Animals And Plants (R-S)


Rabbit
The rabbit is a long eared burrowing
mammal.

Raccoon
The racoon is an
American plantigrade carnivorous mammal. It has grayish-brown fur which is used for making hats.

Radiolaria
The radiolaria are an order of
rhizopoda. They are radially symetrical and live in the surface layers of seas. They have stiff, radiating pseudopodia and a skeleton.

Ragwort
The ragwort is a
perennial plant found on waste ground.

Rail
A rail is any wading
bird of the family Rallidae, including the rails proper (genus Rallus), coots, moorhens, and gallinules. Rails have dark plumage, a short neck and wings, and long legs. They are 10-45cm long.

Rainbird
Rainbird is a name given to several
birds, especially the black-billed cuckoo and the yellow-billed cuckoo. They get their name from the belief that they call frequently before a rain storm.

Rambouillet
The Rambouillet is a
breed of sheep developed from the Merino and named after the town of Rambouillet in north France where the breed originated around 1905.

Rambutan
Rambutan is a Malayan sapindaceous
tree bearing a bright-red oval fruit covered with soft spines and having a subacid taste.

Rangpur
Rangpur is a variety of mandarin
orange bearing a tart fruit.

Ranunculaceae
Ranunculaceae is the
buttercup order of plants.

Rape
Rape are two
plant species of the mustard family cultivated for the edible oil.

Raphidiadae
see "
Snake-flies"

Rasores
The rasores are an order of
birds. It includes the sub-orders of fowls, turkeys, partridges and grouse. They are characterised by their toes which end in strong claws used for scratching. Hence they are called the scratchers.

Raspberry
The raspberry is a prickly
plant of the rosaceae family.

Rat
The rat is a
rodent of the genus Rattus. There are a number of varieties, including the brown rat and the black rat.

Rat-snake
The rat-snake is a
snake domesticated in Sri Lanka for killing rats. It is an easily tamed snake.

Rat-tailed Snake
see "
Fer de Lance"

Ratel
The ratel or honey-badger is a
carnivorous quadruped of the genus Mellivora, and of the badger family. It is found in south and east Africa and India. The South African ratel averages about 3 feet in length including an 8 or 9 inch tail.

Ratitae
The ratitae are an order of
neornithes. They are large running birds, unable to fly.

Ratite
The ratite is a flightless
bird with a breastbone without the keel to which flight muscles are attached. Examples are the ostrich, rhea, emu, cassowary, and kiwi.

Rattlesnake
The rattlesnake is a name of various
American venomous snakes of the genus Crotalus, and family Crotalidae. They are distinguished by having a tail which terminates in a number of horny pieces which the animal vibrates to make a rattling sound.

Raven
The raven is a large
bird of the crow family, genus Corvus. It feeds on carrion. It is completely black in colour, and can learn to imitate human speech.

Ray
The ray is a name of many elasmobranchiate
fishes, including the skate. They are are recognised by a flattened body and by the extremely broad and fleshy pectoral fins which appear as continuations of the body.

Razor-back
The razor-back is a large
whale.

Razor-shell
The razor-shell is a
genus of lamellibranchiate mollusc common on British coasts.

Razorbill
The razorbill is a North Atlantic sea
bird (Alca torda) of the auk family, which breeds on cliffs and migrates south in winter. It has a curved beak and is black above and white below. It uses its wings as paddles when diving. Razorbills are common off Newfoundland.

Red bellied turtle
The
Red bellied turtle is a fresh water turtle of the genus Pseudemys found in east and south USA having red markings on the underside of the shell.

Red dog
see "
Dhole"

Red Gurnard
Red Gurnard (Trigla cuculus) is a British coastal fish of the Gurnard genus.

Red sage
Red sage (yellow sage) is a showy, rank-smelling shrub of tropical America with yellow flowers that turn orange or red.

Red-mouth
see "
Grunt"

Redshank
The redshank is a
bird of the genus Totanus, so named because of the red colouring of its legs. It is found in Britain.

Redstart
The redstart is a
bird of the Sylviadae family. It has a red tail. It is found in Britain during the summer.

Redwing
The redwing is a
bird and a species of thrush. It is found in Britain during the winter, and in Europe and Asia during the summer.

Reebok
The reebok is a
species of South African antelope. It has smooth, long, straight and slender horns. It stands 2.5 feet at the shoulder and is a very fast runner.

Reed
Reeds are perennial aquatic grasses.

Reeve
Reeve is the name of the female
ruff bird.

Reindeer
Reindeer are a
species of deer found in north Europe and north Asia. It has branched, recurved, round antlers. The legs are quite short in proportion to the body. The Laplanders often use reindeer as a substitute for horses, sheep and cattle, using them for pulling sledges, food, and clothing.

Reindeer moss
Reindeer moss is a lichen of the genus Cladonia of arctic and sub-arctic regions eaten by reindeer and caribou.

Remora
The remora is a
genus of fish included in the Goby family. They have on top of their head a peculiar sucking-disc which they use to attach themselves to the bottom of other fish or ships.

Reproduction
Reproduction is the unique property possessed by all living organisms to produce new individuals resembling the original organism in all essential respects.

Reptile
see "
reptilia"

Reptiles
see "
reptilia"

Reptilia
Reptilia is a class of cold-blooded,
lung breathing vertebrates which includes snakes, lizards, crocodiles, turtles and tortoises.

Respiration
Respiration is the process of breathing. It is the liberation of
energy from materials within the body of the organism.

Retriever
The retrievers are several breeds of
dog with a coarse, thick, oily coat bred originally to retrieve game.

Rhabdocoelida
The rhabdocoelida are an order of
turbellaria with a simple sac-like intestine or no intestine.

Rhea
The rhea is a South American
bird. It is about 4 feet tall. It is incapable of flight, but has strong legs and can run very fast.

Rhinoceros
A Rhinocerous is an odd-toed
hoofed mammal of the family Rhinocerotidae. The one-horned Indian rhinoceros (Rhinoceros unicornis) is up to 2 m high at the shoulder, with a tubercled skin, folded into shieldlike pieces; the African rhinoceroses are smooth-skinned and two-horned. The African black rhinoceros (Diceros bicornis) is 1.5m high, with a prehensile upper lip for feeding on shrubs; the broad-lipped or "white" rhinoceros Ceratotherium simum is actually slaty-gray, with a squarish mouth for browsing grass. They are solitary and vegetarian, with poor eyesight but excellent hearing and smell.

Rhizocrinus
The rhizocrinus is a type of
crinoidea.

Rhizomastigina
The rhizomastigina are an order of
rhizopoda. They are small amoeboid forms with a flagellum. They live in fresh water.

Rhizopoda
Rhizopoda is a class of phylum
protozoa which are usually free-living and move and ingest food by means of pseudopodia.

Rhodesian ridgeback
The Rhodesian ridgeback is a
breed of South African dog. It is a medium-sized, muscular dog with a short, glossy red or tan coat with a characteristic ridge of hair along the spine consisting of parallel crowns of hair growing in the opposite direction of the rest of the coat. They were originally bred for hunting lions, but are now primarily used as guard dogs.

Rhododendron
The rhododendron is an
evergreen shrub of the ericaceae family.

Rhubarb
Rhubarb is a
perennial plant.

Rhynchocephalia
see "
Tuatera"

Ringneck snake
The ringneck
snake is a small, nonvenomous North American snake of the genus Diadophis usually having a conspicuous yellow or orange ring around the neck.

Roach
The roach is a
freshwater fish of north Europe.

Roadrunner
The roadrunner is a north
American bird of the cuckoo family.

Robber fly
The Robber fly is a
swift flying large dipterous insect of the family Asilidae which eats other insects.

Robber frog
The robber
frog is a small tropical American frog of the genus Eleutherodactylus.

Robin
The robin is one of two songbirds of the
thrush family. The North American thrush, the robin Turdus migratorius is 25 cm long, grey brown with brick-red underparts. The Eurasian and African thrush (Erithacus rubecula) is 13 cm long, olive brown above with a red breast.

Robinia
Robinia is a
genus of trees of the natural order Leguminosae. They have pink or white flowers. The chief species is the American locust tree which yields a valuable hard wood.

Rocky Mountain goat
The
Rocky Mountain goat is a long-haired, white, antelope-like goat with short black horns found in mountainous regions of west North America.

Rodent
The rodent is a
mammal of the family rodentia. They have a single pair of incisor teeth in both the upper and lower jaws that continue to grow as they become worn.

Rodentia
Rodentia is the
rodent order of eutheria. The incisors are chisel-like and used for gnawing. Canines are absent.

Roe deer
The
roe deer is a small, agile deer. The male has three-pointed antlers.

Roller
A roller is any brightly coloured
bird of the Old World family Coraciidae, resembling crows but in the same order as kingfishers and hornbills. Rollers grow up to 32cm long. The name is derived from the habit of some species of rolling over in flight.

Romney Marsh
The Romney Marsh or Kentish is a
breed of hardy English sheep good for fattening and immune from foot-rot and liver-rot.

Rook
The rook is a member of the
crow family.

Rookery
A rookery is a
colony of rooks, penguins or seals.

Rooks
see "
Rook"

Roost
A roost is a
bird's perching or resting place.

Rooster
Rooster is the name for a male domestic
fowl and certain game birds.

Rosaceae
The rosaceae is the rose family. They exhibit an exogenous mode of
growth, have several petals, distinct, perigynous, separate carpels and numerous stamens.

Rose
The rose are shrubs and climbing
plants of the genus rosa and family rosaceae.

Rosemary
Rosemary is an
evergreen shrub.

Rotatoria
see "
Rotifera"

Rotifer
Rotifer is a
phylum rotifera.

Rotifera
Rotifera (Rotatoria) is a class of minute
animals related to the Arthropods and the Annelid worms. They have usually a top-shaped transparent body. The head is furnished with cilia, which lash in unison giving the appearance of a revolving wheel and enabling the animal to swim.

Rottweiler
The rottweiler is a
breed of German guard dog.

Roundworm
Roundworm is a common name for
phylum nematoda.

Roundworms
see "
roundworm"

Rubiaceae
Rubiaceae are
trees, shrubs or herbs, mostly tropical, with leaves possessing prominent stipules, in some cases as large as leaves.

Rudd
The rudd (Scardinius erythrophthalmus) is a
freshwater fish, a type of minnow, belonging to the carp family Cypridae, common in lakes and slow rivers of Europe; now introduced in the USA. Brownish green above and silvery below, with red fins and golden eyes, it can reach a length of 45 cm and a weight of 1kg.

Rue
Rue (Ruta) is a
genus of plants of the order Rutaceae. Common Rue is a strong smelling yellowish British garden plant which was once used as a charm against witches and is mentioned in Shakespeare's works as the "herb of grace".

Ruff
The ruff is a
bird belonging to the grallatores (waders). It was once abundant in Britain.

Rumex acetosa
see "
Sorrel"

Ruminant
Ruminant is the group (ruminatia) of even-toed
hoofed mammals, including chevrotains, camels, deer, giraffes, the prong-buck and cattle, that have more than one stomach and chew the cud.

Ruminate
The term "ruminate" refers to
ruminant animals.

Ruminates
see "
ruminate"

Ruminating
see "
ruminate"

Rush
The rush (Juncus) is a
genus of plants of the order Juncaceae.

Ruta
see "
Rue"

Rye
Rye (Secale cereale) is a
grass cultivated in Russia, Germany and Scandinavia. It's flour is used to make "black bread".

Sabella
Sabella are
polychaeta.

Sable
The sable is a
carnivorous type of marten.

Sable antelope
The
sable antelope (Hippotragus niger) is a large African antelope with long, saber-like horns and in the male a black coat.

Safflower
The Safflower (Carthamus tinctorius) is a composite
plant native to India. It's large red flowers yield the dye carthamine used in the preparation of rouge.

Sage
Sage (Salvia) is a
genus of perennial herbs of the order Labiatae.

Sagitta
Sagitta is a
phylum chaetognatha.

Saiga
The Saiga (Saiga tartarica) is an
antelope found on the steppes of Europe and Asia. It has a large inflated nose and yellow, lyre shaped horns. The Saiga was in prehistoric times native to Britain.

Sailfish
The sailfish is a large tropical and sub-tropical
marine fish of the family Istiophoridae distinguished by a long, high dorsal fin, long pelvic fins and a double keel on each side of the tail.

Sainfoin
Sainfoin (Onobrychis sativa) is a
plant of the order Leguminosae with pink flowers and used as fodder.

Saki Monkeys
The
Saki Monkeys (Pithecia) are a genus of American monkeys of the family Cebidae, with non-prehensile tails and projecting incisor teeth. They are found mainly in the Amazon valley.

Salamander
The salamander is a small
amphibian of the subclass urodela. They have a small rounded plump, usually spotted body without a dorsal crest. Salamanders are widely distributed throughout Europe but are absent from Britain.

Salicaceae
The salicaceae are a natural order of apetalous exogens distinguised by a 2 valved capsule, and numerous seeds tufted with long hairs.

Sallow
Sallow is a popular name of
trees of the willow family. Common Sallow or goat willow (Salix caprea) was used in the manufacture of gun-powder charcoal.

Salmonidae
Salmonidae is the
Salmon family of bony fish. The body is long and covered with scales, but the head is naked and has no barbel. Most characteristic is the second dorsal fin which is small, fleshy and without rays. The family includes the Salmon and the trout.

Salsify
Salsify is a purple-flowered composite
plant whose root has an oyster-like flavour and is used as a culinary vegetable. It is also known as the oyster plant and vegetable oyster.

Saluki
The saluki is a black and tan, white,
gold or tricolour breed of dog resembling the greyhound and having fringes of long hair on the ears, legs and thighs. It originates from Egypt and south west Asia and is also known as the gazelle hound.

Salvinia
Salvinia is a
genus of floating heterosporous ferns. The spores form on the underside of the leaves and drop to the pond bed when the old plants die, giving rise to fresh plants in the spring.

Samoyed
The samoyed is a Siberian
breed of dog.

Samphire
Samphire (Crithmum) is a
genus of plants of the order Umbelliferae. The common samphire (rock-plant) has umbels of yellow flowers and makes an excellent pickle.

Sand dollar
The
sand dollar is a flat, dish-like sea urchin that lives on the sandy bottoms of the sea off the coast of North America.

Sand-eel
The sand-eel (Launces, Ammodytidae) is a small, long-bodied
fish related to the cod family found burrowing in the sand on the coasts of the northern hemisphere.

Sandbox tree
The Sandbox
tree is an American tree of the genus Hura. It is a large branching tree with glossy leaves and large, furrowed, round fruits about the size of an orange. When the seed-vessels burts they make a remarkably loud retort.

Sandwort
Sandwort (Arenaria) is a
genus of plants of the natural order Caryophyllaceae, comprising low herbs with usually awl-shaped leaves and small white flowers.

Sanguinaria
Sanguinaria is a
genus of plants of the order Papaveraceae.

Sanguinaria canadensis
see "
Blood-root"

Sapindaceae
Sapindaceae is a natural order of mainly tropical
trees which includes the soapberry.

Saponaria
see "
Soap-wort"

Sapotaceae
Sapotaceae is a natural order of tropical
trees and shrubs which includes the gutta-percha tree.

Sarau
see "
Serow"

Sardine
The sardine are several small
fish of the herring family.

Sassafras
Sassafras is a
genus of trees of the order Laurinaceae represented by the single species Sassafras officinale, an American tree whose fruits yield oil.

Saxifragaceae
The saxifragaceae are an order of
plants with five sepals, five petals and ten stamens. They are generally mountain plants.

Scabiosa
see "
Scabious"

Scabious
Scabious (Scabiosa) is a
genus of plants of the order Dipsaceae. The flowers having a terminal head.

Scallop
The scallop is a
marine mollusc.

Scaphopoda
Scaphopodais a class of
phylum mollusca. The foot is reduced and the shell is tubular.

Scarab
The scarab is a type of dung
beetle.

Schistosoma
Schistosoma is a member of the order
digenea.

Scorpion
see "
scorpionidea"

Scorpion-grass
Scorpion-grass is another name for
forget-me-not.

Scorpionidea
Scorpionidea is the scorpion order of
arachnida. They have four pairs of lung-books in the mesosoma and the post-anal telson forms a sting.!

Scorpions
see "
scorpionidea"

Scrophularia
see "
Fig-wort"

Scyphozoa
Scyphozoa is the class of
marine animals known as jelly-fishes. The adult is always medusoid, and there is an extensive system of radial canals, sense organs and tentaculocysts.

Sea Elephant
see "
Elephant Seal"

Sea gooseberry
The sea
gooseberry is a common name for the sub-phylum ctenophora family.

Sea-Cow
see "
Sirenia"

Sea-ear
see "
Haliotis"

Sea-Grass
see "
Grass-wrack"

Sea-Horse
see "
Hippocampus"

Sea-needle
see "
Gar-fish"

Sea-pike
see "
Gar-fish"

Sea-Pink
see "
Armeria"

Sea-Swallow
Sea-swallow is an alternative name for the
tern.

Sea-Wolf
see "
Cat-fish"

Seal
The seal is a
marine mammal of the phocidae family.

Seals
see "
Seal"

Seaweed
Seaweed is a popular collective name for any
plant which grows in the sea.

Sea urchin
see "
echinoidea"

Sea urchins
see "
echinoidea"

Secretary Bird
The Secretary
Bird (Serpentarius sagittarius or secretarius) is a crane-like African bird which feeds on insects and reptiles. It received its name on account of pen-like tufts of feathers stuck at the back of the head.

Segmented worm
see "
phylum annelida"

Selachians
see "
selachii"

Selachii
The selachii (selachians) are an order of
chondrichthyes. This order includes the sharks and the rays. They have numerous teeth which are replaced in rapid succession throughout life.

Seladang
see "
Gaur"

Selenidium
Selenidium is a member of the
gregarinida order.

Sensitivity
Sensitivity is the ability of an
animal to respond to stimuli from its surroundings.

Sequoia
The sequoia is the world's largest
tree, growing to over 80 meters tall. It is a coniferous genus of tree with just two species, both confined to the western part of North America.

Serow
The Serow (Sarau,
Goat Antelope, Nemorhoedus) is a genus of shaggy goats found in mountain districts of east and south-east Asia in the Himalayas.

Sertularia
Sertularia is a member of the order of
calyptoblastea.

Sesame
Sesame is an annual
plant of the order pedaliaceae.

Setter
A setter is a
breed of gun dog.

Shad
The shad is a
fish of the herring family.

Shaddock
The Shaddock (
Citrus decumana) is a tree of the same genus as the orange and lemon. It is a native of Malaysia, and has fruit which resembling the grape in flavour are known as grape fruit.

Shag
The shag is a British sea
bird.

Shag-bark
The Shag-bark (
Carya alba) is a hickory tree from which the hickory-nut is obtained.

Shallot
The shallot is a type of
onion.

Shamrock
The shamrock are several trifoliate
plants of the family leguminosae.

Shark
The shark is a large group of
marine fish with cartilaginous skeletons.

Sheep
Sheep (Ovis) are a
ruminant hoofed mammal of the Caprinae family, a sub-family of the Bovidae.

Sheep Louse
Sheep Louse is a fly which gets into the wool of sheep and sucks their blood. The parasite fixes its head in the skin and causes a tumour. The remedy for Sheep Louse is the sheep-dip.

Sheep's Fescue
Sheep's fescue is an abundant tufted grass on dry open spaces growing from 15 cm to 60 cm tall. The leaves are almost cylindrical and chiefly basal. The panicle is compact and slightly one-sided.

Sheld-Drake
see "
Sheldrake"

Sheldrake
The Sheldrake (Sheld-Drake, Bargander) is a British
duck found in sandy coastal regions.

Shelduck
The shelduck is a British coastal
duck.

Shoe-bill
The Shoe-bill (or Whale-headed
stork) is a large heron-like bird with a very large, broad bill the upper part of which ends in a prominent hook. It is a rare bird found only in the marshes of the White Nile and its tributaries.

Shore Plum
see "
Beach Plum"

Shoveler
The shoveler is a British
duck.

Shrew
The shrew is an
insectivorous mammal of the family soricidae.

Shrike
The Shrikes (Laniidae) are small
birds with varying characters, but often with compressed, hooked, serrated bills suitable for seizing and tearing the small birds and animals they feed on.

Shrimp
see "
shrimps"

Shrimps
Shrimps are
malacostraca.

Siamang
The siamang is a type of
gibbon native to Malaysia and Sumatra.

Siamese
The Siamese is a
breed of short-haired cat known for its coloration, intelligence and svelte elegance. The coat is thick and glossy, with points on the mask, ears, feet, and tail which can be seal, chocolate, blue, or lilac coloured.
The ears are large and pointed, the tail is long and thin and the eyes are sapphire blue. The Siamese has the loudest meow of all cat breeds. The breed originates from Asia and first appeared in Britain in the 1870s when the King of Siam gave a gift of two siamese cats to Owen Gould, the English consul general in Bangkok, to take back to London.

Siberian pine
see "
Cembra pine"

Sidewinder
The sidewinder is a type of
rattlesnake.

Siphonophora
Siphonophora is an order of
hydrozoa. They are pelagic, colonial animals which show marked polymorphism.

Sirenia
The sirenia (sea-cow) is an order of
eutheria. They are large herbivorous animals adapa ed to life in shallow sea.

Sitatunga
The sitatunga are a type of
antelope found in swamp regions of central Africa.

Skate
Skate are several
species of flatfish.

Skink
The skinks are a large family of
lizards with large smooth scales, under which is a bony plate.

Skip-jack
see "
Click Beetle"

Skirret
Skirret is a
plant of the order Umbelliferae. It is a perennial plant native to China and Japan, sometimes cultivated for its edible roots.

Skogkatt
see "
Norwegian Forest"

Skua
The Skua (Stercorariidae) are a family of seven
species of swimming birds closely related to the gulls, with the upper mandible of the beak longer than the lower, and strongly hooked at the tip. They have strong crooked claws and completely webbed feet.

Skua-gull
The skua-gull is a powerful
bird of the family Stercorarius. It is found in The Shetland Islands, Iceland and the Faroes.

Skull
The skull is a term applied to the
skeleton bones of the cranium and visceral skeleton.

Skunk
The skunk is a north
American mammal of the weasel family.

Skunk-cabbage
Skunk-cabbage is a
plant of the natural order Araceae so named for its smell. The root and seeds are antispasmodic and were at one time used to treat asthma.

Skylark
The Skylark (Alauda arvensis) is a small passerine
bird found in the northern hemisphere and typically distinguishable by a long black claw toe. It is common throughout Europe and north and central Asia and is famous for its song and soaring flight.

Slater
Slater was a popular name for
woodlice around the turn of the century.

Sloe
Sloe (blackthorn) is a
deciduous shrub of the plum genus with spinose branches and hard tough wood. The black berries are used for preserves and a fictious port wine.

Sloth
The sloth is a south
American herbivorous mammal.

Smelt
The smelt is a small
European fish allied to the Salmon which lives in the salt water around the mouths of rivers. It is around 4 to 8 inches long and silvery-white in colour. During May to August the smelt comes up river to spawn in fresh water before then returning to the sea.

Smew
The smew is a
swimming bird found in winter along the British coast. It is about 15 to 18 inches long. The male has a white underside and black back. The wings are black and white. The female is red-brown with gray tints.

Smilaceae
Smilaceae are a tribe of
plants of the order Liliaceae. They are mostly climbing plants with woody stems and small unisexual flowers.

Smilax
Smilax is a
genus of shrubs of the order Liliaceae with umbels of small, dioecious flowers. The roots of several species furnish sarsaparilla.

Smolt
A smolt is a young, silvery
salmon over two years old, but still living in a river and leaving for the sea in the Spring.

Snail
The snail is an
air breathing gastropod mollusc with a spiral shell.

Snake
A snake is a
reptile of the suborder serpentes.

Snake-bird
see "
Darter"

Snake-flies
Snake-flies (also called camel-flies, Raphidiadae) are a family of neuropterous
insects so named on account of their neck-like elongation of the head and thorax.

Snake-wood
Snake-wood is the wood of the Strychnos colubrina, of the order Loganiaceae. It is a
tree found in India and Java.

Sneeze-wood
Sneeze-wood is the popular name of the South African
tree Pteroxylon utile. It is of the order Sapindaceae and yields a strong durable timber which is dusty to work with, and causes sneezing.

Sneezewort
Sneezewort is a British composite
plant of the milfoil genus. It flowers between July and August.

Snipe
The snipe is a
European marsh bird.

Snow-bunting
The snow-bunting is a gregarious, passerine
bird belonging to the bunting family. It is a native of arctic regions and a winter visitor to Britiain and other temperate regions.

Snow-goose
The snow-goose is a
species of goose which lives in arctic regions.

Snowdrop
The snowdrop is a
plant of the genus Galanthus of the order Amaryllidaceae. It bears solitary, drooping and elegant white flowers which appear in February.

Soap-wort
Soap-wort (saponaria) is a
genus of plants of the order Caryophyllaceae. They are so named because the bruised leaves produce a lather like soap when agitated in water.

Soapwort
Soapwort (
Saponaria officinalis) is a hardy herbaceous plant whose leaves possess the properties of soap.

Soko
The Soko is a
herbivorous mammal closely allied to the chimpanzees. It was discovered living near Lake Tanganyika by Dr. Livingstone.

Solan Goose
see "
Gannet"

Solanaceae
Solanaceae is a natural order of monopetalous exogenous
plants, composed of herbs or shrubs, natives of most parts of the world, and especially within the tropics. They have alternate leaves, terminal or axillary inflorescence, and regular, or nearly regular, monopetalous flowers. They are generally narcotic and poisonous, although some parts of the plants are cultivated for food (such as the potato and aubergine).

Solaster
Solaster is an
asteroidea.

Soldanella
Soldanella is a
genus of plants of the order Primulaceae. the species are small herbs native to alpine districts.

Sole
Sole is a flatfish.

Solidago
see "
Golden-rod"

Solidungula
Solidungula is a division of the Ungulata
mammals which includes the horse and donkey.

Somali
The Somali is a
breed of long-haired cat renowned for its playful attentiveness and for its keen abilities as a mouser and hunter of small game. It has a lush and slightly shaggy coat, each individual hair carrying ten or more colour tickings, giving the coat a very rich colour density.
The ears are large, pointed, and set wide apart, the tail is full and brushy and held over the back when the cat is moving. The eyes are hazel, amber, or green and almond-shaped. It has a lively and shrewd demeanor and is suited to a life indoors, although it needs space to run and play.

Soosoo
The soosoo is a cetaceous
mammal similar to a dolphin. It is found in the Ganges and grows to about 4 meters in length.

Sophora
Sophora is a
genus of plants of the order Leguminosae. The species are ornamental shrubs and trees found chiefly in central and tropical Asia, and the tropical and sub-tropical parts of South America.

Sorghum
Sorghum is a
genus of grasses. They are the tall grasses with succulent stems and are found in the tropical parts of Asia and other warm regions.

Soricidae
Soricidae is a family of
Insectivora which includes the shrews and musk-rats.

Sorrel
Sorrel (Rumex acetosa) is a
plant of the order Polygonaceae. The leaves are used in salad. The stems are upright and grow to about 0.5 meters.

Sorrel-tree
The Sorrel-tree is a
tree belonging to the order Ericaceae. It inhabits the range of the Alleghanies from Virginia to Georgia. The leaves are 10 to 12 cm long, oval and finely toothed.

Southdown
see "
Sussex"

Sow-bread
Sow-bread is a
species of Cyclamen so called from its being the favourite food of the Sicilian wil boars.

Spaniel
The spaniels are a sub-species of dogs characterized by great intelligence and an affectionate disposition.

Sparidae
Sparidae is a family of acanthopterygious, teleostean
fishes. They form the genus Sparus.

Sparrow
Sparrow is a term applied to many small thick beaked
birds.

Spatangus
Spatangus is a
genus of sea-urchines, popularly called the heart-urchins from their shape.

Spatularia
Spatularia is a
genus of fishes of the sturgeon tribe which are remarkable for their long, leaf-like snouts.

Spearmint
Spearmint (Mentha viridis) is a
European and North American species of mint cultivated for its flavouring properties.

Spearwort
Spearwort is a
plant of the genus Ranunculus. There are two species, the great and the lesser spearwort. Both are British plants with lanceolate undivided leaves and yellow flowers, growing in wet localities.

Speedwell
Speedwell is a flowering
plant of the figwort family.

Spergula
Spergula is a
genus of plants of the knot grass order.

Spergula arvensis
see "
Yarr"

Sperm Whale
The Sperm
Whale (Physeter macrocephalus) is the largest of the toothed whales, with a long and massive head comprising roughly one third of its total length.

Sphagnum
Sphagnum is a
genus of mosses commonly known as bog-moss from their unusual habitat. They have erect stems several centimeters long, and bear the male organs on laternal stems, somewhat resembling catkins, and the female organs on shorter lateral stems, resembling buds.

Sphenisciformes
The Sphenisciformes are an order of
birds. These are the penguins. They comprise a single family, Spheniscidae. They are water birds with a streamlined body and elongated head. The beak is stout and ends in a sharp point. They are incapable of flight, instead their wings have adapted as short powerful paddles.

Spider
see "
araneida"

Spinifex
Spinifex (
Porcupine Grass, Triodia irritans) is a coarse Australian grass growing in tufts to around 1 meter high.

Spleenwort
Spleenwort is a
fern of the order Aspleniaceae. Most of the species are tropical. They are distinguished by long sori at the back of the fronds covered by a protective membrane.

Sponge
Sponges (Porifera) are a group of simple
animals. They posess a porous "spongy" texture and no definite external organs or form. They vary in shape and hardness. The sponge body consists of a mass of cells of various kinds forming a delicate tissue, and this is supported on a skeleton of minute rods, or spicules, of calcite, silica or of a horny organic substance.

Spongilla
The spongilla is a member of the
demospongia class.

Spoonbill
The spoonbill (Plataleidae) is a family of stork-like wading
birds with very wide and flat bills. They are found near shallow, fresh water in most parts of the world except northern Europe, Asia and America.

Sporozoa
Sporozoa are a class of
phylum protozoa. They are parasitic protozoa propagated by spores.

Springbok
The springbok is an
antelope found in South Africa.

Spruce
The spruce is a coniferous
tree.

Spurge
Spurge is a
species of plants of the Euphorbiaceae family. The British spurges are all herbaceous, and remarkable for the singular structure of their flowers which are green, and their milky juice.

Spurge Laurel
see "
Daphne"

Squamata
The squamata is an order of
diapsida. The lower border of the lower temporal vacuity is incomplete. The body is covered by horny scales. These animals live in warmer climates.Á

Squash
Squash (
Cucurbita Melopepo) is a gourd cultivated in America as an article of food.

Squirrel
The squirrel (Sciurus) is a
bushy tailed rodent of the sciuridae family.

St. Bernard
The
St. Bernard is a breed of large dog. It has a massive head and somewhat pendulous lips. They were bred by the monks at the hospice of St. Bernard to track out and succour travellers caught in snow-storms or avalanches. At the start of the 19th century all the females died, and the monks had to cross-breed them with Newfoundlands, and the modern St. Bernard is still of this cross.

St. John's Wort
St. John's Wort (Hypericum) is a genus of plants of the order Hypericineae. They have yellow flowers and leaves which emit a lemon-like smell when crushed. St. John's Wort was once worn as a charm against evil.

Stachys
Stachys (Hedge-nettle, woundwort) is a
genus of plants of the order Labiate.

Stag
Stag is the name given to a male
deer.

Stallion
A stallion is a male
horse.

Stamen
The stamen is the male reproductive organ of a
flower.

Starfish
see "
asteroidea"

Starling
The starling is a
bird.

Starwort
Starwort (Stitchwort, Stellaria) is a
genus of plants of the order Caryophyllaceae having five sepals, five deeply cleft petals, ten stamens and three styles. The flowers are generally white.

Stegosaurus
Stegosaurus was a
herbivore dinosaur of the jurassic period. It had diamond shaped spiny plates on its back and spikes on its tail for defence against predators.

Stellaria
see "
Starwort"

Stelleroidea
The stelleroidea are a class of
phylum echinodermata. They are the starfishes and brittle stars. They have a five-rayed symmetry clearly indicated by "arms" which radiate out from the centre of the body. The mouth is on the lower side of the flattened body.

Stentor
Stentor is a member of the order of
heterotricha.

Stephanotis
Stephanotis is a
genus of tropical twining shrubs.

Steppe cat
see "
Pallas cat"

Sterculiaceae
Sterculiaceae is a natural order of tropical
trees and herbs.

Sting-fish
see "
Adder Pik"

Stinkhorn
Stinkhorn (Phallus impudicus) is a fungus of the family Phalloidaceae, of the order Gasteromycetes. It is at first about the size of a small
egg, attached to the ground by a slender radicle. The egg contains a jelly, in which is the nucleus of the phallus. When the egg is ripe the skin breaks, and within a few hours the phallus rises. It consists of a lattice-work structure to allow quick development, most of which takes place in half-an-hour, and is surmounted by a cap covered with mucus, at first sweet smelling, but later becoming revolting. This mucus attracts flies which disseminate the fungus spores.

Stitchwort
see "
Starwort"

Stoat
The stoat is a
carnivorous mammal of the weasel family.

Stomach
The stomach is a region of the
alimentary canal. Food accumulates in the stomach and some digestion may take place.

Stonecrop
Stonecrop (Sedum) is a name for a group of succulent
herbaceous plants of the order Crassulaceae. There are 120 species of which 11 are British. Most are perennial and very small.

Stork
The stork is a family of
carnivorous wading birds with long necks and long legs.

Strawberry
The strawberry is a low growing
perennial of the rosaceae family. The fruit are rich in vitamin C.

Strophanthus
Strophanthus is a
genus of plants of the natural order Apocynaceae growing chiefly in equatorial Africa and in India.

Sturgeon
The sturgeon is a member of the
palaeonisciformes order.

Stylaster
Stylaster is a member of the order
stylasterina.

Stylasterina
Stylasterina is an order of
marine hydrozoa similar to milleporina but with branched corallum.

Stylonichia
Stylonichia is a member of the order of
hypotricha.

Sub-phylum acrania
The sub-phylum acrania group of
animals are simple or aberrant chordates without a true brain, heart or kidneys.

Sub-phylum cnidaria
The sub-phylum cnidaria are coelenterates which have nematocysts and nearly perfect symmetry.

Sub-phylum craniata
Sub-phylum craniata are the vetebrate group of
animals. They are chordates which show a very definite advance in complexity of structure and activity. A proper head region can be identified. Organs of special sense are prominently developed and there is a definite brain enclosed in a cranium.

Sub-phylum ctenophora
The sub-phylum
ctenophora are a family of solitary, free swimming animals. They have characteristic locomotor structures formed of rows of fused cilia.

Suctoria
Suctoria are a subclass of
ciliophora. The adult form has suctorial tentacles.

Suffolk Down
The Suffolk Down is a large and heavy
breed of English sheep with a black-head and no horns. It is notable for producing many twins.

Sugar-Beet
Sugar-Beet is a type of beet from which
sugar is obtained. Sugar was extracted from beet in Germany since the 18th century, but cultivation only started in England in 1912.

Sundew
Sundew (Drosera rotundifolia) is an
insectivorous plant found in bogs. It has spoon-shaped, reddish leaves and captures its prey by means of tentacles which are coated with a glistening secretion.

Sunflower
The sunflower (Helianthus annuus) is a
plant of the order Compositae. It grows to over 2m tall and bears an immense head of yellow florets.

Sus
see "
Pig"

Sussex
The Sussex or Southdown is a
breed of English short-wooled sheep. It has fine close curled wool and a brown or grey face and short legs.

Swallow
The Swallow (Hirundinidae) is a family of around 150
species of perching birds found everywhere in the world except New Zealand. They are typical migratory birds, and are distinguished by broad beaks, opening almost to the eyes, small, weak feet, and a long, forked tail.

Swallow-wort
see "
Celandine"

Swan
The swan is a large, long necked
bird of the duck family.

Swede
Swede is a
biennial plant.

Sweet Flag
see "
Calamus"

Sweet Pea
The
Sweet Pea (Lathyrus odoratus) is an annual plant of the order Leguminosae. It is easy to grow and is a popular garden plant in Britain.

Sweet Potato
The
Sweet Potato (Batatas) is a genus of plants of the order Convolvulaceae found in South America and Central America.

Sweet-william
Sweet-william (
Dianthus barbatus) is a biennial plant of the pink genus of the order Caryoophyllaceae.

Swift
The Swift (Cypselidae) is a family of about 100
species of Picarian birds. They are similar to the Swallow, with long, narrow wings, forked tail, and a beak slit to the level of the eyes.

Swine
see "
pig"

Swiss stone pine
see "
Cembra pine"

Sword-fish
The Sword-fish (Xiphiidae) is a family of six
species of bony fish remarkable on account of their having an enormous prolongation of the upper jaw which forms a sword-like weapon of attack.

Sycamore
The sycamore (Sycomorus) is a
genus of trees of the order Moraceae native to Europe.

Sycon
Sycon is a member of the
calcarea class.

Sylvia succica
see "
Blue-throat"

Synapsida
The synapsida are a subclass of mammal-like
reptiles now extinct.

Synapta
Synapta is a type of
holothuroidea.

Syncarida
Syncarida is an order of
malacostraca in which the carapace is absent and the thoracic appendages have exopodites.

Syndactyla
The syndactyla are an order of
metatheria in which the second and third toes are bound together in a common mass of tissue.