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Bilateral symmetry

arrangement of body parts in which if the animal is divided along the midline, there are two halves that are approximately equal mirror images of each other

Bioaccumulation

absorption and accumulation of toxic chemicals in living organisms. Toxins are stored in fatty tissues of animals and are passed along to their predators

Biogeographic

geographical distribution of plants and animals

Bioluminescence

production of visible light by living organisms using a chemical process; light produced is 'cold light'

Biomass

total weight of living organisms or population in a given area or volume

Biome

major plant and animal community characterized by climatic and soil conditions

Biota

plants and animals of a region

Biotic

factors pertaining to life; living

Bipedal

two-footed; to walk on two feet

Bivalve

any member of the Class Bivalvia of mollusks having two valves or shells hinged together, e.g., mussel, clam, oyster or

Blade

leaf-like part of seaweed

Blubber

layer of fatty tissue below the epidermis (skin) of some marine mammals

Boreal

northern

Brachiation

using primarily the arms for locomotion

Brackish water

water that is mixture of salt and fresh water in differing amounts; in salt marshes usually 12-18 parts salt/1000 parts water

Broadcast

release of sperm and egg into the water where fertilization and development may occur

Browser

animal eating leaves and twigs from shrubs and trees; aquatic from rocks and coral

Budding

swelling or projection on the body of some lower animals that develops into a new individual; form of asexual reproduction

bycatch

unwanted marine creatures that are caught by fishing gear while fishing for another species. or the NMFS definition: discarded catch of any living marine resource plus unobserved mortality due to a direct encounter with fishing gear.

Calcareous

containing calcium carbonate (chalk)

California current

cold ocean current that flows southward along the west coast of the US to the northern part of Baja.

Cambrian

the earliest period of the Paleozoic era, about 600 million years ago: rocks formed at this period contain earliest fossil remains of jellies

Camouflage

behavior, shape, coloration and/or pattern that helps an organism to blend in with its surroundings

Canopy

top layer of the kelp forest where fronds float on the sea surface and shade the ocean floor; also applies to rain forests where canopies shade the ground

Carnivore

an animal or plant that primarily eats animal tissue

Cartilage

firm but flexible connective tissue

Cast

compact mass of non-digestible waste products matter (fur, bones, plastic, etc.) regurgitated by some birds; pellet

Catadromous

fishes that spawn in the ocean whose offspring migrate to fresh water where they grow and mature

Caudal

posterior; toward the tail

Caudal peduncle

fleshy portion of the body just in front of the tail or caudal fin

Celestial equator

an imaginary great circle in the sky drawn concentric to the Earth's equator

Celestial navigation

position fixing technique that was devised to help sailors cross the featureless oceans without having to rely on dead reckoning to enable them to strike land. Uses angular measurements (sights) between the horizon and a common celestial object;,most often the sun. Skilled navigators can use the moon, planets, or one of 57 "navigational stars" whose coordinates are tabulated in nautical almanacs.

Cephalopod

any member of the Class Cephalopoda of mollusks; has a distinct head with a beak and muscular tentacles around the mouth; octopus, squid and cuttlefish

Cerrate

projections from body surface of nudibranchs (sea slugs); external gills

Cetacean

any member of the Order Cetacea; whales, dolphins and porpoises

Chlorophyll

any of approximately 12 kinds of green pigments present in most plant cells; use carbon dioxide and water present in the environment to convert the energy from sunlight into carbohydrates that are then used by other organisms as a source of energy

Chordate

any member of the Phylum Chordata; animals that have a notochord, gill slits and dorsal nerve chord at some point of development

Chorion

protective membrane around the eggs of insects

Chromatophores

pigment containing or producing cells that, cntrolled by the nervous system, contract or expand in shape changing the color of the organism. Highly developed in octopuses, squid, and cuttlefish.

Ciguatoxin

toxin produced by microscopic organisms growing on marine algae. This type of algae is commonly found in or around tropical reef areas, and is ingested by fish. The toxin accumulates in the flesh of the fish, and when eaten by humans the result is ciguatera fish poisoning

Cilia

minute hair like strand some animals use to produce a current for feeding or to move themselves. (Singular cilium)

CITES Appendix II

CITES is the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora. Appendix II applies to species that, although not threatened with extinction now, might become so unless trade in them is strictly controlled and monitored. CITES Appendix II also includes some non-threatened species, in order to prevent threatened species from being traded under the guise of non-threatened species that are similar in appearance.

Claspers

modified pair of appendages on pelvic fins of male sharks, skates and rays used to pass sperm to the female

Cloaca

intestinal, urinary and reproductive opening in birds, reptiles, amphibians and many fish

Cnidae

specialized stinging cells called nematocysts in jellies, spirocysts and plychocysts in anthrozoans (sea anemones, corals, sea pansies, sea pens). Used for capturing prey and/or defense from predators.

Cnideria

taxonomic Phylum to which medusa jellies, sea anemones, corals, and related animals belong; formerly called Coelenterata

Cnidoblast

precursor cell of cnidocyst

Cnidocyte

specialized cells containing the cnidae; located on tentacles and oral arms of jellies

Cold-blooded

having an unregulated body temperature closely controlled by the temperature of the environment; exothermic

Colony

group of all the same animals, living together in a way that benefits each member of the group