Zoology glossary ~ Z

Zoology Glossary Index:
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


Zooid
A term that refers to a single individual animal in a colony of invertebrates. Multiple zooids are often attached to each other. A group of zooids may function as a single animal.

Zooplankton
A group or collection of various species of plankton.

Zooxanthellae
Unicellular yellow-brown algae that live in the gastrodermis of reef-building corals.

Zygodactyly
In birds, refers to the arrangement of the toes in which the outer front toe faces back and as a result, two toes point forward and two backward.

Zygote
An egg that has been fertilized.