lifeforms
Creatures that exist
Lifeforms are living organisms—any entities that exhibit the characteristics of life such as growth, reproduction, and response to environment.
The term appears frequently in science fiction discussing alien or extraterrestrial lifeforms: The probe detected no lifeforms on the planet's surface.
Scientists debate whether viruses qualify as lifeforms.
Also spelled as two words: life forms.
Finest taxonomic rank
- creaturesAnimate beings, especially animals
- beingsThings that exist
- animalsMulticellular mobile organisms
- plantsPhotosynthesizing rooted organisms
fungi · bacteria · archaea · protists · vertebrates · invertebrates · mammals · reptiles
Nucleus-free single-celled organisms
- virusesSubmicroscopic infectious particles
- archaeaThird domain of life
- protozoaSingle-celled eukaryotic organisms
- fungiSpore-reproducing decomposers
microbiota · pathogens · microorganisms · biofilms · plankton · algae · microbes · spores
Interconnected organisms and surroundings
- habitatOrganism's natural environment
- biomeMajor ecological community
- biodiversityRange of life forms
- nicheRecessed wall space
symbiosis · food web · trophic · keystone species · endemic · population · community · adaptation
Non-native being
- astrobiologyStudy of cosmic organisms
- exoplanetPlanet outside our system
- biosignaturesDetectable signs of life
- habitable zoneRegion allowing liquid water
panspermia · SETI · extremophiles · Goldilocks zone · Europa · Mars · interstellar · extraterrestrial
Differential reproductive success
- adaptationFitting to new conditions
- speciationFormation of distinct species
- phylogenyEvolutionary relationships among organisms
- mutationPermanent DNA alteration
ancestry · divergence · convergence · fossils · paleontology · genetic drift · gene flow · common ancestor
Mental ability, cognitive capacity
- consciousnessState of sentient awareness
- awarenessState of perceiving reality
- cognitionMental knowledge acquisition
- sapienceProfound intellectual discernment
reasoning · language · emotions · communication · self-awareness · sentience · perception · learning
species
Finest taxonomic rank
- creaturesAnimate beings, especially animals
- beingsThings that exist
- animalsMulticellular mobile organisms
plants · fungi · bacteria · archaea · protists · vertebrates · invertebrates · mammals · reptiles · amphibians
bacteria
Nucleus-free single-celled organisms
- virusesSubmicroscopic infectious particles
- archaeaThird domain of life
- protozoaSingle-celled eukaryotic organisms
fungi · microbiota · pathogens · microorganisms · biofilms · plankton · algae · microbes · spores · yeasts
ecosystem
Interconnected organisms and surroundings
- habitatOrganism's natural environment
- biomeMajor ecological community
- biodiversityRange of life forms
niche · symbiosis · food web · trophic · keystone species · endemic · population · community · adaptation · succession
alien
Non-native being
- astrobiologyStudy of cosmic organisms
- exoplanetPlanet outside our system
- biosignaturesDetectable signs of life
habitable zone · panspermia · SETI · extremophiles · Goldilocks zone · Europa · Mars · interstellar · extraterrestrial · xenobiology
natural selection
Differential reproductive success
- adaptationFitting to new conditions
- speciationFormation of distinct species
- phylogenyEvolutionary relationships among organisms
mutation · ancestry · divergence · convergence · fossils · paleontology · genetic drift · gene flow · common ancestor · homologous
intelligence
Mental ability, cognitive capacity
- consciousnessState of sentient awareness
- awarenessState of perceiving reality
- cognitionMental knowledge acquisition
sapience · reasoning · language · emotions · communication · self-awareness · sentience · perception · learning · memory
lifeformsrocks
Solid mineral pieces
minerals · dust · geological formations · crystals · corpses
lifeformsmachines
Devices that perform tasks
robots · automatons · artificial intelligence · androids · mechanisms
lifeformsnothingness
Complete absence of existence
nonexistence · abstract concepts · empty space · vacuum · voids