lungs as adults. They can also breathe through their skin! Frogs, toads, newts, salamanders,

and caecilians are the kinds of these living today. Large ones lived millions of years ago, but they are

all extinct now.

amphibian

bird

birdTrilliummontessori.org

birdBirds are a kind of vertebrate that lay hard shell eggs, have

feathers, wings, and hard beaks. Most birds can fly! Birds evolved from dinosaurs and are found all

over the world. Birds are social creatures, singing and calling to each other, flocking, and

sometimes passing on knowledge to offspring.

They are a kind of vertebrate that lays hard shell eggs, has feathers,

wings, and a hard beak. Most can fly! These animals evolved from dinosaurs and are found all over

the world. These animals are social creatures, singing and calling to each other, flocking, and sometimes

passing on knowledge to offspring.

bird

carnivore

carnivoreTrilliummontessori.org

carnivoreA carnivore is an animal that mostly eats meat. This includes

predators that hunt and scavengers that eat already dead animals. Many carnivores have

sharp teeth, but some don’t, particularly those who eat insects, fish, or invertebrates.

This is an animal that mostly eats meat. This includes predators that

hunt and scavengers that eat already dead animals. Many have sharp teeth, but some don’t,

particularly those who eat insects, fish, or invertebrates.

carnivore

dinosaurs

dinosaursTrilliummontessori.org

dinosaursDinosaurs are a collection of reptiles that lived millions of

years ago. They were the dominant land animals of the Mesozoic era. All of them are

extinct, but several direct descendants are still alive today. We know about dinosaurs by

looking at their fossils, and new discoveries are made all the time!

They are a collection of reptiles that lived millions of years ago.

They were the dominant land animals of the Mesozoic era. All of them are extinct, but several

direct descendants are still alive today. We know about them by looking at their fossils, and new

discoveries are made all the time!

dinosaurs

eggs

eggsTrilliummontessori.org

eggsEggs are used by animals to grow their young until they are strong

enough to live on their own. Some eggs have hard, rigid shells, while others are soft and flexible.

Many animals keep their eggs warm while they are developing. Ostriches lay the largest bird

eggs, weighing over 1.5 pounds!

These are used by animals to grow their young until they are strong

enough to live on their own. Some have hard, rigid shells, while others are soft and flexible. Many animals

keep their eggs warm while they are developing. Ostriches lay the largest bird eggs, weighing over

1.5 pounds!

eggs

fish

fishTrilliummontessori.org

fishFish are a type of vertebrates that live their whole lives in

water, lay eggs, have gills, and are cold-blooded. There are more fish than all land vertebrates!

Fish are found in fresh or salt water. Many fish have fins to help them move and scales to

protect their skin.

These animals are a type of vertebrates that live their whole

lives in water, lay eggs, have gills, and are cold-blooded. There are more of this animal than all land

vertebrates! They are found in fresh or salt water. Many have fins to help them move and scales

to protect their skin.

fish

gastropods

gastropodsTrilliummontessori.org

gastropodsGastropods are a group of invertebrates that have a head

with 2-4 tentacles and a large muscular “foot” that is used for movement. Many gastropods have

a shell. Land gastropods include snails and slugs, and the rest are marine animals like clams, sea

slugs, and conchs.

They are a group of invertebrates that have a head with 2-4

tentacles and a large muscular “foot” that is used for movement. Many of this kind of animal have a

shell. Land gastropods include snails and slugs, and the rest are marine animals like clams, sea slugs, and

conchs.

gastropods

herbivore

herbivoreTrilliummontessori.org

herbivoreHerbivores are animals that eat only plants. Some herbivores eat

just leaves or fruit, and some have special teeth to grind plant material to be digested. There

are a few who will eat eggs on occasion, but most can not digest meat. There are many more

herbivores than carnivores in the world.

These animals eat only plants. Some eat just leaves or fruit, and

some have special teeth to grind plant material to be digested. There are a few who will eat

eggs on occasion, but most can not digest meat. There are many more herbivores than carnivores in the

world.

herbivore

invertebrate

invertebrateTrilliummontessori.org

invertebrateAn invertebrate is an animal that does not have a hard skeleton

backbone inside its body. It may have an exoskeleton, like beetles and other insects, or it may have

no hard pieces at all, like a jellyfish. Common invertebrates include worms, mollusks, spiders,

sea urchins, and corals.

This is an animal that that does not have a hard skeleton backbone

inside its body. It may have an exoskeleton, like beetles and other insects, or it may have no hard

pieces at all, like a jellyfish. Common animals of this type include worms, mollusks, spiders,

sea urchins, and corals.

invertebrate

jaws

jawsTrilliummontessori.org

jawsThe jaws of an animal help it chew, grip, and communicate. It

is a bone that is connected to the skull on the left and right. Most mammals can move their jaw

up, down, and sideways. Some snakes can unhinge their jaws to swallow objects larger than their

head!

This part of an animal helps it chew, grip, and communicate. It is

a bone that is connected to the skull on the left and right. Most mammals can move theirs up, down,

and sideways. Some snakes can unhinge it to swallow objects larger than their head!

jaws

kangaroo

kangarooTrilliummontessori.org

kangarooKangaroos are animals that live only in Australia and New

Guinea. They hop using their powerful tail and legs, and can walk on all fours when moving

slowly. Kangaroos are nocturnal and crepuscular and live in groups up to 100 called a mob. They

are marsupials and carry their babies in a pouch.

These animals live only in Australia and New Guinea. They hop using

their powerful tail and legs, and can walk on all fours when moving slowly. These animals are

nocturnal and crepuscular and live in groups up to 100 called a mob. They are marsupials and carry their

babies in a pouch.

kangaroo

life cycle

life cycleTrilliummontessori.org

life cycleThe life cycle of an animal is the series of changes it goes through

from birth to death. Sometimes these changes are gradual, and sometimes they are very clear

and different, like in insects or amphibians. Sometimes animals have alternating life cycles by

generation, like jellyfish.

This is the series of changes an animal goes through from birth to

death. Sometimes these changes are gradual, and sometimes they are very clear and different, like in

insects or amphibians. Sometimes animals have alternating changes by generation, like jellyfish.

life cycle

mammals

mammalsTrilliummontessori.org

mammalsMammals are vertebrates that have fur or hair, and are warm

blooded. Almost all give birth to live babies and make milk for them to drink. Mammals have a

neocortex in their brain, making it possible to learn and have emotions. Humans are mammals!

These vertebrates have fur or hair, and are warm blooded.

Almost all give birth to live babies and make milk for them to drink. Mammals have a neocortex in their

brain, making it possible to learn and have emotions. Humans are mammals!

mammals

nest

nestTrilliummontessori.org

nestA nest is a place built by an animal to hold and raise its

babies. Nests can be made of twigs, mud, grass, leaves, and found materials, or just a simple

safe space like a hole in a tree. Almost all birds build a nest, but many other vertebrates do as

well. You can find nests in all habitats.

This is a place built by an animal to hold and raise its babies. Nests

can be made of twigs, mud, grass, leaves, and found materials, or just a simple safe space like a hole in a

tree. Almost all birds build a nest, but many other vertebrates do as well. You can find nests in all

habitats.

nest

opposable thumb

opposable thumbTrilliummontessori.org

opposable thumbThe opposable thumb is a finger that bends in the other direction

from the rest. This allows an animals to pick things up more easily, and have the capacity to

use more complex tools with added hand dexterity. Thumbs only have two bones and are

shorter than other fingers.

This is a finger that bends in the other direction from the rest.

This allows an animals to pick things up easier, and have the capacity to use more complex tools

with added hand dexterity. Thumbs only have two bones and are shorter than other fingers.

opposable thumb

pupa

pupaTrilliummontessori.org

pupaThe pupa is a resting life stage of many insects, including

butterflies, moths, beetles, bees, and flies. Before the pupa stage the animal is called a larva. After

the pupa stage, the animal assumes its adult form. In butterflies, we call the pupa

stage a chrysalis.

This is the resting life stage of many insects, including butterflies,

moths, beetles, bees, and flies. Before the pupa stage the animal is called a larva. After the pupa

stage, the animal assumes its adult form. In butterflies, we call the pupa stage a chrysalis.

pupa

queen

queenTrilliummontessori.org

queenThe queen is the leader of a colony of bees, ants, wasps or

termites. She is the only insect that lays eggs in that group, and secretes chemicals that prevent

the other females from laying their own eggs. The eggs from the queen are cared for by other

members of the colony.

This is the leader of a colony of bees, ants, wasps or termites. She

is the only insect that lays eggs in that group, and secretes chemicals that prevent the other females

from laying their own eggs. The eggs from the queen are cared for by other members of the colony.

queen

reptile

reptileTrilliummontessori.org

reptileA reptile is a vertebrate that has scaly skin, lays eggs, and is

cold blooded. Living reptiles today include snakes, lizards, crocodiles, and turtles. Millions

of years ago there were many more kinds of reptiles, which we call dinosaurs. The study of

reptiles is called herpetology.

This is a vertebrate that has scaly skin, lays eggs, and is cold blooded.

Living ones today include snakes, lizards, crocodiles, and turtles. Millions of years ago there were

many more kinds of reptiles, which we call dinosaurs. The study of reptiles is called herpetology.

reptile

scavenger

scavengerTrilliummontessori.org

scavengerA scavenger is a kind of animal that eats animals or plants that

are already dead. Most scavengers will hunt if they can’t find enough carrion (dead animal)

to eat. Scavengers that have moved into human populated areas include raccoons, rats, opossums,

and sometimes even coyotes and hyenas!

This is a kind of animal that eats animals or plants that are already

dead. Most will hunt if they can’t find enough carrion (dead animal) to eat. Scavengers that have

moved into human populated areas include raccoons, rats, opossums, and sometimes even coyotes and

hyenas!

scavenger

tentacle

tentacleTrilliummontessori.org

tentacleA tentacle is an long muscular flexible appendage, most common

in invertebrates. Some tentacles work similar to an arm by grasping, reaching, and holding.

Others are used more to sense the world around them, using smell, taste, or touch.

This is an long muscular flexible appendage, most common in

invertebrates. Some work similar to an arm by grasping, reaching, and holding. Others are used more

to sense the world around them, using smell, taste, or touch.

tentacle

ungulate

ungulateTrilliummontessori.org

ungulateUngulates are large, hoofed mammals. This includes horses,

deer, cattle, pigs, giraffes, elephants, and camels. Most hooved animals actually walk on

their tiptoes! Most ungulates are herbivores and have special bacteria in their stomach to

digest plant matter.

These are large, hoofed mammals. This includes horses, deer, cattle,

pigs, giraffes, elephants, and camels. Most hooved animals actually walk on their tiptoes!

Most ungulates are herbivores and have special bacteria in their stomach to digest plant matter.

ungulate

vertebrate

vertebrateTrilliummontessori.org

vertebrateA vertebrate is an animal that posses a rigid interior skeleton,

complete with a backbone. This backbone runs the length of the animal with a hollow tube just

above full of nerves (spinal column) and the gastrointestinal system below it. Vertebrates

first appeared about 525 million years ago during the Cambrian period.

This is an animal that posses a rigid interior skeleton, complete

with a backbone. This backbone runs the length of the animal with a hollow tube just above full of

nerves (spinal column) and the gastrointestinal system below it. Vertebrates first appeared about

525 million years ago during the Cambrian period.

vertebrate

wing

wingTrilliummontessori.org

wingA wing is used by animals to move quickly through air or

water. Wings used for flying are lightweight and strong, appearing on birds, insects, and bats.

Animals use their wings by flapping, or merely holding them out to catch wind and water

currents. The angle of the wing is what allows it to create lift and fly.

This is used by animals to move quickly through air or water. The

ones used for flying are lightweight and strong, appearing on birds, insects, and bats. Animals

use these by flapping, or merely holding them out to catch wind and water currents. The angle of the

wing is what allows it to create lift and fly.

wing

x chromosome


The X chromosome is one of two chromosomes that determines the

biological sex of an animal. It’s located in an animal’s DNA, in every living cell of its body. The

X chromosome is found in both males and females, with females having two X and males having an

X and a Y.

This is one of two chromosomes that determines the biological sex

of an animal. It’s located in an animal’s DNA, in every living cell of its body. It is found in both

males and females, with females having two of these and males having one of these and one Y.

x chromosome

x chromosome

x chromosome

yolk

yolkTrilliummontessori.org

yolkThe yolk is part of an egg used to store food for the developing

animal inside. Yolks are full of vitamins, minerals, fat, and protein. The color of the yolk is

directly related to what that animal ate, but isn’t necessarily related to the nutritional value.

Sometimes eggs have double yolks!

This part of an egg is used to store food for the developing

animal inside. It is full of vitamins, minerals, fat, and protein. The color is directly related to what

that animal ate, but isn’t necessarily related to the nutritional value. Sometimes eggs

have two of these!

yolk

zooplankton

zooplanktonTrilliummontessori.org

zooplanktonZooplankton are a collection of animals that drift in water. They

include baby fish and other marine life, single-celled protozoan, krill and jellyfish. Most are

microscopic, although some are large enough to see without a microscope. Zooplankton are food

for many animals and are an important part of the ocean food chain.

These are a collection of animals that drift in water. They include

baby fish and other marine life, single-celled protozoan, krill and jellyfish. Most are microscopic,

although some are large enough to see without a microscope. These animals are food for many animals

and are an important part of the ocean food chain.

zooplankton

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