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Key Terms
- Adaptation
- a characteristic that serves a specific function for the organism and that has been shaped by evolution over many thousands or millions of year; OR the process by which evolution shapes traits in an organism such that they are most well-suited to the current environment(see reproductive success). Adaptation has many definitions, but these are two of the most popular.
- Biological species concept
- the idea that species are defined by their inability to viably interbreed with sister taxa (see Mayr, 1992)
- Cephalopod (cuttlefish)
- a class of aquatic mollusc defined in part by the possession of arms (or tentacles), a beak, and a large brain
- Chromatophore
- a color changing organ found in cephalopod and other animal skin. Chromatophores are full of pigment cells that can change to reflect color in the range of reds, yellows, browns, and blacks based on their contraction and relaxation. This movement is regulated through a direct neural connection to the brain (for more information, see Mechanism and here)
- Irirdophore
- a color changing organ found in cephalopod and other animal skin. Iridophoress are full of pigment cells that can change to reflect color in the range of blue, green, and other iridescences based on their contraction and relaxation. This movement is regulated through a direct neural connection to the brain
- Intraspecific
- within-species; i.e., between organisms of the same species (e.g., intraspecific communication is communication that takes place between organisms of the same species, such s bird mating calls)
- Leucophore
- Life history
- Morphological species concept
- Morphology
- Polarized light/ polarization
- Reproductive Success
- Stomatopod
- Teleost
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