Animals are a major group of multicellular organisms, of the kingdom Animalia or Metazoa. Their body plan becomes fixed as they develop, usually early on in their development as embryos, although some undergo a process of metamorphosis later on in their life. Most animals are motile - can move spontaneously and independently.
The word "animal" comes from the Latin word animal, of which animalia is the plural, and is derived from anima, meaning vital breath or soul. In everyday colloquial usage, the word usually refers to non-human animals. The biological definition of the word refers to all members of the Kingdom Animalia. Therefore, when the word "animal" is used in a biological context, humans are included.
Selected article of the month
Cochineal is the name of both crimson or carmine dye and the cochineal insect ( Dactylopius coccus), a scale insect in the suborder Sternorrhyncha, from which the dye is derived. There are other species in the genus Dactylopius which can be used to produce cochineal extract, but they are extremely difficult to distinguish from D. coccus, even for expert taxonomists, and the latter scientific name (and the use of the term "cochineal insect") is therefore commonly used when one is actually referring to other biological species; suffice it to say that the reader should be aware that there is more than one cochineal insect. The primary biological distinctions between species are minor differences in host plant preferences, in addition to very different geographic distributions. D. coccus itself is native to tropical and subtropical South America and Mexico.
Selected animal of the month
The Great Grey Slug, Limax maximus (literally, "great slug"), also known as the Tiger slug or the Spotted leopard slug, is one of the largest kinds of keeled slug (second only to Limax cinereoniger). The species is noted for its dark-spotted pale-grey body and the short keel on its tail. These nocturnal animals can grow to be as long as 8 inches (20 cm), feeding mostly on rotting plant matter and fungi. They live for up to three years and are inactive during the winter.
Native to Europe, the slugs have been introduced to Northern America and occur along the East and West sides of that continent. The slugs are almost always found near human habitation — usually in lawns, gardens, cellars or in other damp areas.
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Here are some Open Tasks :
- Copyedit: Dog
- Improve: Animal, Zoology, Invertebrate, Vertebrate, Ethology, Photoperiodism, Tool use by animals, Omnivore
- Requests: Cultural transmission in animals
Mammals: Grizzlar Bear, Jarkov Mammoth, Townsend's big-eared baty
Invertebrates: Shingle urchin, Velvet mite, Fingernail clam
Fishes: Pike eel, Spotted sucker, Berycidae, Trichonotidae
Amphibians: Cave salamander, Nightfrog
- Stubs: Stud, Candling, Crawling, Growling, Hatchling, Litter, Crossbreed, Pack hunter, Personal grooming, Protobird, Spoor, Territorial marking, Worming
- Nominate and vote: Science collaboration of the month, Article Improvement Drive, WikiProject Animals Collaboration
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Selected quote of the month
"The mosquito is the state bird of New Jersey."
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