| rabies |
A viral disease, specifically of canids - although all mammals are susceptible. Mortality is extremely high. |
|
| rabies vector |
A mammal which carries rabies |
|
| race |
A subspecies. |
|
| radula |
a specialised feeding apparatus of molluscs, a conveyer belt-like tongue, studded with teeth that is used to scrape up vegetation |
|
| rank order |
A hierarchical arrangement of the individuals in a group (see hierarchy). |
|
| raptor |
a bird of prey |
|
| ratites |
flightless birds |
|
| rauisuchid |
Member of a group of primitive land-
dwelling crocodile-like archosaurs, which were
the top ambush-predators of larger-bodied land
animals during the Triassic Period |
|
| red bed |
Sandstone or siltstone with a red colour,
caused by the presence of red oxides of iron |
|
| reef |
(1) A structure built by marine organisms;
2) a planar body of rock enriched in a mineral
of economic importance (e.g. gold) |
|
| refractory brick |
Brick made from materials having extremely high melting temperatures; used
to line the inside of metallurgical furnaces |
|
| regurgitation |
vomiting |
|
| relic |
A persistent remnant population of an otherwise extinct species. |
|
| relict |
A relict is an animal population that at an earlier time was abundant in a large area but now occurs at only one or a few small areas |
|
| reservoir host |
an animal that harbours a parasite without suffering any adverse effects |
|
| resilience |
the ability of an ecosystem to recover from a disturbance |
|
| reticulum |
the second compartment of a ruminants' stomach. It is non-glandular, it directs re-chewd food to the omasum |
|
| rheological properties |
Properties relating to flow
and deformation |
|
| rhinotracheitis |
a viral disease affecting felines and causing flu-like symptoms |
|
| rhizome |
the modified stem of a plant which grows underground |
|
| rhynchosaur |
Member of a group of curious, pig-sized, plant-eating archosaurs with highly
specialised teeth; relatively common in some
parts of the world during the Triassic Period |
|
| rhyolite |
Fine-grained igneous rock (volcanic)
consisting mainly of quartz (silicon dioxide)
and alkali feldspar (sodium and potassium
aluminium silicates) |
|
| rickets |
vitamin D deficiency resulting in defective bone growth in young animals |
|
| rift valley |
Valley of regional extent formed by the
collapse of a fault-bounded central zone |
|
| rinderpest |
a viral disease affecting all cloven-hooved animals. |
|
| ring barking |
removing the bark from around the base of a tree. This usually causes the tree to die within 1 - 3 years |
|
| ring dyke |
Dyke with a circular plan-form |
|
| riparian |
vegetation on either side of a river bank |
|
| ripple effect 4 |
The holding Company for WilldifeCampus, a (Pty) Ltd. |
|
| ripple marks |
Small waves on a sand surface
produced by flowing water or wind; often
preserved in sedimentary rocks |
|
| riverine |
along a rivers edge |
|
| rodent |
Mod 7 Comp 2 Small Mammals has the characteristics.
Molerats, springhares, dormice, squirrels, gerbils, porcupines, rats and mice.
In total 34 Families, 354 Genera and 1685 different species. |
|
| rodinia |
Supercontinent believed to have formed
about 1 100 million years ago |
|
| rotational grazing |
a habitat management method whereby grazers are manipulated into moving from one area to another to graze |
|
| roughage feeder |
see bulk grazer |
|
| rowland ward system |
a directory of big game records. Horn and tusk lengths and weights. The data is collected from hunted animals. |
|
| rumen |
the first compartment of a ruminants stomach. It is non glandular and holds symbiotic micro-organisms that facilitate digestion of cellulose |
|
| ruminant |
an animal that chews the cud |
|
| rupicolous |
free-living, able to move about at will |
|
| rut |
the period of sexual activity in animals specifically herbivores |
|
|