GLOSSARY
aestivate - a state of dormancy occurring during the summer; physiologically similar to hibernation
allopatric - living in different geographic regions
altricial - born undeveloped; requiring maternal care after birth; as opposed to precocial
boreal - from northern regions
coprophagy - ingestion of nutrient-rich partially digested fecal material
crepuscular - active during the morning and evening period
delayed fertilization - a condition found in some bats where sperm are retained within the reproductive tract of the female, sometimes for months, prior to ovulation and fertilization.
delayed implantation - a condition found in some mammals where a fertilized egg will develop to the blastula stage, then lie dormant, perhaps for months, before implantation and further development
estrus - the period of time when a female is receptive to mating.
fossorial - living in an underground habit
gregarious - to gather, or act, in group, or communal ways
monestrous - species that experience estrus just once a year
monogamous - a mating system in which one male and female remain mated for multiple years
polyandrous - a mating system in which females mate with more than one male
polyestrous - species that come into season more than once a year
polygamous - a mating system in which both sexes mate with more than one mate
polygynous - a mating system in which males mate with more than one female
post-partum estrus - the case where females come into estrus immediately after giving birth
precocial - born in a fully-developed state; the opposite of altricial
subnivean - living under the snow, on the top of the ground
sympatric - when two species overlap their range
torpor - a manner of reducing metabolism to reduce energy needs in winter
type locality - the location where the original species (or subspecies) was taken and described