LifeLab Dictionary

Locomotion +

  • Terrestrial: Lives and moves on land.
  • Arboreal: Lives in trees and is adapted for climbing.
  • Aerial: Capable of flight or gliding.
  • Aquatic: Lives primarily in water.
  • Burrowing: Excavates and lives in underground tunnels.
  • Amphibious: Capable of living both in water and on land.

Diet +

  • Herbivore: Eats only plants.
  • Omnivore: Eats both plants and animals.
  • Carnivore: Eats only animals.
  • Scavenger: Feeds on dead or decaying organisms.
  • Insectivore: Primarily eats insects.
  • Piscivore: Primarily eats fish.
  • Hypercarnivore: Has a diet composed of more than 70% meat.

Group Size +

  • Solitary: Lives alone except during mating.
  • Pair-bonded: Lives in a long-term pair.
  • Small Group (3-5): Lives in small groups of 3–5 individuals.
  • Medium Group (6-12): Lives in medium-sized groups.
  • Large Group (13-30): Lives in large social groups.
  • Mass Gathering (30+): Aggregates in very large numbers.
  • Fluid Fission-Fusion: Group composition changes frequently.
  • Colonial (100+): Lives in massive colonies, often exceeding 100 individuals.

Social Hierarchy +

  • None: No social ranking or hierarchy; individuals act independently.
  • Egalitarian: All members have equal status with minimal competition.
  • Dominance Hierarchy: Ranks are established through dominance and submission.
  • Alpha-led: A single dominant individual leads the group.
  • Matriarchal: Led by the oldest or most dominant female.
  • Patriarchal: Led by the oldest or most dominant male.
  • Age-based: Older individuals have higher social status.
  • Temporary Alliances: Short-lived alliances form based on convenience or need.
  • Caste System: Fixed roles and ranks, often inherited or biologically assigned.
  • Cooperative Breeding: Non-breeding members assist in raising offspring.

Activity_Pattern +

  • Nocturnal: Active during the night and rests during the day.
  • Diurnal: Active during the day and sleeps at night.
  • Crepuscular: Primarily active during dawn and dusk.
  • Cathemeral: Irregularly active both day and night.

Skin Type +

  • Fur: Covered in thick hair for insulation.
  • Feathers: Covered in feathers for flight or insulation.
  • Scales: Protected by small overlapping plates.
  • Skin: Exposed or lightly covered epidermis.
  • Exoskeleton: Hard external covering for protection and support.

Intelligence +

  • Low: Displays basic survival instincts.
  • Moderate: Capable of learning, problem-solving, and basic tool use.
  • High: Demonstrates advanced cognition, memory, and communication.

Thermoregulation +

  • Cold-blooded (Ectothermic): Relies on external sources to regulate body temperature.
  • Mesothermic: Partially regulates internal temperature; in-between ectothermic and endothermic.
  • Warm-blooded (Endothermic): Maintains a stable internal body temperature.

Hunting Style +

  • Ambush Predator: Lies in wait and attacks unsuspecting prey.
  • Pursuit Predator: Chases down prey over distance.
  • Hit-and-Run Predator: Strikes quickly and withdraws.
  • Relentless Chaser: Pursues prey persistently until exhausted.
  • Pack Hunter: Hunts cooperatively in a group.
  • Symbiotic Hunter: Hunts in cooperation with another species.
  • Aerial Diver: Attacks prey from the air with high-speed dives.
  • Suction Feeder: Draws prey in using rapid suction.
  • Trap Setter: Uses environmental traps or constructs to catch prey.
  • Lure Hunter: Attracts prey using deceptive bait or behavior.
  • Mimic Predator: Imitates harmless species or prey to ambush targets.
  • Camouflage Stalker: Blends in to get close before striking.
  • Scavenger: Feeds on carrion or leftover kills.
  • Opportunistic Feeder: Takes advantage of whatever food is available.
  • Kleptoparasite: Steals prey or food from other animals.
  • Venomous Predator: Uses venom to subdue or kill prey.
  • Toxic Biter: Delivers toxins through its bite.
  • Nematocyst Hunter: Uses stinging cells (as in jellyfish) to catch prey.
  • Tool-Assisted Hunter: Uses tools or objects to aid in hunting.
  • Soundwave Hunter: Disorients or stuns prey using sonic attacks.
  • Electric Hunter: Uses electricity to stun or kill prey.
  • Burrow Ambusher: Waits within burrows or holes to ambush prey.

Sensory Adaptation +

  • None: No notable sensory adaptations.
  • Enhanced Vision: Exceptional clarity, range, or detail in sight.
  • Echolocation: Uses sound waves to locate objects in the environment.
  • Thermal Sensing: Detects heat signatures of prey or surroundings.
  • Electroreception: Senses electrical signals in the environment.
  • Enhanced Smell: Can detect scents at great distances or in trace amounts.
  • Vibration Detection: Perceives ground or water vibrations for movement tracking.
  • Ultraviolet Vision: Can see ultraviolet light beyond human perception.
  • Magnetoreception: Uses Earth's magnetic field for orientation/navigation.
  • Wide-Angle Vision: Has a broad field of view, often nearly panoramic.
  • Low-Light Adaptation: Can see effectively in very dark environments.
  • Pressure Sensitivity: Sensitive to changes in pressure or altitude.
  • Chemical Detection: Detects minute chemical changes in surroundings.
  • Long-Range Hearing: Can hear sounds over long distances.
  • Directional Sound Detection: Pinpoints exact origin of sounds.
  • Whisker Sensitivity: Uses vibrissae to detect spatial details.
  • Heat Signature Reading: Identifies living beings by their emitted heat.
  • Subsonic Hearing: Detects extremely low-frequency sounds.
  • Motion Blur Reduction: Maintains clear vision during high-speed motion.

Defense Mechanism +

  • None: Lacks any specialized defensive traits.
  • Camouflage: Blends into the environment to avoid detection.
  • Armor Plating: Protected by thick, often segmented armor.
  • Spines or Quills: Defensive projections that deter predators.
  • Venomous: Injects venom to harm or deter attackers.
  • Speed & Evasion: Escapes threats through fast or agile movement.
  • Herd Protection: Relies on group behavior for safety.
  • Mimicry: Imitates another species for protection.
  • Ink Discharge: Releases ink to obscure vision or escape.
  • Autotomy (Limb Shedding): Can shed body parts to distract predators.
  • Toxin Secretion: Secretes toxic substances through skin or glands.
  • Blinding Flashes: Produces sudden bright light to disorient predators.
  • Warning Coloration: Displays bright, alarming colors as a deterrent.
  • Hard Shell: Encased in a rigid, protective outer shell.
  • Electric Shock: Generates electric discharge to stun threats.
  • Explosive Release: Emits chemicals or gases explosively as a defense.
  • Burrowing Escape: Quickly escapes danger by retreating underground.
  • Decoy Emission: Releases fake or expendable body parts/substances.
  • Irritating Fur: Fur causes itchiness or discomfort on contact.
  • Thermal Insulation: Resists extreme temperatures via protective body covering.

Mammalia +

  • Felidae: Cats, including lions and domestic cats, known for retractable claws and carnivorous habits.
  • Canidae: Dogs, wolves, and foxes; known for social behavior and omnivorous diets.
  • Ursidae: Bears; large mammals with omnivorous diets and strong builds.
  • Hominidae: Great apes including humans, chimpanzees, and gorillas; highly intelligent primates.
  • Cervidae: Deer; hoofed herbivores often with antlers.
  • Bovidae: Cattle, goats, and antelope; ruminants with complex stomachs.
  • Equidae: Horses, zebras, and donkeys; hoofed herbivores with strong legs for running.
  • Suidae: Pigs and boars; omnivorous with strong snouts.
  • Mustelidae: Weasels, otters, and badgers; carnivorous and often aquatic or semi-aquatic.
  • Procyonidae: Raccoons and coatis; omnivorous and dexterous.
  • Herpestidae: Mongooses; small carnivores known for snake-fighting.
  • Mephitidae: Skunks and stink badgers; known for their odor-based defense.
  • Hyaenidae: Hyenas; scavengers with powerful jaws.
  • Viverridae: Civets and genets; small, omnivorous mammals.
  • Macropodidae: Kangaroos and wallabies; marsupials that hop.
  • Phalangeridae: Possums; tree-dwelling marsupials.
  • Vombatidae: Wombats; burrowing marsupials.
  • Phascolarctidae: Koalas; tree-dwelling herbivorous marsupials.
  • Tachyglossidae: Echidnas; egg-laying mammals with spines.
  • Ornithorhynchidae: Platypus; egg-laying, semi-aquatic mammal.
  • Monotremata: Egg-laying mammals, including echidnas and platypus.
  • Dasypodidae: Armadillos; armored mammals with digging habits.
  • Bradypodidae: Three-toed sloths; slow-moving tree dwellers.
  • Myrmecophagidae: Anteaters; insectivorous mammals with long tongues.
  • Manidae: Pangolins; scaly mammals that eat ants.
  • Leporidae: Rabbits and hares; fast herbivores with long ears.
  • Ochotonidae: Pikas; small, mountain-dwelling herbivores.
  • Sciuridae: Squirrels, chipmunks, and marmots; tree-dwelling or burrowing rodents.
  • Muridae: Old World mice and rats; highly adaptable omnivores.
  • Cricetidae: Hamsters, voles, and New World rats; small rodents.
  • Dipodidae: Jerboas and jumping mice; known for long hind legs.
  • Castoridae: Beavers; aquatic rodents that build dams.
  • Hydrochoeridae: Capybaras; the largest rodents, semi-aquatic.
  • Chinchillidae: Chinchillas and viscachas; soft-furred Andean rodents.
  • Erethizontidae: New World porcupines; arboreal with quills.
  • Bathyergidae: Mole-rats; subterranean herbivores.
  • Heteromyidae: Kangaroo rats and mice; desert-adapted rodents.
  • Geomyidae: Pocket gophers; fossorial rodents.
  • Soricidae: Shrews; small, insectivorous mammals.
  • Talpidae: Moles and desmans; diggers with velvety fur.
  • Erinaceidae: Hedgehogs and gymnures; spiny or soft-bodied insectivores.
  • Chiroptera: Bats; only mammals capable of sustained flight.
  • Pteropodidae: Fruit bats; large bats with good vision.
  • Vespertilionidae: Evening bats; diverse, insectivorous group.
  • Molossidae: Free-tailed bats; fast fliers with long tails.
  • Phyllostomidae: Leaf-nosed bats; diverse diets, including blood (vampire bats).
  • Tarsidae: Tarsiers; small primates with large eyes.
  • Lorisidae: Lorises; slow, nocturnal primates.
  • Galagidae: Bush babies; small, jumping primates.
  • Cebidae: Capuchins and squirrel monkeys; smart New World monkeys.
  • Atelidae: Howler and spider monkeys; prehensile-tailed monkeys.
  • Callitrichidae: Marmosets and tamarins; small monkeys with claw-like nails.
  • Aotidae: Owl monkeys; nocturnal primates.
  • Indriidae: Indris and sifakas; large lemurs with strong legs.
  • Lemuridae: True lemurs; endemic to Madagascar.
  • Cheirogaleidae: Dwarf and mouse lemurs; smallest primates.
  • Daubentoniidae: Aye-aye; nocturnal lemur with a specialized finger.
  • Balaenopteridae: Rorquals; large baleen whales like the blue whale.
  • Delphinidae: Dolphins and orcas; highly intelligent and social.
  • Physeteridae: Sperm whales; deep-diving toothed whales.

Aves +

  • Accipitridae: Hawks, eagles, and kites; birds of prey with keen eyesight and strong talons.
  • Alcedinidae: Kingfishers; brightly colored birds known for fishing from perches.
  • Anatidae: Ducks, geese, and swans; waterfowl with webbed feet and flattened bills.
  • Apodidae: Swifts; aerial insectivores with long wings and fast flight.
  • Ardeidae: Herons, egrets, and bitterns; long-legged wading birds often found near water.
  • Burhinidae: Thick-knees; nocturnal shorebirds with large eyes and cryptic plumage.
  • Caprimulgidae: Nightjars; nocturnal insectivores with camouflaged plumage and silent flight.
  • Cacatuidae: Cockatoos; parrots with prominent crests and strong curved bills.
  • Charadriidae: Plovers and lapwings; small to medium shorebirds with short bills.
  • Ciconiidae: Storks; large wading birds with long legs and necks.
  • Columbidae: Pigeons and doves; stout-bodied birds with short necks and slender bills.
  • Coraciidae: Rollers; colorful birds known for acrobatic flight displays.
  • Corvidae: Crows, ravens, and jays; highly intelligent birds with complex social behaviors.
  • Cuculidae: Cuckoos; diverse family including brood parasites and insectivores.
  • Diomedeidae: Albatrosses; large seabirds with long wingspans adapted for soaring.
  • Falconidae: Falcons and caracaras; fast-flying raptors with hooked beaks.
  • Fringillidae: Finches; small seed-eating birds with conical bills.
  • Fregatidae: Frigatebirds; large seabirds with long wings and males known for inflatable throat pouches.
  • Gruidae: Cranes; tall, long-legged birds with elaborate courtship dances.
  • Haematopodidae: Oystercatchers; shorebirds with strong bills for prying open shells.
  • Hirundinidae: Swallows and martins; aerial insectivores with streamlined bodies and forked tails.
  • Icteridae: New World blackbirds and orioles; often brightly colored and vocal.
  • Jacanidae: Jacanas; tropical waders with long toes adapted for walking on floating vegetation.
  • Laridae: Gulls, terns, and skimmers; seabirds adapted to coastal habitats with varied diets.
  • Megapodiidae: Megapodes; mound-building birds that incubate eggs using heat from decomposing vegetation.
  • Meleagrididae: Turkeys; large ground-dwelling birds native to North America.
  • Meropidae: Bee-eaters; colorful birds that catch and eat flying insects.
  • Mimidae: Mockingbirds and thrashers; known for vocal mimicry and complex songs.
  • Motacillidae: Wagtails and pipits; slender ground-feeding insectivores with long tails.
  • Musophagidae: Turacos; African birds with unique pigments and crest feathers.
  • Nycticoracidae: Night herons; nocturnal wading birds with stout bodies.
  • Pandionidae: Osprey; fish-eating raptor with reversible outer toes for gripping slippery prey.
  • Paridae: Tits and chickadees; small woodland birds with stout bills and acrobatic habits.
  • Parulidae: New World warblers; small, often colorful insectivores.
  • Passeridae: Old World sparrows; small, seed-eating birds often associated with human habitats.
  • Pelecanidae: Pelicans; large water birds with expandable throat pouches for catching fish.
  • Phalacrocoracidae: Cormorants; aquatic diving birds with hooked bills.
  • Phoenicopteridae: Flamingos; tall wading birds with pink plumage and filter-feeding beaks.
  • Picidae: Woodpeckers; birds that peck wood to find insects and create nest cavities.
  • Pittidae: Pittas; brightly colored, ground-dwelling birds of tropical forests.
  • Podicipedidae: Grebes; freshwater diving birds with lobed toes.
  • Procellariidae: Shearwaters and petrels; seabirds adapted for long-distance flight.
  • Psittacidae: True parrots; strong curved bills and zygodactyl feet for climbing and handling food.
  • Rallidae: Rails, coots, and gallinules; secretive wetland birds with diverse habits.
  • Ramphastidae: Toucans; tropical birds with large, colorful bills.
  • Recurvirostridae: Stilts and avocets; wading birds with long legs and specialized bills.
  • Scolopacidae: Sandpipers and allies; diverse shorebirds often probing mud for invertebrates.
  • Strigidae: Typical owls; nocturnal birds of prey with silent flight and large eyes.
  • Struthionidae: Ostriches; largest living birds, flightless with powerful legs.
  • Sturnidae: Starlings; social birds with strong vocal abilities.
  • Threskiornithidae: Ibises and spoonbills; long-legged waders with distinctive bills.
  • Trochilidae: Hummingbirds; tiny nectar-feeding birds capable of hovering flight.
  • Trogonidae: Trogons; brightly colored forest birds with distinctive calls.
  • Turdidae: Thrushes; medium-sized birds known for melodious songs.
  • Tyrannidae: Tyrant flycatchers; diverse New World insectivores.
  • Upupidae: Hoopoes; birds with distinctive crests and curved bills.
  • Vireonidae: Vireos; small to medium insectivores often found in woodland habitats.

Reptilia +

  • Agamidae: Agamas; lizards known for their robust bodies and crested heads.
  • Alligatoridae: Alligators and caimans; semi-aquatic reptiles with broad snouts.
  • Boidae: Boas; large, non-venomous constrictor snakes.
  • Cheloniidae: Sea turtles; marine turtles with flipper-like limbs.
  • Colubridae: Colubrids; largest snake family, mostly non-venomous.
  • Crotalidae: Pit vipers; venomous snakes with heat-sensing pits.
  • Dactyloidae: Anoles; small, arboreal lizards with dewlap displays.
  • Elapidae: Repeated; venomous snakes including cobras and mambas.
  • Eublepharidae: Eyelid geckos; geckos with movable eyelids.
  • Gekkonidae: Geckos; nocturnal lizards with adhesive toe pads.
  • Iguanidae: Iguanas; large herbivorous lizards with spiny crests.
  • Kinosternidae: Mud and musk turtles; small freshwater turtles with musk glands.
  • Lamprophiidae: Repeated; diverse family of snakes mainly in Africa.
  • Leptotyphlopidae: Slender blind snakes; small, fossorial and non-venomous.
  • Natricidae: Repeated; mostly aquatic, non-venomous snakes.
  • Pelomedusidae: African side-necked turtles; freshwater turtles with side-neck retraction.
  • Phrynosomatidae: Repeated; spiny and horned lizards.
  • Pseudechampsidae: False gharials; crocodilians with narrow snouts.
  • Pythonidae: Pythons; large constrictor snakes found mainly in Africa and Asia.
  • Scincidae: Skinks; smooth-scaled lizards with cylindrical bodies.
  • Sphenodontidae: Tuatara; reptile species native to New Zealand, with primitive features.
  • Testudinidae: Tortoises; land-dwelling turtles with dome-shaped shells.
  • Trionychidae: Softshell turtles; freshwater turtles with leathery shells.
  • Viperidae: Vipers; venomous snakes with long, hinged fangs.
  • Agkistrodonidae: Copperheads and cottonmouths; venomous pit vipers in North America.
  • Brachypelmaidae: Tarantulas; large, hairy spiders often confused with reptiles in popular culture (not reptiles).
  • Chamaeleonidae: Chameleons; lizards known for color change and projectile tongues.
  • Crocodylidae: Crocodiles; large aquatic reptiles with powerful jaws.
  • Geocheloneidae: Giant tortoises; large tortoises found mainly on islands.
  • Helodermatidae: Gila monsters and beaded lizards; venomous lizards with bead-like scales.
  • Lacertidae: Wall lizards; small to medium-sized, often ground-dwelling lizards.
  • Madtsoiidae: Extinct family of snakes, often large and constricting.
  • Mimidae: Repeated (likely an error; mimids are birds).
  • Najaidae: Cobras; venomous snakes with hood displays.
  • Pythontidae: Likely a typo of Pythonidae; large constrictor snakes.
  • Reptilianidae: General term sometimes used for reptiles; not a formal family.
  • Serpentes: All snakes; elongated, legless reptiles.
  • Shinobidae: Not a recognized reptile family (possibly fictional or erroneous).
  • Sphenodonidae: Repeated; tuataras from New Zealand.
  • Teiidae: Whiptails and racerunners; fast, ground-dwelling lizards.
  • Tropidophisidae: Dwarf boas; small, stout-bodied snakes mostly in the Caribbean.
  • Xenodontidae: Rear-fanged snakes mostly in South America.
  • Zamenisidae: Old World rat snakes and racers; non-venomous colubrids.

Amphibia +

  • Amphiumidae: Amphiumas; eel-like aquatic salamanders with tiny limbs.
  • Andersonidae: Small family of frogs, primarily from Asia, known for diverse habitats.
  • Brachycephalidae: Brazilian short-headed frogs; tiny terrestrial frogs with reduced digits.
  • Bufonidae: True toads; widespread, often warty-skinned amphibians.
  • Caeciliidae: Caecilians; limbless, burrowing amphibians resembling worms or snakes.
  • Ceratophryidae: Horned frogs; stocky frogs with large mouths and aggressive behavior.
  • Cryptobranchidae: Giant salamanders; large, fully aquatic salamanders with wrinkled skin.
  • Dendrobatidae: Poison dart frogs; brightly colored, toxic frogs from Central and South America.
  • Discoglossidae: Disc-tongued frogs; primitive frogs with a distinctive tongue structure.
  • Hylidae: Tree frogs; arboreal frogs with adhesive toe pads.
  • Hyperoliidae: Reed frogs; small, often brightly colored African frogs.
  • Leptodactylidae: Southern frogs; diverse family including terrestrial and aquatic species.
  • Megophryidae: Asian horned frogs; cryptic frogs often resembling dead leaves.
  • Micrixalidae: Dancing frogs; small frogs from India known for unique foot-flagging behavior.
  • Nasikabatrachidae: Purple frogs; burrowing frogs with distinctive snouts, endemic to India.
  • Pelobatidae: Spadefoot toads; burrowing toads with hardened spade-like feet.
  • Pelodytidae: Parsley frogs; small European frogs with distinctive skin patterns.
  • Plethodontidae: Lungless salamanders; breathe through skin, diverse in the Americas.
  • Ranidae: True frogs; widespread family including many common pond and stream frogs.
  • Rhinophrynidae: Mexican burrowing toad; stout-bodied burrower with a pointed snout.
  • Salamandridae: Newts and salamanders; mostly terrestrial and semi-aquatic salamanders.
  • Samidae: Not a recognized amphibian family (possible typo or error).
  • Scaphiopodidae: North American spadefoot toads; burrowing toads with keratinized spades.
  • Siridae: Not a recognized amphibian family (possible typo or error).
  • Sirenidae: Sirens; aquatic salamanders with external gills and reduced limbs.
  • Spelerpidae: Likely a misspelling of 'Spelerpidae' (possibly Spelerpinae); group of newts.
  • Tylidae: Not a recognized amphibian family (possible typo or error).
  • Bombinatoridae: Fire-bellied toads; brightly colored frogs with toxic skin secretions.
  • Alytidae: Midwife toads; frogs known for males carrying eggs on their legs.
  • Ranitomeyaidae: Dendrobatid poison frogs; small, often brightly colored toxic frogs.
  • Megalobatrachidae: Giant salamanders including Japanese and Chinese species.
  • Ascaphidae: Tailed frogs; primitive frogs with a tail-like appendage in males.
  • Chikilidae: Caecilians; fossorial, limbless amphibians from India.
  • Calyptocephalellidae: Helmeted water toads; aquatic frogs endemic to Chile.