animals
Beasts and critters
Animals are living organisms that move, eat other organisms, and respond to their environment—distinguished from plants, fungi, and bacteria.
The category technically includes humans, though in everyday speech animals usually means non-human creatures: wild animals, farm animals, animal rights.
Figuratively, calling someone an animal suggests they're brutal, lustful, or lacking self-control: He eats like an animal.
The adjective animal distinguishes bodily from mental: animal instincts, animal magnetism.
Finest taxonomic rank
- genusTaxonomic rank above species
- classGrouping by shared traits
- orderMethodical arrangement or request
- familyRelated people together
phylum · kingdom · classification · phylogeny · vertebrates · invertebrates · mammals · birds
Organism that consumes others
- preyAnimal being hunted
- migrationMovement to new territory
- herdGrazing animals together
- flockAnimals gathered together
pack · carnivore · herbivore · omnivore · nocturnal · diurnal · untamed · free-roaming
Remaining alive against odds
- migrationMovement to new territory
- predationHunting and consuming prey
- territorialityDefense of claimed space
- foragingSeeking wild food sources
hunting · nesting · hibernation · camouflage · mating · courtship · flocking · swarming
Complete vanishing of a species
- conservationPreventing waste or loss
- threatenedExpressed intent to harm
- poachingUnlawful wildlife capture
- biodiversityRange of life forms
critically · vulnerable · protection · sanctuary · preservation · rare · deforestation · overhunting
State of having company
- domesticatedBred under human care
- affectionWarm emotional attachment
- trainingDeveloping abilities through practice
- veterinarianDoctor for animals
obedience · leash · collar · kennel · grooming · adoption · breeds · neutering
Interconnected organisms and surroundings
- biomeMajor ecological community
- environmentExternal conditions affecting life
- nicheRecessed wall space
- territoryLand under jurisdiction
range · den · burrow · nest · forest · jungle · savanna · grassland
Confined, bordered space
- exhibitItem publicly displayed
- keeperOne who guards
- feedingGiving food to
- conservationPreventing waste or loss
aviary · aquarium · education · enrichment · captivity · visitors · veterinary · quarantine
species
Finest taxonomic rank
- genusTaxonomic rank above species
- classGrouping by shared traits
- orderMethodical arrangement or request
family · phylum · kingdom · classification · phylogeny · vertebrates · invertebrates · mammals · birds · reptiles
predator
Organism that consumes others
flock · pack · carnivore · herbivore · omnivore · nocturnal · diurnal · untamed · free-roaming · savanna
survival
Remaining alive against odds
- migrationMovement to new territory
- predationHunting and consuming prey
- territorialityDefense of claimed space
foraging · hunting · nesting · hibernation · camouflage · mating · courtship · flocking · swarming · herding
extinction
Complete vanishing of a species
- conservationPreventing waste or loss
- threatenedExpressed intent to harm
- poachingUnlawful wildlife capture
biodiversity · critically · vulnerable · protection · sanctuary · preservation · rare · deforestation · overhunting · reintroduction
companionship
State of having company
- domesticatedBred under human care
- affectionWarm emotional attachment
- trainingDeveloping abilities through practice
veterinarian · obedience · leash · collar · kennel · grooming · adoption · breeds · neutering · spaying
ecosystem
Interconnected organisms and surroundings
- biomeMajor ecological community
- environmentExternal conditions affecting life
- nicheRecessed wall space
territory · range · den · burrow · nest · forest · jungle · savanna · grassland · desert
enclosure
Confined, bordered space
conservation · aviary · aquarium · education · enrichment · captivity · visitors · veterinary · quarantine · naturalistic
- beingsbeings, being, entities, entity, creatures
- biologycells, DNA, cell, biology, gene
- children's book topicsfairy tales, fables, nursery rhymes, picture books, bedtime stories
- creaturesmammals, mammal, birds, bird, fish
- elementary schoolclassroom, student, first grade teacher, reading skills, teacher
- life formsorganisms, organism, lifeforms, creatures, plant
animalsplants
Photosynthesizing rooted organisms
vegetation · flora · fungi · mushrooms · bacteria
- stuffed animalsSoft sewn toy creatures
- wild animalUndomesticated creature
- farm animalsDomesticated agricultural creatures
- baby animalsImmature offspring of fauna
- animal shelterFacility housing homeless pets
- Animal CrossingLife simulation franchise
animal, animated, animation, animate, animating, animator, animates, animators, animations