Glossary G
Gait
An animal\'s distinctive way of running or moving; i.e., on two legs of four, at a rapid or slow pace, and so on.
Gastralia [singular gastralium]
In certain dinosaurs, formations of bone situated in the wall of the abdomen, possibly having a role in breathing.
Gastric Mill
A muscular portion of the stomach used to grind up food often with the assistance of gastroliths or \"stomach stones\"
Gastrolith
A pebble or small stone that is swallowed by an animal and kept in the digestive tract; gastroliths act as an aid to digesting food and this function has also been proposed for some fossil animals.
Gavialids
Slender snouted, fish-eating crocodiles of India
Genealogy
The study of family trees
Genera
See genus
Genome
The complete set of genes within a cell or an individual of a given species.
Genotype
1. A term not recognized by the Code, formerly used for type species, but that should not now be used in zoological nomenclature.
2. The genetic makeup of an individual organism, especially as contrasted with its external appearance. Compare phenotype
Genus [plural Genera]
A rank of classification in the taxonomic hierarchy, ranking above a species and thus including several closely related species.
Geographical distribution
The localities where an animal or plant may be found.
Geologic time
1. The period of time from the formation of the earth to the beginning of recorded history; prehistoric tine. 2. A very long span of tome extending over millions of years.
Geologic timescale
A timescale of the history of the Earth arrived at by a combination of comparison and absolute dating of rocks and their fossils worldwide.
Geologist
A person who studies rocks
Geology
The science of the study of rocks
Ghost lineage
An assumed fossil record of a lineage not yet found, but reasonably inferred to exist, on the basis of the presence of a related group; e.g., sister groups have a unique common ancestor and thus if one group displays a more ancient record than the other, the second can be assumed to be equally ancient.
Ginkgo
The maidenhair tree of East Asia the sole survivor of a once abundant group of gymnosperm trees
Girdle
In anatomy, a curved or circular structure, especially one that encircles another structure, such as the pectoral or pelvic girdle.
Gizzard
A muscular portion of the stomach used to grind up food often with the assistance of gastroliths or \"stomach stones\"
Glenoid
Describes the pocket formed by the scapula and coracoid into which the forearm inserts
Gondwana / Gondwanaland
The supercontinent or land mass that fragmented millions of years ago to form the present continents of the Southern Hemisphere. Also, Gondwanaland
Gracile
Gracefully slender; having a slim and graceful form or build.
Graptolites
Curious fossils, especially in Paelozoic rocks, that look like scratch marks made by a saw.
Graviportal
Describing a land animal that is large and heavily built and thus relatively slow moving. Compare cursorial
Gregarious
Associating with others of the same species; living in groups rather than in isolation.
Group behavior
1. Any association of two or more animals of the same species that is considered to be more than accidental or random proximity. 2. Specifically, the assemblage and interaction for a period of time of a significant number of members of the same species, as for purposes of breeding, predation, or protection.
Gymnosperm
Any of the Gymnosperm (Pinophyta), the cone-bearing plants; a plant that bears its seed in cones rather than in an ovary or fruit as do the flowering plants (angiosperms)
An animal\'s distinctive way of running or moving; i.e., on two legs of four, at a rapid or slow pace, and so on.
Gastralia [singular gastralium]
In certain dinosaurs, formations of bone situated in the wall of the abdomen, possibly having a role in breathing.
Gastric Mill
A muscular portion of the stomach used to grind up food often with the assistance of gastroliths or \"stomach stones\"
Gastrolith
A pebble or small stone that is swallowed by an animal and kept in the digestive tract; gastroliths act as an aid to digesting food and this function has also been proposed for some fossil animals.
Gavialids
Slender snouted, fish-eating crocodiles of India
Genealogy
The study of family trees
Genera
See genus
Genome
The complete set of genes within a cell or an individual of a given species.
Genotype
1. A term not recognized by the Code, formerly used for type species, but that should not now be used in zoological nomenclature.
2. The genetic makeup of an individual organism, especially as contrasted with its external appearance. Compare phenotype
Genus [plural Genera]
A rank of classification in the taxonomic hierarchy, ranking above a species and thus including several closely related species.
Geographical distribution
The localities where an animal or plant may be found.
Geologic time
1. The period of time from the formation of the earth to the beginning of recorded history; prehistoric tine. 2. A very long span of tome extending over millions of years.
Geologic timescale
A timescale of the history of the Earth arrived at by a combination of comparison and absolute dating of rocks and their fossils worldwide.
Geologist
A person who studies rocks
Geology
The science of the study of rocks
Ghost lineage
An assumed fossil record of a lineage not yet found, but reasonably inferred to exist, on the basis of the presence of a related group; e.g., sister groups have a unique common ancestor and thus if one group displays a more ancient record than the other, the second can be assumed to be equally ancient.
Ginkgo
The maidenhair tree of East Asia the sole survivor of a once abundant group of gymnosperm trees
Girdle
In anatomy, a curved or circular structure, especially one that encircles another structure, such as the pectoral or pelvic girdle.
Gizzard
A muscular portion of the stomach used to grind up food often with the assistance of gastroliths or \"stomach stones\"
Glenoid
Describes the pocket formed by the scapula and coracoid into which the forearm inserts
Gondwana / Gondwanaland
The supercontinent or land mass that fragmented millions of years ago to form the present continents of the Southern Hemisphere. Also, Gondwanaland
Gracile
Gracefully slender; having a slim and graceful form or build.
Graptolites
Curious fossils, especially in Paelozoic rocks, that look like scratch marks made by a saw.
Graviportal
Describing a land animal that is large and heavily built and thus relatively slow moving. Compare cursorial
Gregarious
Associating with others of the same species; living in groups rather than in isolation.
Group behavior
1. Any association of two or more animals of the same species that is considered to be more than accidental or random proximity. 2. Specifically, the assemblage and interaction for a period of time of a significant number of members of the same species, as for purposes of breeding, predation, or protection.
Gymnosperm
Any of the Gymnosperm (Pinophyta), the cone-bearing plants; a plant that bears its seed in cones rather than in an ovary or fruit as do the flowering plants (angiosperms)