Spine present? / Skeleton Type / Symmetry / # of Appendages / Do they create their own body heat? / Producer/
Consumer/
Decomposer / Cell wall? / Body Covering / Rarity / Diet
Cheetah
Sargassum
Weed
Broad-Headed Skink
Leatherback
Sea Turtle
Eastern Gorilla
Pantropical
Spotted Dolphin
Florida Torreya Tree
Green Peafowl
Florida Panther
Pacific Giant Glass Frog
Irukandji Jellyfish
Ornate Eagle Ray
Slipper Lobster
Red Wolf
American Horseshoe Crab
Oriental Rat Flea
Penicillin
Character Definitions
Spine: Does the organism have a vertebral column? A spine is a column made of bone tissue that supports the axis of the body.
Skeleton type: The two different kinds of skeletons are the exoskeleton and endoskeleton. The exoskeleton is a hard outer covering of an organism that provides protection and support to the soft internal issues. The endoskeleton is an internal support structure that provides the “frame” of an organism.
Symmetry: Most organisms exhibit some sort of symmetry. The two major types of symmetry are bilateral and radial. Bilateral organisms can be “cut” along a plane into 2 equal but opposite halves that are essentially mirror images of each other. Radial organisms can be “cut” into symmetrical pieces from the center out, similarly to how one would cut equally-sized triangular pizza slices.
Number of appendages: An appendage is a body part that projects from the organism such as an arm, leg, tail, or wing.
Endotherm/Ectotherm: Endothermic organisms generate and maintain their own body heat. Ectothermic organisms must rely on environmental heat sources. Many organisms utilize a variety of temperature regulation methods and thus may be classified using a variety of other terms not listed here.
Autotroph/Heterotroph: An autotroph is an organism capable of making its own food, such as how plants use light from the sun to make their food. Another word for autotroph is “producer.” A heterotroph is an organism that cannot produce its own food and must feed on organic matter in their environment, such as how cows feed on plants for energy. Another word for heterotroph is “consumer.” Decomposers, also being heterotrophs, feed on external sources for energy but rely on decaying organisms.
Cell wall present: The cell wall is a structure found in plant cells. The cell wall helps to create a supportive frame for the plant tissue.
Body covering: Organisms can have a body covering to protect their vulnerable internal tissues. Body coverings can include scales, hair, and feathers.
References
FishBase (2012) http://www.fishbase.org/search.php
Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (2012) http://myfwc.com/
National Geographic: Animal Facts. (2012) http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/facts/?source=NavAniFact