Glossary

Bee Flower Color The color(s) that a bee sees when looking at a flower. Blue, Blue-Green, Green, Ultraviolet, UV-Blue, UV-Green
Biome A major habitat type. The WWF has identified 38 major habitat types.
Current Ocean water movement caused by natural forces.
Ecoregion A specific habitat region. The WWF has identified 825 land ecoregions, 426 fresh water ecoregions and 229 salt water ecoregions. WWF Ecoregions
Ecosystem A species environment.
Ecozone A large geographic region with related plants and animals. The WWF has identified 8 ecozones. Afrotropic (Sub-Saharan Africa), Antarctic (Antarctica), Australasia (Australia, New Guinea, and neighboring islands), Indo-Malayan (Afghanistan, Pakistan, India and Southeast Asia), Nearctic (North America), Neotropic (South America and the Caribbean), Oceania (Polynesia, Fiji and Micronesia), Palearctic (most of Eurasia and North Africa). Holarctic refers to Nearctic and Palearctic combined.
Exclusive Economic Zone A countries ocean area that extends from its coast out to 200 miles. A country has special rights regarding the economic use of the resources in this zone.
Institution Organization with captive species. Ex. Zoo, wildlife refuge, etc.
IUCN Protected Area Management Categories
IaStrict Nature Reserve: protected area managed mainly for science.
IbWilderness Area: protected area managed mainly for wilderness protection.
IINational Park: protected area managed mainly for ecosystem protection and recreation.
IIINatural Monument: protected area managed mainly for conservation of specific natural features.
IVHabitat/Species Management Area: protected area managed mainly for conservation through management intervention.
VProtected Landscape/Seascape: protected area managed mainly for landscape/seascape conservation and recreation.
VIManaged Resource Protected Area: protected area managed mainly for the sustainable use of natural ecosystems.
Janka Hardness Force in pounds (lbf) required to embed an 11.28 mm (0.444 in) steel ball into wood to half the ball's diameter. Higher numbers indicate harder wood. Range: 22 - 5060.
Light Preference A plant species light preference. Deep Shade, Mostly Shady, Mixed Sun/Shade, Mostly Sunny, Full Sun
Migratory Animal that moves more than 100 km, or a fish that crosses between sea / freshwater.
Seamount Underwater mountain
Soil Acidity A plant species soil acidity preference. Very Acid, Mostly Acid, Moderate Acid, Neutral, Strong Base
Soil Fertility A plant species soil fertility preference. Infertile, Mostly Infertile, Intermediate, Rich, Very Rich
Soil Moisture A plant species soil moisture preference. Very Dry, Mostly Dry, Moist, Damp, Wet, Submerged
Specific Gravity The ratio of the density of a substance to the density of water. < 1 = Floats in water. > 1 = Sinks in water.
Subtropical The part of a Temperate region that is closest to the Tropical region. Has very little freezing temperatures.
Synonym Type
Heterotypic (taxonomic) (=)Same type specimen.
Homotypic (nomenclatural) (≡)Different type specimen.
Pro parte (p.p.)Subdivided taxa.
Temperate Located between the Tropical region and the Polar regions of the earth.
Tropical Located in the equatorial region of the earth, between the Tropic of Cancer latitudinal line in the north and the Tropic of Capricorn latitudinal line in the south.
Unverified Name A scientific name that has not been verified with an authority. They can be misspellings or synonyms or new species. These species are not included in the total counts.
Weight Dimorphism The male and female of a species have a weight difference of more than 10%.
WWF World Wide Fund For Nature (formerly the World Wildlife Fund)
Xeric Requiring very little water to live.