|
A Maara shell is a large, pearly, spiral, marine shell found in the Pacific, of the animal Turbo margaritaceus. They are often used as ornaments.
 Research Maara Shell
Maba is a genus of tropical evergreen trees and shrubs belonging to the family Ebenaceae. They usually bear dioecious flowers, more or less campanulate in form.
Research Maba
The mabolo (Diospyros discolour) is a kind of persimmon tree originally from the Philippine Islands, and introduced into the East Indies and West Indies. It bears an edible fruit as large as a quince.
Research Mabolo
Macacus is a genus of monkeys, found in Asia and the East Indies. They have short tails and prominent eyebrows.
Research Macacus
Macadamia is a genus of Australian evergreen trees of the family Proteaceae. Some of the species yield edible nuts known as Macadamia nuts.
Research Macadamia
The Macavahu or collared teetee (Callithrix torquatus), is a small monkey found in Brazil.
Research Macavahu
Macaw is the popular name for any parrot of the genus Sittace, or Macrocercus. There are about eighteen species known, all of them American. They are large birds with a very long tail, a strong hooked bill, and a naked space around the eyes. The voice is harsh, and they are brightly coloured in strongly contrasting colours.
Research Macaw
The Macaw tree or Gru-Gru (Acrocomiasclerocarpa) is a palm tree native to South America and The West Indies. It bears pinnate leaves, four meters or more in length, and its fruit yields an oil largely imported into Britain as palm oil, used in soap manufacture.
Research Macaw Tree
Machaerodus ('sabre-toothed tiger') was a genus of now extinct mammals allied to the cats, having in the upper jaw canine teeth of remarkable size and strength.
Research Machaerodus
The mackerel is any of various pelagic fish of the genus Scomber, and of several related genera found in the north Atlantic and Mediterranean. Species of
mackerel include the common mackerel (Scomber scombrus) and the Spanish
mackerel (Scomberomorus maculatus) which is found off the coast of American and is covered with bright yellow circular spots.
Research Mackerel
Maclura is a genus of hardy deciduous trees belonging to the family Urticaceae.
Research Maclura
Macroscelidea is the elephant shrew order of mammals containing just one family, Macroscelididae. They are adapted for leaping, with hind limbs much longer than the forelimbs; elongated snouts and large eyes and ears.
Research Macroscelidea
Mactra is a genus of bivalve molluscs, including a number of British species. All the species live in sand, and are capable of using the foot in leaping. The shell is roughly triangular, the two valves being equal.
Research Mactra
Madder (Rubia tinctorum) or dyer's madder, as it is also known, is a perennial herb of the family Rubiaceae native to the Mediterranean and Near East, with a long, reddish-brown, much-branched rhizome, red fibrous roots and rough, square, ascending, prickly stems which branch at the top. The stiff, lanceolate, sessile leaves have prickly margins and grow in whorls up the stem. The flowers are small, yellow in colour and are arranged in axillary and terminal dichasial cymes. The fruit is a globose, fleshy, purple, one-seeded berry. Madder was once widely grown for a source of a permanent red dye.
Research Madder
The madoqua is a small Abyssinian antelope.
Research Madoqua
Madrepora is a member of the order Zoantharia.
Research Madrepora
Magdalis is a genus of Snout Beetles (Curculionidae).
Research Magdalis
Magilus is a genus of gastropod molluscs, the members of which live among corals. The become gradually sunk in the coral, and would soon be entirely buried were it not that they possess the ability of producing the shell into a tube whose growth keeps pace with that of the coral. The process continues until the shell loses all trace of its original shape, its whorls being filled up with lime, while the animal occupies the tubular prolongation.
Research Magilus
Magnolia (named after the 17th century Pierre Magnol, professor medicine at Montpelier) is a genus of hardy or tropical shrubs and trees native to North America and Asia, and belonging to the family Magnoliaceae. They have large, entire leaves and conspicuous solitary flowers, usually of great beauty, and often very fragrant.
Research Magnolia
The Magpie (Pica pica) is a common bird of the crow family, and almost omnivorous in diet, and highly opportunistic. Magpies earned a poor reputation with game keepers due to their fondness for the eggs and young of the larger birds and also grain, but they benefit farmers by eating mice, rats, voles, snails and slugs. The nest is made of thorny sticks, mingled with roots and turf, and lined with clay, typically built high in a tall tree. Both the male and female Magpie are black and white in colour, identical in appearance though sometimes the male may be slightly larger than the female. From six to nine eggs are laid at a time. Magpies are common in England and Wales. Formerly, magpies were also known as Margaret.
Research Magpie
The Magpie Moth (Abraxas grossulariata) is a moth of the family Geometridae with a wing span of between 35 and 40 mm. Formerly an abundant species throughout the Palaearctic, by the end of the 20th century the Magpie moth had become rare. The moths fly from June to August.
Research Magpie Moth
Mahurea is a genus of South American evergreen trees belonging to the family Ternstroemiaceae. They bear terminal panicles of pinkish or purplish flowers.
Research Mahurea
Maiasaura was a dinosaur of the Cretaceous period. Remains of Maiasaura were discovered in 1978. The remains found were of adults and babies in nests. The adult Maiasaura was about nine meters long and walked on all fours, the nests were mounds about three meters across with elongated eggs arranged in layers of circles in a regular pattern, each layer of eggs being covered with sand. The remains of young found in the nest reveal that Maiasaura looked after their young after they hatched.
Research Maiasaura
The Maiden's Blush (Cyclophora punctaria) is a moth of the family Geometridae with a wing span of between 18 and 25 mm found in the deciduous forests of Europe and Asia Minor flying from April to August.
Research Maiden's Blush
The Maine Anjou is a breed of cattle.
Research Maine Anjou
The Maine coon is a hardy breed of long-haired cat known for its resemblance to a raccoon and for being the oldest known breed of cat in the USA. The coat is thick and shaggy and can be any variety of colours with lighter, wavy patterns mixed in. The ears are large, tufted, and tapering to a point, the tail is as long as the body, bushy, and wide, the eyes are round and complement the coat colour. The Maine Coon cat likes to curl up in odd positions while sleeping in any of a variety of favourite locations and enjoys retrieval games. Maine coon cats have an easy going nature and are good mousers and hunters of small game.
Research Maine Coon
Mairia is a genus of South African herbaceous plants belonging to the family Compositae and bearing large pink and yellow flower-heads.
Research Mairia
Maize or Indian Corn or Sweetcorn (Zea mays) is a true grass and is only known in the cultivated state. It is indigenous in tropical America and has been cultivated for ages in Asiatic islands under the equator, from whence it passed northward to China and westward toward to India and Turkey. It is monoecious, producing beautifully tasselled male flowers; and the female flowers, which develop the 'cobs' are found closely applied to the central axils of the leaves below.
Research Maize
Majungatholus was a dinosaur of the Cretaceous period. Majungatholus was a small dinosaur, about 140 cm long and believed to walked on its hind legs as it was related to Stegoceras and Pachycephalosaurus. The only remains of Majungatholus discovered were a part of a domed skull found in Madagascar.
Research Majungatholus
Malachiidae is a family of beetles with a soft cuticle, usually brightly coloured and with pouches which can be inflated and then protrude from the sides of the thorax or abdomen. The larvae are predacious, the adults live mainly on pollen, though occasionally turn carnivorous.
Research Malachiidae
Malachius is a genus of beetle of the family Malachiidae represented by six British species.
Research Malachius
Malacology is the branch of zoology concerned with the study of molluscs.
Research Malacology
In botany, the term malacophily refers to the pollination of plants by snails.
Research Malacophily
Malacostraca is a sub-class of Crustacea (crustaceans). The eyes are usually stalked. Typically the carapace covers the thorax which consists of eight segments. The abdomen is made up of six appendage-bearing segments. The group includes crabs, lobsters and shrimps.
Research Malacostraca
In zoology, the term Malacostracan refers to any member of the crustacean sub-class Malacostraca.
Research Malacostracan
Maladera is a genus of dung beetle of the family Scarabaeidae.
Research Maladera
The Malamute (or Malemute) is an Alaskan Inuit dog of the spitz type. They have a dense usually greyish coloured coat and stand about 70 cm tall. The breed was developed by the Mahlemut tribe of Indians as sleigh dogs and are a hardy and good companion breed of dog.
Research Malamute
Malanders is a disease of horses characterised by an eczematous inflammation behind the knee.
Research Malanders
The Malapolski is a Polish breed of versatile horse widely bred across Poland with widely varying physical attributes. The Malapolski developed during the 19th century and is used for agricultural work, light draft and as a riding horse. With good athletic abilities the Malapolski has also been successfully steeplechased. They stand between 15.2 and 16.2 hands high and are usually brown, bay, chestnut, black or grey in colour.
Research Malapolski
The Malay is a breed of chicken.
Research Malay
The Malay bear (Helarctos malayensis) also known as the sun bear or bruang is a small bear, growing to about one meter long, found in the Malay peninsular, Sumatra and in Borneo. It is a black colour with a grey-tan coloured muzzle. The head is short and flat, the ears small and the teeth often reduced in numbers.
Research Malay Bear
Male fern (Dryopteris filix-mas) is a large herbaceous perennial fern with a scaly creeping rhizome, bearing stalked, bipinnate leaves (fronds). The young fronds are coiled in a spiral and are covered with brown scales. The fern reproduces by means of spores which are produced in late summer.
Research Male Fern
The Malines is a breed of chicken.
Research Malines
The mallard (Anas platyrhynchos) is a British wild duck of the family Anatidae.
Research Mallard
Mallee scrub is an Australian species of eucalyptus, which forms dense thickets about 2.5 meters in height. It will thrive in almost pure sand, and will tolerate both frost and scorching winds.
Research Mallee Scrub
Mallophaga is the biting lice order of insects of the subclass Pterygota, division Hemimetabola. They are very small or minute secondarily wingless ectoparasites growing to about six millimetres in length and living largely on birds. They have chewing mouth parts and reduced eyes and antennae. The young resemble the adults, and because of the absence of wings do not undergo a noticeable metamorphosis.
Research Mallophaga
Common Mallow (Malva sylvestris) is a biennial or perennial herb of the family Malvaceae with a spindle-shaped tap root and an erect, ascending or decumbent stem. The basal leaves are roundish, shallowly lobed and long- stalked. The stem leaves are alternate, shorter-stalked, deeply palmately lobed and toothed. The flowers are rose-purple in colour with prominent violet veins and grow in clusters in the leaf axils. The flowers have five notched petals.
Research Mallow
The Mallow Skipper (Carcharodus alceae) is a butterfly of the family Hesperiidae found in north Africa, across southern to central Europe and east into central Asia in dry sunny locations and the grassy banks between fields. Two or three overlapping generations are produced between April and September.
Research Mallow Skipper
Malope is a genus of annual hardy herbaceous plants belonging to the family Malvaceae. They bear showy violet or rose coloured flowers.
Research Malope
Malpighia is a genus of tropical American evergreen trees and shrubs belonging to the family
Malpighiaceae. They bear pink or white flowers, followed by fleshy drupes. The species include the Barbados Cherry.
Research Malpighia
Malthinus is a genus of soldier beetle (Cantharidae), represented by four British species found at the edge of woods, on hedges, trees and shrubs.
Research Malthinus
Malthodes is a genus of small (3 to 4 mm long) soldier beetle (Cantharidae) represented by twelve British species, the most common being Malthodes minimus.
Research Malthodes
Malvaceae is a large family of exogenous plants (the mallows), having polypetalous flowers, monadelphous stamens, unilocular anthers, valvate estivation and often an external calyx.
Research Malvaceae
Malvastrum is a genus of American herbaceous plants, bearing spikes of yellow or scarlet flowers, belonging to the family Malvaceae.
Research Malvastrum
Mamenchisaurus was a dinosaur of the Jurassic period. Mamenchisaurus was a huge animal, 22 meters long with a very long neck and tail, and a herbivore related to Apatosaurus. Prior to 1972 Mamenchisaurus was known from partial skeletons, then in 1972 an almost complete specimen was discovered which revealed the true extent of the long neck which was 11 meters long with 19 vertebrae in it - the longest neck of any known animal, ever.
Research Mamenchisaurus
Mammalia is the mammal class of Craniates. The young are nourished by milk. The skin is covered in two types of glands: sweat glands and sebaceous glands. The sweat glands secrete a watery fluid to assist body cooling. The sebaceous glands secrete an oily fluid to maintain water resistance in the hair. The heart has two auricles and two ventricles.
Research Mammalia
Mammillaia is a genus of tropical succulent plants belonging to the family Cactaceae. They bear usually solitary flowers growing from the axil of the tubercle. The stems are cylindrical or globular and absolutely symmetrical in form, generally bearing spines in neat rosettes.
Research Mammillaria
The Mammoth Bronze is a breed of turkey.
Research Mammoth Bronze
MAMMOTH BRONZE
The mammoth bronze is a breed of domestic turkey, reaching a weight in excess of thirty pounds.
Research Mammoth Bronze
A manatee (round-tailed sea cow) is a herbivorous marine mammal of the family Manatidae of the order Sirenia inhabiting the warm shores and great river mouths of South America, Central America, Florida and west Africa.
Manatees live for between twenty and thirty years, and reach sexual maturity at around three to four. They breed all year round, producing one or sometimes two calves after a gestation period of about 170 days. The calf is then guarded by both parents and is suckled until it is about one and a half, and leaves the parents when it reaches the age of two.
Research Manatee
The Manchester Treble-bar (Carsia soroiata) is a moth of the family Geometridae with a wing span of between 20 and 23 mm found mainly in scattered peat-bog localities in central Europe flying from June to August.
Research Manchester Treble-Bar
Manda is a genus of rove beetles, Staphylinidae. A single species, Manda mandibularis is found in Britain, but is rare and confined only to the southern counties.
Research Manda
The Mandarin duck (Aix galericulata) is an east Asian duck now established in southern England, particularly at Virginia Water. The male has a striking mane of orange, white and brown feathers and orange 'sails' on its back. The female is grey-brown in colour with white 'spectacles' around the eyes and large pale spots on the under parts. Unusually for a duck the
Mandarin duck nests in holes in trees.
Research Mandarin Duck
The mandarin orange (Citrus nobilis) is a species of orange, with smaller fruit than most other species. It has long been prized in China and around 1900 became popular in Europe.
Research Mandarin Orange
Mandasuchus was a carnivorous reptile from the triassic era. It was the size of a car.
Research Mandasuchus
Mandevilla is a genus of tropical climbing shrubs, belonging to the family Apocynaceae. They bear simple racemes of mostly red or yellow, funnel-shaped flowers.
Research Mandevilla
The Mandrill (Papio maimon) is a West African baboon. It has a bright red nose and blue striped cheeks. The buttocks exhibit red callosities and the fur is brown with a yellow beard.
Research Mandrill
The Mangalarga Marchador is a Brazilian breed of horse popularly used for working with cattle. The Mangalarga Marchador was developed during the 1740's and has a peculiar four beat gait which allows the horse to cover a large amount of ground in a short space of time. The Mangalarga Marchador does not trot, but changes from a fast march to a smooth canter and is renowned for its comfortable ride. The stands between 14.2 and 15 hands high and occurs in any solid colour.
Research Mangalarga Marchador
The Mangel-Wurzel (Mangold) is a variety of beet derived from the sea beet and used chiefly as a feed for cattle and sheep.
Research Mangel-Wurzel
The mango (Mangifera indica) is a tree native to India but found in warm climates where it is cultivated for its oval fruits.
Research Mango
The mangrove is a genus of tropical trees belonging to the family Rhizophoraceae. They grow in swampy ground, and gradually reclaim land from the sea's edge both by the advance of their own roots and by the habit of the seeds which germinate whilst still attached to the parent tree.
Research Mangrove
Manihot is a genus of American shrubs and herbaceous plants belonging to the family Euphorbiaceae. The species include cassava.
Research Manihot
The Manipuri is an old breed of Indian pony believed to be a descendant of the Mongolian Wild Horse crossed with oriental and Arab stock. The Manipuri stands 13 hands high, renowned for its speed and stamina, though not having the most gentle nature, and is used for racing and playing polo and by the military. The
Manipuri occurs in bay, chestnut, grey, brown and pinto colours.
Research Manipuri
The manta ray or devilfish, is a genus of rays (Manta) of the family Mobulidae found in tropical seas.
Research Manta Ray
Mantodea is the praying mantis order of insects. They have three striking characteristics: a large triangular head with large eyes which can judge distance very accurately; a long prothorax to which the arms used for catching prey are attached; substantial spiky arms for catching prey. The animals are called praying mantis because when awaiting prey, they adopt a pose which resembles that of a person praying. Praying mantis vary in size with species (of which there are about 2500 distributed through over 400 genera) ranging from 15 mm to 250 mm long. Members of the order are to be found in warmer moderate climates, the sub-tropics and tropics and even in southern Europe. Most praying mantis lie in wait for their prey, and then strike at it with the enlarged front legs, then eating it alive. Desert dwelling species may actively hunt their prey, however. Often during mating the female rips the head off her partner, and eats it while still copulating with him, the thorax and abdomen continuing to be impelled by nerve endings. In this way the male
provides protein to his own offspring. However, a well-fed female will very often not eat her mate.
Research Mantodea
The Manx is a breed of tailless shorthaired cat from the Isle Of Man that has a small, tufted hollow where a tail would normally grow. The coat has the texture of a rabbit's and can be any variety of colours or patterns. The ears are medium-sized with slightly rounded tips. The eyes are large and round and vary with the coat colour.
Research Manx Cat
The Manx Shearwater (Puffinus puffinus) is a migratory sea bird found in Iceland, the Faroes, Shetlands, Orkneys, the west coast of Britain and Ireland and Brittany and on smaller Mediterranean islands. The Manx Shearwater is mainly brown above with a paler chest and underside and about 36 cm long. During the breeding season pairs nest in burrows dug in the ground or in crevices and lay a single white egg which both parents take turns to incubate for shifts of three to five days, going without food or water during the period while the other parent searches for food often flying more than 1000 km away. The young hatches after about 60 days and leave the nest aged ten weeks. The Manx Shearwater feeds on small fish, crustaceans and molluscs.
Research Manx Shearwater
Manzano is a three-sided variety of banana with a strong apple flavour.
Research Manzano
The Map Butterfly (Araschnia levana) is a European butterfly of the brush-footed butterflies (Nymphalidae) family found in deciduous woods. Two and sometimes three generations are produced in a year, the spring generation being much paler in colouration than the summer generation and the occasional third generation in the autumn being mid-way between the other two in colour. The caterpillars develop on nettles in large groups.
Research Map Butterfly
The Map-Winged Swift (Hepialus fusconebulosa) is a moth of the family Hepialidae with a wing span of between 30 and 35 mm found in northern Europe and Asia in hills and mountains flying from May to June.
Research Map-Winged Swift
The maple is a deciduous tree of the genus Acer comprising some 115 species. It has opposite, stalked, palmately lobed leaves and green flowers, followed by two-winged samaras.
Research Maple
The Maple Prominent (Ptilodontella cucullina) is a moth of the family Notodontidae with a wing span of between 35 and 40 mm found in scattered localities in central and eastern Europe flying from May to June.
Research Maple Prominent
The maqui (Aristotelia Maqui) is an evergreen Chilean shrub belonging to the family Tiliaceae.
Research Maqui
The mara is one of two species of rodents, genus Dolichotis of the guinea- pig family, occurring in Argentina, with long back limbs and a short tail. They can grow to 75 centimetres long and are sometimes known as ' Patagonian cavies' or 'hares'.
Research Mara
The marabou or marabous stork, Leptoptilos crumeniferus, is a tropical African stork distinguished by having an inflatable pendent pouch on the neck. The marabou feeds on carrion.
Research Marabou
The Marans is a breed of chicken.
Research Marans
Maranta is a genus of tropical herbaceous plants belonging to the family Scitaminaceae. They have creeping rhizomes, and bear terminal inflorescences.
Research Maranta
Marasmius is a genus of mushroom, with very tough gills which are not incised.
Research Marasmius
The Marble Gall Wasp (Andricus kollari) is a hymenopterous insect of the family Cynipidae common in central, southern and western Europe, and less common but found in the British Isles, North Africa and Asia Minor.
Research Marble Gall Wasp
The Marbled Beauty (Cryphia domestica) is a moth of the family Noctuidae with a wing span of between 20 and 25 mm found in warmer parts of Europe. A single generation is produced, flying from July to August.
Research Marbled Beauty
The Marbled brown (Drymonia dodonaea) is a moth of the family Notodontidae with a wing span of between 33 and 38 mm found in deciduous and mixed forests across most of Europe flying from May to July.
Research Marbled Brown
The Marbled Clover (Heliothis viriplaca) is a moth of the family Noctuidae with a wing span of between 25 and 30 mm distributed across Europe and Asia. Two generations are produced flying from May to June and from July to August.
Research Marbled Clover
The Marbled Fritillary (Brenthis daphne) is a rare species of brush-footed butterfly (Nymphalidae) found in warm, dry, grassy locations where the caterpillars live on violets and brambles.
Research Marbled Fritillary
The Marbled Minor (Oligia strigilis) is a moth of the family Noctuidae with a wing span of between 22 and 25 mm found in northern and central Europe, Asia and North America flying from May to July.
Research Marbled Minor
The Marbled Orchard Tortrix (Hedya nubiferana) is a moth of the family Tortricidae with a wing span of between 18 and 20 mm found in Europe and Asia Minor in forest-steppes and on shrubby slopes and in orchards where it does considerable damage. The adult moths fly from June to August, the caterpillar develops in spring and feeds on the buds and young shoots of deciduous trees.
Research Marbled Orchard Tortrix
The Marbled Skipper (Carcharodus lavatherae) is a butterfly of the family Hesperiidae found in north Africa, across southern to central Europe and east into the Middle East on sunny hillsides. A single generation is produced flying from June to August.
Research Marbled Skipper
The Marbled White (Melanargia galathea) is a butterfly of the family Satyridae widespread in northern Africa and the temperate parts of Europe, living in hilly meadows and steppes, and the grassy clearings of open woods. It has one generation in a year, and they fly from June to August.
Research Marbled White
The Marbled White Spot (Lithacodia pygarga) is a moth of the family Noctuidae with a wing span of between 20 and 22 mm found in Europe and Asia flying from May to August.
Research Marbled White Spot
The March Moth (Alsophila aescularia) is a moth of the family Geometridae with a wing span of between 25 and 33 mm found in Europe and Asia flying from February to May, the females are wingless and don't fly.
Research March Moth
Marchantia is a genus of liverworts.
Research Marchantia
A mare is a female adult horse.
Research Mare
Mare's-tail or Hippuris, is a genus of aquatic herbaceous plants belonging to the family Haloragaceae. Hippuris vulgaris, the common mare's-tail is native to Britain where it is found in stagnant water. It has simple, erect jointed stems, with whorls of about ten linear strap-shaped leaves, with hard tips. In summer it bears conspicuous greenish flowers, which are sessile in the axils of the upper leaves.
Research Mare's-tail
The Maremmana is an Italian breed of horse bred in semi-wild conditions in the
Maremmana region of Tuscanny. Originally bred for agricultural work, the
Maremmana is also used as a cavalry horse and by the police. The Maremmana stands between 15 and 15.3 hands high and occurs in any solid colour, often black. They are renowned for their athletic abilities and also their ability to work with cows.
Research Maremmana
The margay (Felis tigrina) is a small wild cat with a spotted coat. It inhabits forest regions from Mexico to Paraguay.
Research Margay
Margyricarpus is a genus of shrubs belonging to the family Rosaceae. They bear small, solitary, sessile flowers, followed by bright white fruits, whence they derive their popular name of pearl fruit.
Research Margyricarpus
Marianthus is a genus of Australian twinning or procumbent shrubs belonging to the family Pittosporaceae, bearing panicles of blue, white or pink flowers, followed by capsular fruit.
Research Marianthus
Marica is a genus of tropical herbaceous plants belonging to the family Iridaceae. They have short rhizomes, coriaceous leaves, and six-partite perianths.
Research Marica
Marjoram (Origanum vulgare) also known as wild marjoram and oregano, is a perennial, often bushy herb of the family Labiatae native to Europe and with an erect, reddish, square stem, branched above. The leaves are oval, opposite and stalked. The flowers are two-lipped, purplish in colour and arranged in dense cymes, forming terminal panicles. Marjoram is used in cooking as a flavouring, where it has a stronger flavour than sweet marjoram.
Research Marjoram
The markhor (Capra falconeri) is a large wild goat found in the Himalayas. It is readily distinguished from other species of goat by its massive, twisted horns. The markhor stands about one meter tall at the withers, and has a chin-beard often reaching to the knees. The colour varies from greyish-brown to nearly white.
Research Markhor
The marmot (Arctomys) is a rodent found in the northern parts of both hemispheres. They are heavily-built, rather clumsy-looking animals, living high up on mountains in the warmer part of their range, but coming down to sea-level in the extreme north. They feed on roots and leaves, and in many cases hibernate for the whole of the winter. They are social in their habits, they feed in companies and a number collect in the same burrow for the winter sleep. The ears and tail are short, as are the legs; cheek pouches are absent or rudimentary; on the fore limbs the first digit is rudimentary and bears a flat nail.
Research Marmot
The Marrow (Cucurbia Pepo ovifera) is an annual trailing plant of the gourd family grown for its fruits which are eaten as a vegetable.
Research Marrow
The Marsh Daisy is a breed of chicken.
Research Marsh Daisy
The marsh marigold (Caltha palustris) is a European wild flower of the family Ranunculaceae found in wet places. It is a creeping, hairless perennial with hollow stems, and heart-shaped, long-stalked dark green basal leaves; the stem leaves are smaller with shorter stalks. It bears large flowers in a loose inflorescence with five glossy yellow perianth segments. There are numerous stamens and between five and fifteen carpels.
Research Marsh Marigold
The Marsh Moth (Athetis pallustris) is a moth of the family Noctuidae with a wing span of between 27 and 32 mm found in cooler parts of northern and central Europe in damp areas including swamps and peat-bogs. A single generation flies from May to July.
Research Marsh Moth
Marshmallow (Althaea officinalis) is a perennial herb of the family Malvaceae, with a yellow, branched root, tall, erect, leafy stems and large alternate, lobed and irregularly toothed leaves. The root can be boiled and eaten as a vegetable. The flowers are usually a pinkish lilac.
Research Marshmallow
The martens are carnivorous mammals of the genus Martes, family Mustelidae. They resembles a large weasel and have valuable fur.
Research Marten
The martin (Chelidon) is a member of the swallow family, which always has the metatarsus and toes feathered, and bears white feathers over the rump; the tail is sometimes forked, and sometimes square. The best known form is the house-martin (Chelidon urbica) which breeds in Britain.
Research Martin
Martinezia is a genus of tropical American palms, with cylindrical trunks and pinnate leaves, the segments being wedge-shaped.
Research Martinezia
The Marwari is an ancient Indian breed of small horse formerly used as a war horse by the Rathores of Marwar, who said that a Marwari horse would not fall, even when injured, until it had carried its rider to safety, later by the Moghul cavalry of the 16th century and during the Great War. The Marwari stands up to 14.3 hands high and is bay, brown, chestnut or pinto in colour.
Research Marwari
Masdevallia is a genus of orchids of epiphytal habit, mostly natives of Central and South America. The flowers of the species are of great beauty, large and showy.
Research Masdevallia
The masked shrew or Laxmann's shrew (Sorex caecutiens) is a medium-sized shrew with white feet with silvery, shining hair and a sharp demarcation of the upper body and underside. The tail is tipped with a bushy tuft; and it has uni-cuspid teeth rather uniform size. Masked shrews live in coniferous forests, tundra and moorland, feeding mainly on insects, especially Coleoptera, a few spiders, myriapods and earthworms, larch seeds and may feed on other small mammals. The breeding season is from June to August, with up to four litters per year, which may be up to eleven young, but average seven or eight. In years of low spring density, young females of the first litters take part in reproduction greatly contributing to rapid population recovery.
Research Masked Shrew
Massangea is a genus of tropical herbaceous plants belonging to the family Bromeliaceae.
Research Massangea
The Massasauga (Sistrurus catenatus) is a venomous North American species of rattle-snake of the pit viper family (Crotalidae). The Massasauga is found in generally central parts of the USA and also in Mexico in moist habitats such as swamps, marshes and bogs and also in plains in the drier locations. The
Massasauga is grey to light-brown in colour and grows to about 100 cm in length and has a row of between 21 and 50 dark brown to black dorsal blotches and three rows of small brown to black spots on each side of the body. The Massasauga seems to feed predominantly on voles and deer mice, but evidence has been found of other snakes being consumed on occasion.
Research Massasauga
Massonia is a genus of small South African liliaceous plants which bear heads of comparatively insignificant, mostly white flowers.
Research Massonia
Massospondylus was a dinosaur of the Triassic period. One of the earliest dinosaurs it was a herbivore - indicated by the presence of small stones in the stomach, used for helping to grind tough vegetation for digestion - with a large bulky body and a tiny head. It grew to about six meters long. It had a strange thumb claw which could have been used for defence and also digging.
Research Massospondylus
Masterwort (Peucedanum ostruthium) is a perennial herb of the family Umbelliferae with a stout, knotted rhizome, a rosette of basal leaves, and a tall, furrowed, hollow stem terminated by large compound umbels of whitish or pinkish coloured flowers. The leaves are ternate or biternate, the segments broadly ovate and serrate. The fruit is a broadly winged ribbed achene.
Research Masterwort
The mastiff is one of the oldest varieties of British dogs dating back to at least the 15th century, though the breed has changed through being crossed with the bulldog. The mastiff possesses remarkable courage and power, though by nature is gentle and docile. They have an acute sense of smell and discrimination, but are primarily used as watch-dogs.
Research Mastiff
The mastigophora (Flagellata) are a class of Phylum Protozoa. They are small Protozoa which are motile in the adult stage, swimming by means of flagella. They reproduce by logitudinal fission.
Research Mastigophora
The Mastodon was a large extinct prehistoric mammal of the genus Mammut once plentiful in what is now Europe and Asia. Mastodon resembled the elephant but is distinguished by having nipple-shaped tubercles arranged in pairs on the crowns of the molar teeth. It is also thought that Mastodon had a different shape to the head and neck than an elephant.
Research Mastodon
The matamata is a south American fresh water turtle.
Research Matamata
Mathiola is a genus of herbs and sub-shrubby plants belonging to the family Cruciferae. The flowers are usually purple or white and are for the most part fragrant.
Research Mathiola
Matico (Artanthe elongata) is a Peruvian shrub belonging to the family Piperaceae. The leaves are aromatic and used in medicine.
Research Matico
Maurandya is a genus of Mexican herbaceous plants belonging to the family Scrophulariaceae. They bear pretty bluish or rose-coloured flowers, the pedicles being usually axillary.
Research Maurandya
Mauritia is a genus of large-growing palms. They bear large pendulous flower- spikes with numerous catkins.
Research Mauritia
Mavis is an old popular name for the Song Thrush (Turdus musicus). Mavis had all but stopped being used as a name for the bird in England by 1900, but continued to be used in Scotland.
Research Mavis
Maxillaria is a genus of tropical American terrestrial orchids, with slender coriaceous leaves, and mostly small flowers borne on one-flowered peduncles.
Research Maxillaria
The May Beetle or Common Cockchafer (Melolontha melolontha) is a species of large beetle of the family Scarabaeidae, measuring between twenty and thirty millimetres in length.
Research May Beetle
The Mazarine Blue (Cyaniris semiargus) is a butterfly of the family Lycaenidae characteristic of sub-montane hillsides to an altitude of 2500 meters, found in north Africa and Europe and Asia, it was formerly also found in Britain but is extinct there now. generally there is one generation which flies from May to July, but in warmer climates a second generation may appear and fly from August to September.
Research Mazarine Blue
The Meadow Brown (Maniola jurtina) is a butterfly of the family Satyridae found in north Africa, the Middle East and Europe.
Research Meadow Brown
Meadow saffron (Colchicum autumnale) or autumn crocus, is a highly poisonous perennial herb of the family Liliaceae with an underground, brown, scaly corn which bears solitary, long violet and tubular crocus-like flowers in the autumn. The flowers differ from the crocuses in having six rather than three stamens.
Research Meadow Saffron
Meadow Sweet (Spiraea ulmaria or Filipendula ulmaria) is a British herbaceous plant of the natural order Rosaceae. It grows to about one meter in height and is common in moist meadow land, and alongside streams and ditches. It has pinnate leaves, and bears small densely crowded, yellow-white fragrant flowers in late summer.
Research Meadow Sweet
The meagre or maigre (Scioena aquila) is a fish of about 1.5 meters length greatly prized by the Roman epicures. It has a short first dorsal fin, elongated dorsal, a deep and oblique cleft of the mouth and a continuous lateral line which extends over the tail-fin.
Research Meagre
The Meal Moth (Pyralis farinalis) is a moth of the family Pyralidae with a wing span of between 18 and 30 mm native to central Europe and also found in mills and flour-stores flying from June to August.
Research Meal Moth
Mecynotarsus is a genus of tiny beetle of the family Anthicidae.
Research Mecynotarsus
Medicago or Medick is a genus of hardy herbaceous plants belonging to the family Leguminosae. They bear trifoliate leaves and yellow or violet flowers.
Research Medicago
Medinilla is a genus of tropical evergreen shrubs belonging to the family Melastomacea. They bear panicles or cymes of white or rose-coloured flowers, followed by globose or ovoid berries.
Research Medinilla
The Mediterranean Flour Moth (Ephestia kuehniella) is a moth of the family Pyralidae with a wing span of between 20 and 25 mm. Although rare in the wild, the moth is a pest of mills and food stores where the caterpillars cause immense damage. Between two and five generations are produced, depending upon local conditions which fly from spring to autumn.
Research Mediterranean Flour Moth
The medlar or Mespilus is a genus of trees belonging to the family Rosaceae. The flowers are large and white, have five-cleft calyxes and corollas, and these are followed by fleshy, yop-shaped fruits.
Research Medlar
The Meerkat (Suricata tetradactyla) is a mongoose peculiar to the Cape in South Africa. It is a small, slender animal, with elongated nose and very long claws. The long and soft fur is greyish with black markings, the ears are also black. The animals live in warrens. The Grey Meerkat or Suricate (Suricata suricatta) is sometimes kept as a pet.
Research Meerkat
 More pictures of Meerkat
Megalodontoidea is a super-family of insects of the sub-order Symphyta, order Hymenoptera. They have multi-segmented antennae and wings that are yellowish or dark. The larvae feed on vegetable matter.
Research Megalodontoidea
Megalosaurus was a large carnivorous dinosaur from the Jurrasic period. Remains were first found in 1818 in slate mines in Oxfordshire, England. Megalosaurus was about nine meters long and walked on its hind legs, each of which had a foot furnished with four toes each with a strong claw. The arms were furnished with hands with three fingers. Twenty distinct species of Megalosaurus have been discovered in rocks spanning 100 million years.
Research Megalosaurus
Megarthrus is a genus of rove beetles, Staphylinidae, represented by five species in Britain.
Research Megarthrus
Megasternum is a genus of water scavenger beetles of the family Hydrophilidae. They live in decaying organic matter.
Research Megasternum
Megopis is a genus of longhorn beetles (Cerambycidae), ranging from three to five centimetres in length.
Research Megopis
Melaleuca is a genus of Australasian evergreen shrubs and trees belonging to the family Myrtaceae.
Research Melaleuca
Melandrya is a genus of false darkling beetles (Melandyridae).
Research Melandrya
Melandyridae is the false darkling beetles family of insects of the order Coleoptera. Most species live behind loose bark on old trees, in tree fungi and in rotten wood.
Research Melandyridae
Malanimon is a genus of small darkling beetles (Tenebrionidae) found in sandy localities.
Research Melanimon
Melanophila is a genus of jewel beetle (Buprestidae).
Research Melanophila
Melanophthalma is a genus of Mould Beetle (Lathridiidae).
Research Melanophthalma
Melanorosaurus was a dinosaur of the Triassic period. Melanorosaurus a herbivore and was the largest early dinosaur known, about twelve meters long with a long neck and tail and a large bulky body probably walking on all-fours.
Research Melanorosaurus
Melanotus is a genus of large click beetle (Elateridae). The larvae develop in hardwood attacked by red rot.
Research Melanotus
Melasis is a genus of false click beetle (Eucnemidae) found in deciduous woods.
Research Melasis
Melastoma is a genus of tropical evergreen shrubs belonging to the family
Melastomaceae. Many of the species bear showy flowers.
Research Melastoma
Meleager's Blue (Meleageria daphnis) is a butterfly of the family Lycaenidae found in warmer Europe and the Middle East in flowery wastelands where the single generation flies from June to August.
Research Meleager's Blue
Meleagris is the turkey genus of birds of the subfamily Meleagrididae of the family Phasianidae.
Research Meleagris
Meleagris gallopavo silvestris is a sub species of the North American wild Turkey. It was the turkey fed on by the Pilgrims, and is the symbol of American Thanksgiving.
Research Meleagris gallopavo silvestris
Melia is a genus of tropical trees belonging to the family Meliaceae. They bear large axillary panicles of white or purple flowers, followed by small drupes.
Research Melia
Melianthus is a genus of South African shrubs belonging to the family Sapindaceae. They bear racemes of often sweetly-scented flowers.
Research Melianthus
Common or ribbed melilot (Melilotus officinalis) or yellow sweet clover as it is also known, is a poisonous biennial herb of the family Leguminosae with a tall, angled, branched stem. The leaves are alternate, stalked and trifoliate with rectangular, toothed leaflets and stipules joined to the stem. The flowers are yellow and arranged in long slender spikes in the upper leaf axils. The fruit is a hairless ovoid pod with transverse wrinkles and coloured brown when ripe.
Research Melilot
Melilotus is a genus of leguminous herbaceous plants with trifoliate leaves and loose racemes of yellow or white flowers, the petals of which soon fall off.
Research Melilotus
Melittis is a genus of Labiate plants.
Research Melittis
Melocactus is a genus of tropical cacti, mostly natives of South America, with globular, unbranched, ribbed stems, the ribs of which are surmounted by clusters of spines. On the summit of the stem is a smaller cylindrical body, known as the cap, and on this the little red flowers are borne.
Research Melocactus
Meloidae is the oil beetles and blister beetles family of insects of the order Coleoptera.
Research Meloidae
Melolontha is a genus of large beetles of the family Scarabaeidae.
Research Melolontha
The melon (Cucumis melo) is the most valuable of the fruits yielded by the tribe of gourds.
Research Melon
Melyridae is a family of beetles. The members are generally covered with long hairs or scales and they have a soft cuticle. The larvae live in old wood, the adults on flowers.
Research Melyridae
Menesia is a genus of longhorn beetles (Cerambycidae).
Research Menesia
Meniscium is a genus of tropical ferns with simple or once-pinnate fronds.
Research Meniscium
Menispermaceae is a family of Diclinous Exogens. It consists of sarmentaceous shrubs, with alternate, generally entire leaves, reticulated and often palminerved. The wood develops only on one side of the pith. The flowers are small, in racemes, generally dioecious. The sepals are in a ternary series or in binary rows.
Research Menispermaceae
Menispermum is a genus of climbing shrubs.
Research Menispermum
Mentzelia is a genus of half-hardy herbaceous plants belonging to the family Losaceae. They are mostly natives of North America and bear coarsely dentate leaves, and generally large beautiful flowers.
Research Mentzelia
Menziesia is a genus of hardy North American and Japanese shrubs belonging to the family Ericaceae. They bear terminal corymbose fascicles of more or less globose flowers and are popular as decorative flowers for rock gardens.
Research Menziesia
Meotica is a genus of tiny rove beetles, Staphylinidae less than two millimetres in length.
Research Meotica
The Mere Wainscot (Photedes fluxa) is a moth of the family Noctuidae with a wing span of between 22 and 25 mm found in mild and northern parts of Europe and western Asia in grassy biotopes such as meadows. It flies from July to September.
Research Mere Wainscot
Merganinoe is a sub-family of birds of the family Anatidae.
Research Merganinoe
The merino (Ovis aries) is a breed of sheep, originating in Spain, with fine silky wool.
Research Merino
Merle is an alternative name for the Blackbird.
Research Merle
The merlin (Falco aesalon) is the smallest of the British falcons, and is found as a breeding species in Wales and the northern parts of England, Scotland and Ireland. It preys chiefly on small song-birds. The total length is 27 cm. The male is coloured slatey blue, with the nape and under parts rufous, and the whole body streaked with brown. In the female the under surface is white, and the rest of the body dark brown, the tail being crossed by light bands.
Research Merlin
Merocystis is a member of the coccidia vera order.
Research Merocystis
Meropidae is the bee-eaters family of Fissirostal birds. They have a moderate length, slightly curved bill; three toes in front and one behind, the outer and middle toes being united. The wings are long and pointed, the first primary for the most part being nearly or quite as long as any other. They are birds of moderate size, confined to the eastern hemisphere, generally of a green colour varied with blue, and resembling Swallows in the flight, habits and food.
Research Meropidae
Mertensia is a genus of hardy herbaceous plants belonging to the family Boraginaceae.
Research Mertensia
The Merulidae are the thrushes family of Passerine birds. They have a bill as long as the head, compressed at the sides. The upper mandible is arched at the tip. The feet are long with curved claws.
Research Merulidae
The Merveille du Jour (Dichonia aprilina) is a moth of the family Noctuidae, with a wing span of between 35 and 40 mm distributed in the temperate and warm regions of Europe and Asia Minor in deciduous forests and forest-steppes flying from August to October.
Research Merveille du Jour
Mesembryanthemum is a genus of fleshy, herbaceous plants belonging to the family Ficoidaceae. They bear conspicuous flowers and thick, fleshy leaves. Most of the species are native of South Africa.
Research Mesembryanthemum
Mesocoelopus is a genus of beetle of the family Anobiidae that live on ivy.
Research Mesocoelopus
Mesosa is a genus of longhorn beetles (Cerambycidae).
Research Mesosa
Mesostoma is a member of the order Rhabdocoelida.
Research Mesostoma
Mespilus is a genus of hardy deciduous trees belonging to the family Rosaceae. They bear large white flowers followed by turbinate pomes.
Research Mespilus
Metabletus or Syntomus, is a genus of beetles of the ground beetle family, Carabidae. They are small (between two and three millimetres in length), flat-bodied and usually dark coloured beetles with large eyes and short temples. Their elytra are obliquely truncate at the tip. They live on tree roots, beneath bark and under stones in dry places. Three species occur in Britain, the most common being Metabletus foveatus.
Research Metabletus
Metatheria is a subclass of mammal. These are the marsupials. The young are born in an immature state and migrate into a pouch on the mother's abdomen where they are nourished on milk.
Research Metatheria
Metellina is a genus of spider.
Research Metellina
Metoecus is a genus of beetle of the family Rhipiphoridae which lives underground in wasps' nests.
Research Metoecus
Metopsia is a genus of rove beetles, Staphylinidae.
Research Metopsia
The Meuse-Rhine-Ijssel is a breed of cattle.
Research Meuse-Rhine-Ijssel
The Mexican Garter Snake (Thamnophis eques) is a species of Garter snake growing to about 100 cm long and distinguished by pale green crescent-shaped spots at the corners of the mouth and black blotches behind the head on top of the body.
Research Mexican Garter Snake
The Mexican Milk Snake (Lampropeltis triangulum annulata) is a species of Milk snake found in southern Texas and Mexico. The Mexican Milk Snake is distinguished by rings of yellow which encircle it and a black head and snout.
Research Mexican Milk Snake
Mezereon (Daphne mezereum) or spurge olive is a small deciduous shrub of the family Thymelaeaceae, with erect greyish twigs and bearing racemes of fragrant purple flowers in the axils of the previous years fallen leaves. The leaves are pale-green, lanceolate to rectangular and appear after flowering. The fruit is a highly poisonous, bright red drupe.
Research Mezereon
Mezium is a genus of Spider Beetle (Ptinidae), native to southern Europe and Africa.
Research Mezium
Mezquite are two species of trees or shrubs belonging to the genus Prosopis, a subdivision of the family Leguminosae. The common mezquite (Prosopis glandulosa) is a spring shrub, common in Mexico and Texas. It yields a gum which resembles gum-arabic in qualities. The curly mezquite or screw bean (Prosopis pubescens) is a North American native.
Research Mezquite
Miarus is a genus of Snout Beetles (Curculionidae) that live in flowers.
Research Miarus
Miccotrogus is a genus of Snout Beetles (Curculionidae). The larvae mine the leaves of various clovers.
Research Miccotrogus
Miconia is a genus of tropical shrubs and trees belonging to the family Melastomaceae. They bear corymbose panicles of red, white or yellow flowers.
Research Miconia
Microbiotheria is a family of Metatheria containing one family, Microbiotheriidae, with the species monito del monte (Dromiciops australis) found in the Andes of Chile and Argentina.
Research Microbiotheria
Microcachrys is a genus of evergreen shrubs belonging to the family Coniferae. The only species is the Tasmanian strawberry-fruited cypress (Microcachrys tetragona).
Research Microcachrys
Microcara is a genus of beetle of the famil | 
Abbreviations
Nature
