Vocabulary

Definitions and Context

Adaptation: a physical, behavioral, or physiological trait that helps a population or species to thrive.
Context: The alligator snapping turtle has an adaptation inside its mouth to help it catch prey.

Aquatic: Growing, living in, or frequenting water
Context: Terrapins and turtles are both aquatic; turtles live in the water and terrapins living on land and frequenting the water.

Inherited trait: an inborn characteristic or behavior that is passed from parent to offspring
Context: The shape of a turtle is an inherited trait.

Marine: Growing, living in, or frequenting salt water
Context: Sea turtles are marine.

Endangered species: An animal or plant species in danger of extinction throughout all or a significant portion of its range.
Context: Kemp's Ridley Sea Turtles are endangered because people dug up their eggs and killed adult turtles for food, because they get tangled in large shrimp nets, and because they mistake trash for food.

Migrate: an annual move from one region to another
Context: Sea turtles migrate, returning to the beach they were born to lay their eggs.

Terrestrial: Living or growing on land.
Context: A tortoise is terrestrial.

Threatened species: an animal or plant species likely to become endangered within the foreseeable future throughout all or a significant portion of its range
Context: If we can protect threatened species' habitats now, we may be able to prevent their becoming endangered.