Vocabulary

No Place Like Home

Definitions and Context

 

Accessible: easy to get to
The shelter under a prickly cactus is easily accessible to the mouse who can scurry under the thorns, but not so accessible to the coyote chasing it.

Aquatic: living in water
Dragonfly larvae are aquatic, finding shelter under the rocks on the bottom of the creek.

Arboreal: living in trees
Fox squirrels are arboreal, building their nests high in the canopy of trees.

Burrow: a hole in the ground made by an animal for shelter
The armadillo uses his strong claws to make his burrow.

Cavity nester: animal that uses or builds a nest in a hollow area of a tree or earthen bank
The screech owl, a cavity nester, poked his head out the hole in the tree to see what was making noise.

Chamber: a room or cavity
The prairie dog burrow has different chambers that he uses for different purposes.

Coral reef: a ridge of coral close to the surface of the water
Many fish find shelter in the cracks and crevices of coral reefs.

Den: a cavern or hollow where wild animals go to rest or sleep
The tarantula's den is underneath a flat rock.

Lodge: a den, usually for animals that live together
The beaver doesn't live in the dam, but in a lodge nearby.

Shelter: a something that provides protection from weather or harm
Butterflies sometimes find shelter from the cold and rain in the cracked bark of trees.

Territoriality: defense of an area against other animals of the same or different species
Due to their territoriality, Scissor-tailed Flycatchers will chase away even large birds such as hawks. (fun fact: The flycatcher is such a feisty fighter, its genus is "Tyrannus" as in "tyrant.")