Word	Definition
CITES	Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species [More Information on CITES]
Copulation	Mating
Crepuscular	An animal that hunts during the night.
Estrous	Period when the female is able to begin copulation with the male and have a chance of becoming pregnant.
Gestation Period	Pregnancy Period
Induced Ovulation	Act of mating causes the female to release her egg for fertilization.
Melanistic	A melanistic animal has black fur. A melanistic gene causes an animal to have black fur.
Nocturnal	An animal that sleeps during the day and is active at night.
Plantigrade	Both the heel and the toe make contact to the ground when an animal has plantigrade feet. Humans and bears have planitgrade feet.
Prehensile	Adapted to grab or seize.
Rosettes	Irregualar shaped rings. [See picture of a jaguar from the Cathouse (FCC) which shows the rosette markings.]