Animals And Plants (I-N)

Iguana
The iguana is a type of lizard.

Iguanodon
Iguanodon was a herbivore dinosaur of the cretaceous period. For defence it had a 40cm long sharp thumb spike. Iguanodon lived in herds.

Ilex
see "Holl"

Impala
The impala is an African antelope.

Impatiens
The impatiens are a genus of plants with elastic valves of the seed-pod which discharge the seeds when ripe or when touched.

Impennes
Impennes is a name given to swimming birds which have only rudimentary feathers, such as penguins.

Impey Pheasant
The Impey Pheasant (Monaul, Lophophorus refulgens) is a bird of the pheasant family with splendid plumage found in the higher regions of the Himalayas. It is the size of a small turkey.

Inaja Palm
The Inaja Palm is a South American palm growing to heights of over 30 meters with leaves 10 to 12 meters long.

Indian millet
Indian millet (Sorghum vulgare) is a grass of the genus Sorghum.

Indian Shot
Indian Shot (Canna indica) is an ornamental plant of the Arrow-root family found in most tropical countries. The seeds are round, black and hard, hence the name Indian Shot.

Indigo-bird
The Indigo-bird (Cyanospiza cyanea) is a North American bird of the Finch family. It is a deep-blue colour and a good songster.

Indigofera
Indigofera is a genus of plants, the Indigo plants. They are herbaceous or shrubby plants with pinnate leaves and small, blue, purple or white pea shaped flowers disposed in axillary racemes. The dye Indigo was formerly obtained from the leaves of the plant by fermentation.

Infusoria
Infusoria is a class of minute animals. They are provided with a mouth, are without pseudopodia, and are furnished with vibratile cilia.

Ingested
see "ingestion"

Ingestion
Ingestion is the process of getting food within the confines of the body.

Insect
see "insecta"

Insecta
Insecta is the insect class of arthropods. The body is divided into; head, thorax and abdomen. When wings are present they arise from the second and third thoracic segments. There are three thoracic segments each with a pair of walking legs.

Insectivora
Insectivora is an order of small eutheria which eat insects. The teeth are small and have pointed cusps.

Insectivore
An insectivore is a mammal which feeds predominantly on insects.

Insectivorous
see "insectivore"

Insects
see "insect"

Intestine
The intestine is the longest part of the alimentary canal. It follows the stomach. The intestine is divided into parts.

Invertebrate
An invertebrate is an animal without a backbone.

Ipomoea
The ipomoea is a genus of twining tropical plant which includes the sweet potato.

Isopoda
Isopoda is an order of malacostraca where the carapace is absent and the body is flattened dorsoventrally. The abdomen is often reduced. The endopodites of the abdominal appendages function as gills.

Ivory
Ivory is a hard white substance of which some animals teeth and tusks are composed.

Jacaranda
The jacaranda is a genus of American tropical ornamental trees.

Jack-in-the-box
Jack-in-the-box (Hernandia Sonora) is a tree of the Hernandia genus. It is so named because of the noise the wind makes whistling through its persistent involucels.

Jackal
The jackal is a carnivorous member of the dog family.

Jaguar
The jaguar is a large carnivorous mammal of the cat family.

Jasmine
Jasmine is a plant of the oleaceae family.

Jay
The jay is a bird of the crow family.

Juncus
see "Rush"

Juniper
Juniper is an evergreen shrub of the genus Juniperus. Juniper has prickly leaves and dark purple berries of a pungent taste. The juice of the berries is extracted and used as a diuretic and flavouring in gin etc.

Kale
Kale is a type of cabbage.

Kangaroo
The kangaroo is a marsupial mammal found in Australia.

Kauri pine
The Kauri pine is one of the dammar pine family of trees. It is found in the north island of New Zealand where it grows to 160 feet in height.

Keaki
The keaki is a Japanese tree.

Kelef K'naani
see "Canaan Dog"

Kelt
Kelt is the name given to a female Salmon which has spawned.

Kentish
see "Romney Marsh"

Kestrel
The kestrel is a British bird of the falcon family.

Kidney Bean
see "French Beans"

Kinglet
see "Golden-crested Wren"

Kipper
Kipper is the name given to a male salmon after it has spawned.

Kite
The kite is a bird of prey of the falcon family.

Kiwi
The kiwi is a group of three species of bird only found in New Zealand. They are about the size of a domestic fowl, have short stout legs terminated in four toes and a long bill with nostrils at the tip.

Knapweed
Knapweed is a plant of the genus Centaurea.

Koala
The koala is a marsupial found only in east Australia.

Krill
Krill is a malacostraca.

Kudu
The kudu is a breed of antelope. It is found in Africa. The males have twisted horns up to 60 inches long, and stand about 6 feet tall at the shoulder and weigh around 700 pounds. The females are hornless.

Labba
The labba is an edible Guinea Pig eaten in South America.

Laburnum
Laburnum is a small leguminous tree of the genus Laburnum with poisonous seeds and bright yellow flowers.

Lacertilia
Lacertilia is a suborder of squamata. These are the lizards. Limbs are usually present, and traces of a girdle are always present, even in the limbless species.

Ladybird
The ladybird is a beetle of the family coccinellidae.

Lagomorpha
Lagomorpha are the rabbit order of eutheria. They have a second pair of upper incisors immediately behind the first pair.

Lamb's-Lettuce
see "Corn Salad"

Lamellibranchiata
Lamellibranchiata is a class of phylum mollusca. They are the mussels, oysters, scallops etc. The head is reduced and the mantle encloses the body and secretes a bivalved shell.

Lamprey
The lamprey is a member of the cyclostomi subclass.

Lamp shell
see "phylum brachiopoda"

Land-rail
see "Corncrake"

Landrail
see "Corn-crake"

Langur
The langur is a leaf eating monkey found in south Asia.

Laniidae
see "Shrike"

Lanius
see "Butcher-bird"

Lapwing
The lapwing is a British bird of the plover family.

Larch
The larch is a tree of the pinaceae family.

Launces
see "Sand-eel"

Lavender
Lavender is a herb of the family labiatae.

Leek
The leek is a liliaceae.

Leguminosae
The leguminosae family of plants have pods containing dry fruits and nitrogen rich roots.

Leguminous
see "Leguminosa"

Leicester
The Leicester is a breed of long-wooled British sheep. It has a small, usually bare head, white face, large nose and no horns.

Lemur
Lemurs are species of omnivorous forest dwelling primates found in Madagascar and the Comoro Islands. They have large eyes and bushy tails.

Lemuroidea
The lemuroidea is an order of eutheria. They are related to the monkeys, but are more primitive. They are adpated to arboreal life.

Lemurs
see "lemur"

Lentil
The lentil is an annual plant of the legumionsae family.

Leopard
The leopard is a member of the cat family.

Lepismidae
Lepismidae is a family of minute wingless insects of the order Thysanura, having the abdomen furnished at its extremity with three caudal bristles which are used in leaping.

Leptoplana
Leptoplana is a member of the order polycladida.

Leptostraca
Leptostraca is a marine order of malacostraca. The carapace takes the form of a bivalved shell. In the front of the head region is a movable head plate.

Lesothosaurus
Lesothosaurus was a herbivore dinosaur from the triassic era. It was a small dinosaur, about 1m long with a long tail.

Lesser Weever
see "Adder Pike"

Liliaceae
The liliaceae is the lilly family. They are stemless plants, with a simple or branched trunk, and have bulbous or fascicled roots.

Lillies
see "lilly"

Lilly
A lilly is a liliaceae

Linaceae
Linaceae is the flax family, a small natural order of exogenous plants. they are principally characterized by their regular flowers, with imbricate glandular sepals having a disc of five glands outside the satminal tube.

Lincoln
The Lincoln is the largest breed of English sheep. It has a lustrous and heavy fleece of very long wool. It has a white face and legs and no horns.

Lineus
Lineus is a nemertea.

Lingula
Lingula is a phylum brachiopoda.

Linnet
The linnet is a bird of the finch family.

Linum
Linum is the flax genus of plants which gives its name to the natural order Linaceae. There are about 80 species, herbs or rarely small shrubs, chiefly found in the temperate and warmer extra-tropical regions of both hemispheres.

Lion
The lion is a member of the cat family panthera leo. They are now only found in Africa and in north west India. The male lion has a heavy mane and a tuft at the end of the tail.

Liquorice
Liquorice is a perennial herb of the leguminosae family and found in Europe.

Liriodendron
~Tulip tree

Lizard
The lizards are reptiles.

Lizards
see "lizard"

Loa
The loa is a genus of parasitic nematode.

Loach
The loach is a carp like fresh water fish.

Lobster
The lobster is a malacostraca.

Locomotion
Locomotion is the idea of movement from one place to another.

Lotus
Lotus is a genus of plant of the legumionosae family.

Lumbricus
The lumbricus are oligochaeta.

Lung fish
see "crossopterygii"

Lung fishes
see "lung fish"

Lycopersicum esculentum
see "Tomato"

Lynx
The lynx is a member of the cat family found in rocky and forested areas of north America and Europe.

Mackerel
The mackerel is a pelagic fish found in the north atlantic and mediterranean.

Madoqua
The madoqua is a small Abyssinian antelope.

Madrepora
Madrepora is a member of the order zoantharia.

Magpie
The magpie is a bird of the crow family.

Maine Coon
The Maine coon is a hardy breed of long-haired cat known for its resemblance to a raccoon and for being the oldest known breed of cat in the USA. The coat is thick and shaggy and can be any variety of colours with lighter, wavy patterns mixed in.
The ears are large, tufted, and tapering to a point, the tail is as long as the body, bushy, and wide, the eyes are round and complement the coat colour. The Maine Coon cat likes to curl up in odd positions while sleeping in any of a variety of favourite locations and enjoys retrieval games. Maine coon cats have an easy going nature and are good mousers and hunters of small game.

Malacostraca
Malacostraca is a subclass of crustacea. The eyes are usually stalked. Typically the carapace covers the thorax which consists of eight segments. The abdomen is made up of six appendage-bearing segments.

Mallard
The mallard is a British duck.

Mallow
Mallow is a wild plant of the genus Malva with hairy leaves and stem and rose-purple flowers.

Malva moschata
see "Musk-mallow"

Malvaceae
Malvaceae is a large natural order of exogenous plants (the mallows), having polypetalous flowers, monadelphous stamens, unilocular anthers, valvate estivation and often an external calyx.

Mammal
see "mammalia"

Mammalia
Mammalia is the mammal class of craniates. The young are nourished by milk. The skin is covered in two types of glands: sweat glands and sebaceous glands. The sweat glands secrete a watery fluid to assist body cooling. The sebaceous glands secrete an oily fluid to maintain water resistance in the hair. The heart has two auricles and two ventricles.

Mammals
see "mammal"

Manatee
A manatee is a herbivorous marine mammal of the family Manatidae of the order Sirenia inhabiting the warm shores and great river mouths of South America, Central America, Florida and west Africa.

Manatidae
see "Manatee"

Mandasuchus
Mandasuchus was a carnivorous reptile from the triassic era. It was the size of a car.

Mango
The mango is a tree native to India but found in warm climates.

Manul
see "Pallas cat"

Manx
The manx is a breed of tailless shorthaired cat that has a small, tufted hollow where a tail would normally grow. The coat has the texture of a rabbit's and can be any variety of colours or patterns. The ears are medium-sized with slightly rounded tips. The eyes are large and round and vary with the coat colour.

Maple
The maple is a deciduous tree of some 200 species.

Mare
A mare is a female horse.

Margay
The margay is a small wild cat.

Markhor
The markhor is a large wild goat found in the himalayas.

Marsh-Trefoil
see "Buck-bean"

Marshmallow
Marshmallow is a perennial herb of the order Malvaceae, with a yellow, branched root, tall, erect, leafy stems and large alternate, lobed and irregularly toothed leaves. The root can be boiled and eaten as a vegetable.

Marsupial
see "metatheria"

Marsupials
see "marsupial"

Marten
The marten is a carnivorous mammal of the genus Martes. It resembles a large weasel and has valuable fur.

Massospondylus
Massospondylus was one of the earliest dinosaurs. It lived during the triassic era. It was an omnivore with a latge bulky body and a tiny head. It grew to about 6m long. It had a strange thumb claw which could have been used for defense and also digging.

Mastigophora
The mastigophora (Flagellata) are a class of phylum protozoa. They are small protozoa whic are motile in the adult stage, swimming by means of flagella. They reproduce by logitudinal fission.

Matamata
The matamata is a south American fresh water turtle.

Medusae
see "scyphozoa"

Medusidae
see "scyphozoa"

Megalornithidae
see "Crane"

Megalosaurus
Megalosaurus was a large carnivorous dinosaur from the jurrasic period. Remains have been found in oxfordshire, england. It was estimated to be about the size of two cars.

Merino
The merino is a type of sheep with fine silky wool.

Merocystis
Merocystis is a member of the coccidia vera order.

Mesostoma
Mesostoma is a member of the order rhabdocoelida.

Metatheria
Metatheria is a subclass of mammal. These are the marsupials. The young are born in an immature state and migrate into a pouch on the mother's abdomen where they are nourished on milk.

Mezereon
Mezereon is a deciduous shrub with fragrant purple flowers.

Mignonette
Mignonette (Reseda odorata) is a plant with fragrant greyish-green blossoms.

Mildew
Mildew is a growth of minute white fungi. It occurs on plants and objects exposed to damp.

Milfoil
Milfoil is another name for Yarrow.

Milk
Milk is a secretion of modified skin glands of female mammals.

Millepede
A millepede is a myriapod with numerous legs placed one each of the segments in double pairs.

Millepora
Millepora is a member of the order milleporina.

Milleporina
Milleporina is an order of marine hydrozoa with the hydroid colony on the surface of a massive calcareous corallum perforated by pores into which the polyps can be retracted.

Millet
Millet is the name of several grasses of the genus Sorghum.

Mimosa
Mimosa is a genus of leguminous plants, sub-division of Mimoseae.

Mimoseae
Mimoseae is a subfamily of plants of the Leguminosae family. They are native to tropical and warmer parts of the world and have small flowers in globular heads or cylindrical spikes and often sensitive leaves.

Mimosoideae
see "Mimoseae"

Mimusops
Mimusops is a genus of large, milky-juiced tropical trees.

Mina Bird
The Indian Mina Brid is a deep velvet black bird with a whitespot on the wing. A member of the genus Grakle, the Mina Bird can imitate the human voice and be taught tricks.

Mink
The mink is 2 species of carnivorous mammal of the weasel family. It is semi-aquatic, burrowing on the banks of rivers and ponds and eating frogs and fish.

Minnow
The minnow (Leuciscus phoxinus) is a species of fish of the carp family. They rarely grow longer than 7cm and are often used as bait for catching trout.

Mint
Mint is the name given to several herbaceous aromatic plants of the genus Mentha, natural order Labiatae. They are nearly all perennial, having square stems which bear opposite and simple leaves.

Mirabilis
Mirabilis is a genus of plants of the natural order Nyctagineae.

Mistletoe
Mistletoe is a European plant of the order Loranthaceae which grow parasitically on various trees. It was sacred to the Druids, especially when it was found growing on the oak tree. It is a small shrub with sessile, rectangular, leathery leaves and small yellowish-green flowers. In winter the bush is covered in white berries.

Mite
see "acarina"

Mithan
see "Gayal"

Mitre
Mitre is a name given to many molluscs which inhabit a small and pretty turreted shell found in the seas around hot climates.

Moccasin Snake
The Moccasin Snake is a very venomous snake found in swamps in the warmer parts of America. It grows to around 60 cm in length, is dark brown above and grey underneath.

Mocking-bird
The mocking-bird is an American bird of the thrush family. It is renowned for being able to immitate the calls of most animals.

Mockingbird
The mockingbird is a North American songbird (Mimus polyglottos) of the mimic thrush family Mimidae, found in the USA and Mexico. About 25 cm long, it is brownish grey, with white markings on the black wings and tail. It is remarkable for its ability to mimic the songs of other species.

Mole
The mole is a burrowing mammal of the talpidae family.

Mole-rat
The mole-rat is a rodent of the genus Spalax, family Spalacidae. They are dumpish, stout-bodied rodents with short strong limbs and a very short tail.

Mollusc
see "phylum mollusca"

Mollusca
see "phylum mollusca"

Molluscoida
Molluscoida is a group of animals comprising the Polyzoa, Tunicata and Brachiopoda. The nervous system consists of a single ganglion or a principal pair of ganglia and the heart is imperfect.

Molluscs
see "phylum mollusca"

Moloch Lizard
The moloch lizard is a genus of ferocious looking, but harmless lizards of Australia. It has a horned head and spiny body.

Monaul
see "Impey Pheasant"

Mongoose
The mongoose is a small carnivorous mammal that is often kept for its ability to kill snakes.

Monitor
The monitor is any of various lizards of the family Varanidae, found in Africa, South Asia, and Australasia. Monitors are generally large and carnivorous, with well-developed legs and claws and a long powerful tail that can be swung in defence. Monitors include the Komodo dragon, the largest of all lizards, and also the slimmer Salvador's monitor Varanus salvadorii, which may reach 2.5m. Several other monitors, such as the lace monitor (Varanus varius), the perentie Varanus giganteus of Australia, and the Nile monitor (Varanus niloticus) of Africa, are up to 2m long.

Monkey
A monkey is a small, usually tree dwelling, primate.

Monkey puzzle
The monkey puzzle is a tree from the southern Andes.

Monkey-pot tree
The Monkey-pot tree (Lecythis Ollaria) is a large forest tree of Brazil.

Monkeys
see "monkey"

Monkshood
see "Aconite"

Monocystis
Monocystis is a member of the gregarinida order.

Monogenea
Monogenea is an order of trematoda. They are ectoparasitic flukes with relatively simple life histories which do not involve an intermediate host. They feed on aquatic animals. Both hooks and suckers are present.

Monotremata
The monotremata is a subclass of mammals. They lay large eggs. There are no mammae, but the young are nourished by a secretion poured into a depression in the abdomen.

Monotreme
Monotreme refers to any member of the order Monotremata, the only living egg-laying mammals, found in Australasia. They include the echidnas and the platypus.

Moorhen
The moorhen is a British water bird.

Moose
see "Elk"

Morgan horse
The Morgan horse is a breed of riding and driving show horse originating in the USA in the 1780s from a single stallion named Justin Morgan after his owner. They are marked by high, curved necks and high stepping action. The breed is valued for its strength, endurance, and speed.

Morphology
Morphology is the study of animal form.

Morris fish
The morris fish is the young of the conger.

Mosquito
Mosquito is a term applied to any fly of the family Culicidae. The female mosquito has needle-like mouth-parts and sucks blood before laying eggs. Males feed on plant juices. Some mosquitoes carry diseases such as malaria. Human odour in general is attractive to mosquitoes, also lactic acid in sweat and heat at close range. Peoples' varying reactions to mosquito bites depend on the general allergic reaction and not on the degree of the bite; the allergic reaction is caused by the saliva injected from the mosquito's salivary glands to prevent coagulation of the host's blood. Natural mosquito repellents include lavender oil, citronella (from lemon grass), thyme, and eucalyptus oils.

Motacilla
Motacilla is the wagtail genus of insectivorous passerine birds.

Moth
The moth is an insect family, being one of the order of lepidoptera.

Mouflon
The mouflon is a sheep (Ovis ammon) found wild in Cyprus, Corsica, and Sardinia. It has woolly under-fur in winter, but this is covered by heavy guard hairs. The coat is brown with white belly and rump. Males have strong, curving horns. The mouflon lives in mountain areas.

Mountain Collie
see "Bearded Collie"

Mouse
Mouse is a general term applied to small rodents, particularly those of the muridae family.

Mousebird
The mousebird is a bird of the order Coliiformes, including a single family (Coliidae) of small crested species peculiar to Africa. They have hair-like feathers, long tails, and mouse-like agility. The largest is the blue-naped mousebird Colius macrourus, about 35cm long.

Mudnester
The mudnester is any of an Australian group of birds that make their nests from mud, including the apostle bird (Struthidea cinerea), the white-winged chough (Corcorax melanorhamphos), and the magpie lark (Grallina cyanoleuca).

Mudpuppy
The mudpuppy is a brownish salamander of the genus Necturus in the family Proteidae. There are five species, living in fresh water in North America. They all breathe in water using external gills. Necturus maculatus is about 20cm long. Mudpuppies eat fish, snails, and other invertebrates.

Mudskipper
The mudskipper is a fish of the goby family, genus Periophthalmus, found in brackish water and shores in the tropics, except for the Americas. It can walk or climb over mudflats, using its strong pectoral fins as legs, and has eyes set close together on top of the head. It grows up to 30cm long.

Mulberry
The mulberry is a group of trees of the genus morus and family moraceae.

Mule
The mule is a hybrid animal, the result of an ass and a mare breeding.

Mullein
Mullein (Verbascum Thapsus) is a plant of the natural order Scrophulariaceae. It is a tall rough plant with yellow flowers which are almost sessile and are disposed in a long cylindrical spike.

Mullet
The mullet is two groups of acanthopterygian fish, the grey mullets (Mugilidae) and the red mullets (Mullidae).

Mungoose
Mungoose is an alternative 19th century spelling of Mongoose.

Muntjac
The muntjac is a small deer found in south east Asia.

Muraena
Muraena is a genus of adopal malacopterygious fish of the family Muraenidae. They resemble the eels in form having no pectoral fins, and the dorsal and anal fins are very low and are united.

Murex
Murex is a genus of gasteropod molluscs resembling the whelk. They have a spiral shell, rough with three or more ranges of spines simple or branched.

Murices
Murices is the plural form of Murex.

Muridae
Muridae is the family of animals which includes the mice and rats.

Murry
Murry (Muraena helena) is a Mediterranean fish of the genus Muraena. It grows to 150cm long and is considered good eating.

Musaceae
Musaceae is a natural order of endogenous plants. The order includes the banana, plantain and abaca.

Musca vomitoria
~Blue bottle

Muscidae
Muscidae is a family of two-winged flies which includes the common house-fly.

Mushroom
Mushroom is the popular name for numerous cryptogamic plants of the natural order Fungi. Some are edible and others are toxic.

Musk
Musk is a perennial plant Mimulus moschatus of the Order Scrophulariaceae. It has small rectangular leaves which excrete a scent from which it takes its name.

Musk Ox
see "Musk-ox"

Musk-deer
Musk-deer is a genus of deer forming the family Moschidae. They are not true deer, and are found primarily in Asia. The male Musk-deer yields musk, which is secreted from an abdominal gland.

Musk-duck
The Musk-duck (Cairina moschata) is a native American duck.

Musk-mallow
Musk-mallow (Malva moschata) is a British perennial plant.

Musk-ox
The musk-ox (Ovibos moschatus) is a ruminant animal of the sub-family Caprinae intermediate between an ox and a sheep. It resembles a large goat-like sheep, its body is covered with a coat of thick, tufted brown hair. It is an active and agile animal found in mountainous regions of Arctic America.

Musk-rat
The Musk-rat (Fiber zibethicus) or musquash, is an American rodent allied to the beaver. It is about the size of a small rabbit, with a flattened lanceolate tail, and is covered with small scales and a few hairs.

Muskrat
The muskrat (Ondatra zibethicus) is a rodent of the family Cricetidae, about 30cm long, living along streams, rivers, and lakes in North America. It has webbed hind feet, a side-to-side flattened tail, and shiny, light-brown fur. It builds up a store of food, plastering it over with mud, for winter consumption. It is hunted for its fur.

Musquash
see "Musk-rat"

Mussel
Mussel is a term popularly given to several lamellibranchiate molluscs of the section Asiphonida.

Mustang
The mustang is a small wild horse found in south west USA and north Mexico.

Mustard
Mustard is an annual plant of the cruciferae family.

Mustela
Mustela is the weasel genus of carnivorous animals.

Mycelium
Mycelium is an interwoven mass of threadlike filaments which form the main body of most fungi.

Mycetes
see "Howler Monkey"

Mycetozoa
The mycetozoa are an order of rhizopoda. They are slime fungi which form encrusting masses on rotten wood. Reproduction occurs by fission and the formation of spores out of which hatch amoebae.

Mygale
Mygale is a genus of spiders of the family Mygalidae. They are furnished with four pulmonary sacs and spiracles, four spinnerets, eight eyes, and hairy legs.

Mylabris
Mylabris is a genus of coleopterous insects.

Mylodon
The mylodon is a genus of extinct edentate mammalia. Their remains have been found in South America. It was a herbivore terrestial animal.

Myosotis
Myosotis is a genus of plants belonging to the Boraginaceae.

Myoxus
Myoxus is the dormouse genus of animals.

Myriapoda
Myriapoda is a class of arthropod with a clearly demarcated head region.

Myristica
Myristica is the genus of the natural order Myristicaceae.

Myrtle
The myrtle is an evergreen shrub of the genus myrtus and family myrtaceae.

Mysidacea
Mysidacea is an order of malacostraca in which the thorax is covered by the carapace and the exopodite of the antenna is scale-like. The abdomen terminates in a tail fan.

Myxine
see "Hag"

Narcissus
The narcissus is a genus of bulbous plants.

Narwhal
The narwhal is a whale found only in the arctic.

Nautilus
The nautilus is a shelled cephalopod of the genus Nautilus, found in the Indian and Pacific oceans. The pearly nautilus (Nautilus pompilius) has a chambered spiral shell about 20cm in diameter. Its body occupies the outer chamber. The nautilus has a large number of short, grasping tentacles surrounding a sharp beak.
The living nautiluses are representatives of a group common 450 million years ago.

Nectar
Nectar is a sugary liquid secreted by some plants.

Nematode
The nematodes are a group of worms which have an unsegmented cylindrical body which tapers at both ends.

Nemertea
The nemertea are the proboscis worms. They are triploblastic animals with a very extensible body. Both a mouth and anus are present. A simple blood vascular system is present. The excretory system is a flame-bulb system.

Neornithes
The neornithes are a subclass of bird. The metarcarpals are fused, and the tail is short. Teeth are absent.

Neosporidia
Neosporidia is a subclass of sporozoa. They are obscure sporozoans.

Neptune's Cup
Neptune's Cup (Poterion) is a Pacific Ocean sponge which grows to over 1 meter tall.

Nereis
Nereis are polychaeta.

Nettle
The nettle is a plant of the family urticaceae.

Neurone
A neurone is a cell which receives and transmits electrical impulses. Neurones are the basic component of an animal's nervous system.

Newfoundland
The newfoundland is a bearlike breed of working dog known for aiding fishermen and sailors by jumping overboard to rescue people and by barking to warn of reefs.
They are strong swimmers, and can retrieve people and boats in turbulent waters. They are also used to carry goods between ships. To this end the coat is water-repellent and very long, dense, and lush.
The colour may be solid black, bronze, or come in patches of black and white (called landseer). The ears are long, broad, shaggy, and hang to below the bottom of the jaw. The tail is long and full and curves naturally at the end. The eyes are small, deep-set, and dark brown.
The adult dog stands about 70cm tall at the shoulder and weighs about 60kg. The newfoundland is renowned for its gentle nature.

Newt
The newt is an urodela.

Nicotiana
Nicotiana is the tobacco genus of plants.

Nightingale
The nightingale is a song bird of the thrush family.

Nightjar
The nightjar is any of about 65 species of night-hunting birds forming the family Caprimulgidae. They have wide, bristly mouths for catching flying insects. Their distinctive calls have earned them such names as whippoorwill and church-will's-widow. Some are called

Nilgai
The nilgai is a large, short horned Indian antelope.

Norwegian Forest
The Norwegian forest is a breed of long-haired cat renowned for its wild, rugged, and hardy nature and appearance and its remarkably fast-drying coat. The thick and heavy overcoat covers a wooly undercoat and forms an abundant ruff around the neck. The ears are long and pointed and set high on the head, the tail is flowing and as long as the body, the eyes are bright and attentive and vary with the coat colour.
In the summer it sheds its fur and only its tail, ear and toe tufts distinguish it as a long-haired cat. The Norwegian forest originated centuries ago in Norway, where it is called a Skogkatt and is mentioned in Norse mythology where it is referred to as a fairy or troll cat because it comes from the woodlands.

Notochord
A notochord is an axial stiffening rod extending along the length of an animal and lying immediately above the alimentary canal.

Notonecta glauca
see "Boat-fly"

Nutcracker
The nutcracker is a bird of the crow family.

Nuthatch
The nuthatch is a small bird of the family Sittidae, with a short tail and pointed beak. Nuthatches climb head first up, down, and around tree trunks and branches, foraging for insects and their larvae.
The 14 cm long white-breasted nuthatch Sitta carolinensis of North America has a black cap, grey wings, and white under-parts.

Nutmeg
Nutmeg is a tree. The nut of the nutmeg is used in cooking as a spice.

Nutria
The nutria or coypu is a South American water rodent (Myocastor coypus), it is about 60 cm long and weighs up to 9kg. It has a scaly, rat-like tail, webbed hind feet, a blunt, muzzled head, and large, orange incisors. The fur is reddish brown. It feeds on vegetation and lives in burrows in river and lake banks.
Taken to Europe and then to North America to be farmed for their fur, many escaped or were released and became established, often to the detriment of native species.

Nutrition
Nutrition is the process of taking in food and obtaining energy and vital substances from it.

Nyala
The nyala (Tragelaphus angasi) is an antelope found in the thick bush of southern Africa. About 1 m at the shoulder, it is greyish-brown with thin vertical white stripes. Males have horns up to 80cm long.

Nymphaeaceae
see "Water Lily"