Glossary: L

"leg gait" locomotion

Using legs, rather than body movements, to locomote. Synapomorphy of the Arthropoda+Tartigrada.

lactation

Producing milk from evolved mammary glands to nourish young. Synapomorphy of the Mammalia.

lake

an inland body of standing water.

larva

a free-living, sexually immature form in some animal life cycles. Larvae may differ from adult forms in many respects, including morphology, diet, and habitat.

lateral

oriented towards or from the side or sides.

leg
lekking

a form of polygyny in which males congregate at sites where they perform mating displays. Females choose among displaying males at lek sites.

liana

A climbing plant.

lifespan

amount of time in the life of an organism. This is not easy to determine for wild animals. The typical or maximum ages reached by captive animals are often better known (and may be the only information available). However, it can't reflect what most wild populations really experience

llano

Semi-arid savanna found in South America.

lobtailing

Slapping the water with the flukes.

locomotion

The act or power of moving from place to place.

longitudinal

Extending lengthwise.

lophophore

A ring of hollow tentacles which are extensions of the coelomic cavity (mesocoel). The lophophore surrounds the mouth and is covered with cilia to move water bearing food particles into the animal's mouth. Synapomorphy of the Lophophorates.