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.]