Glossary

adaptations: 1. adjustment to environmental conditions: as a : 2. adjustment of a sense organ to the intensity or quality of stimulation b :3. modification of an organism or its parts that makes it more fit for existence under the conditions of its environment: 3. their suroundings 2. what they live in

altritious: having to do with being born blind and nude/ helpless after being born

anesthetic: lacking awareness or sensitivity <unmoved and quite anesthetic to his presence -- S. J. Perelman>

Callithricidae: family of marmosets and tamarins

cannines: [Middle English, from Latin (dens) caninus canine tooth] : a conical pointed tooth; especially : one situated between the lateral incisor and the first premolar

canopy: The canopy, or the top of the trees, is the most dense and luxurious forest layer. The treetops are usually 50 to 100 feet above the forest floor. Most rainforest animals, including sloths, birds and butterflies, live in the canopy where lots of fruit and insects are available for food. Flowering plants like bromeliads and orchids grow on tree trunks and branches.
The canopy is hot and dry compared to the understory and the forest floor. Trees and other plants in the canopy absorb most of the sunlight before it can reach the lower layers. The sunlight is an important part of "photosynthesis", which is the process plants use to create food, and to breathe in carbon dioxide and breathe out oxygen. The canopy layer of the rainforest right under the emergent layer

contiguous: next to or touching another, usually similar, thing, "The two states are contiguous with/to each other but the laws are quite different."

courtship: the act, process, or period of courting, which means to have an important personal relationship with someone whom you are likely to marry

curare: a dried aqueous extract especially of a vine (as Strychnos toxifera of the family
Loganiaceae or Chondodendron tomentosum of the family Menispermaceae) used by So.
American Indians to poison arrow tips and in medicine to produce muscular relaxation

dominant: to occupy a more elevated or superior position, more important, strong, noticeable, etc. than anything else of the same type

dwarfism: the condition of stunted growth

duplicant: A double of something

emergent layer: In a rainforest, the tops of tallest trees are called the emergent layer. They are like islands floating above a sea of bright green leaves. Toucans and other birds live in the emergent layer, with butterflies and many other insects. Scientists build platforms in the tops of these giant trees to study this unique place and the plants and animals that live there.

endangered species: a species threatened withextinction; broadly : anyone or anything whose continued existence is threatened.

epiphytes: a plant that derives its moisture and nutrients from the air and rain and grows usually on another plant

foliagef:1 : a representation of leaves, flowers, andbranches for architectural ornamentation 2: the aggregate of leaves of one or more plants 3: a cluster of leaves, flowers, and branches

forest floor (or litter layer): below the understory is the Forest Floor. It is dark here because all the other layers have blocked out the sunlight. It is also the most humid part of the Rainforest. There is no grass here. The underlying soil is hidden by a thin layer of rapidly rotting leaves, twigs and dead flowers. The work of decomposing this litter layer is carried out by plants like fungi and animals and insects like ants and termites as well as worms.

genitals: private parts

gumnivore: eat only plants

habitat: 1 a : the place or environment where a plant or animal naturally or normally lives andgrows b : the typical place of residence of a person or a group c : a housing for acontrolled physical environment in which people can live under surrounding inhospitable conditions (as under the sea) 2 : the place where something is commonly found

insectivoures: eat insects

incisors: a front tooth typically adapted for cutting;especially: one of the cutting teeth in mammals located between the canines when canines are present

lianas: any of various usually woody vines especially of tropical rain forests that root in the
ground

lichens: any of numerous complex thallophytic plants made up of an alga and a fungus growing in symbiotic association on a solid surface (as a rock)

marmosets: any of numerous small soft-furred So. and Central American monkeys (family Callithricidae) with claws instead of nails on all the digits except the great toe

molars: noun, any one of the large teeth at the back of the mouth in humans and some other
animals used for crushing and chewing food

monogamous: the state or custom of being married to one person at a time

nonaposable thumbs: can't move thumbs away from their hand.

olfactory: connected with the ability to smell

orchids: 1: any of a large family (Orchidaceae, the orchid family) of perennial epiphytic or
terrestrial monocotyledonous plants that usually have showy 3-petaled flowers with the
middle petal enlarged into a lip and differing from the others in shape and color
2 : a light purple

persecuted: to harass in a manner designed to injure, grieve, or afflict; specifically : to cause to suffer because of belief

philodendron: any of various aroid plants (as of the genus Philodendron) that are cultivated for their showy foliage

phyletic: of or relating to the evolutionary descent and development of a species or group of organisms

polyandrous: the state or practice of having more than one husband or male mate at one time -- compare

predator: one that preys, destroys, or devours

prehensile: 1: adapted for seizing or grasping especially by wrapping around <prehensile tail> 2 : gifted with mental grasp or moral or aesthetic perception

primate: a member of the most developed and intelligent group of mammals, including humans, monkeys and apes

pygmy: miniature version of

pygmy marmoset: (Cebuella spp.) are the smallest monkeys in the world, easily fitting in the palm of your hand

quinine: 1 : a bitter crystalline alkaloid C20H24N2O2 from cinchona bark used in medicine
2: a salt of quinine used especially as an antipyretic, antimalarial, and bitter tonic

territory: an area often including a nesting or denning site and a variable foraging range that is occupied and defended by an animal or group of animals

threats: an expression of intention to inflict evil, injury, or damage. Here used to describe those animals tha hunt or hurt the pygmy marmoset

trill: A sound, of consonantal character, made with a rapid succession of partial or entire intermissions, by the vibration of some one part of the organs in the mouth -- tongue,
uvula, epiglottis, or lip -- against another part; as, the r is a trill in most languages, to play or sing in tremulous vibrations of sound; to have a trembling sound; to quaver

tufts: a small cluster of fur

twitter: to utter successive chirping noises

underbrush: shrubs, bushes, or small trees growing beneath large trees in a wood or forest

understory: the layer just under the canopy and is often the trunks of the largest trees, vines and some plants with lower light requirements

upholstery: materials (as fabric, padding, and springs) used to make a soft covering especially for a seat

vegatation: plant life or total plant cover (as of an area)

vocal: having or exercising the power of producing voice, speech, or sound

vulnerable: able to be easily physically, emotionally, or mentally hurt, influenced or attacked

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