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The Guinean N'Dama (also known as the Fouta Djallon, Fouta Jallon, Fouta Malinke, Fouta Longhorn, Futa and Malinke) is a dwarf to miniature breed of dairy and beef cattle spread over most of Guinea, over south- western Mali, Kedougou and south Senegal Oriental, Senegal. It is also found in Sierra Leone - representing the only indigenous breed, across northern Liberia, and in the north-west corner of Ivory Coast.
N'Dama cows weigh about 250 kg and bulls about 300 kg. The head is rather short and heavy but much finer in the cows. The body is deep and cylindrical and the legs are short and fine, with strong hooves. They stand about one meter in height and have crescent-shaped horns in the bulls and lyre-shaped horns in the cows, of varied length, although there are also a few polled individuals. N'Dama are 2/3 fawn to brown in colour; the rest vary from black to white or are pied. In High Guinea the size increases and the brown colour darkens, although 10% of forest N'Dama are pied.
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Nacerda is a genus of beetle of the family Oedemeridae, ranging from eight to twelve millimetres in length.
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Naegelia is a genus of tropical American herbaceous plants belonging to the family Gesneraceae. They are popular house plants on account of their heart- shaped leaves and racemes of usually brilliantly coloured flowers.
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The naked lady is a leafless pink orchid found in Australia and New Zealand.
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Nama is a genus of mostly North American herbaceous plants belonging to the family Hydrophyllaceae.
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The Nankin is a breed of bantam.
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Nanophyes is a genus of tiny Snout Beetles (Curculionidae) that live at the base of flowers, fruits and stems where they cause gall-like swellings.
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Nanoptilium is a genus of featherwing beetles, Ptiliidae.
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Naravelia is a genus of tropical climbing plants belonging to the family Ranunculaceae. They bear panicles of flowers, often of great beauty.
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The narcissus is a genus of hardy bulbous plants, belonging to the family Amaryllidaceae. They have linear or strap-shaped leaves and usually beautiful flowers, either white or yellow, the perianth tubular below and its segments spreading above, the mouth of the perianth-tube being surmounted by a corona.
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The Narcissus Fly (Merodon clavipes) is a two-winged fly whose larva attacks the bulbs of daffodils. It was introduced into northern Europe around 1840. It is about 50 mm in length, much like a bumble bee in form, and more or less black in colour, but often spotted with yellow, white or red. It emerges from the pupal stage usually in May, and lays its eggs in June or July. The larvae eat their way into the bulbs, and only leave them by other holes when they are fully grown and ready to bury themselves in the ground, there to undergo the next metamorphosis.
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The nardoo (Marsilea macropus) is a pseudo-fern growing mostly in swampy ground, with a creeping rhizome and erect fronds, circinate when young. The spores and spore-cases are pounded and made into bread or porridge by the Aborigines of Australia.
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Nargus is a genus of beetles of the family Catopidae, closely related to Choleva, but distinguished by their shorter legs and a shorter and broader body. They live mainly in mammals' burrows.
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The Narragansett is a breed of turkey.
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The Narrow-Bordered Bee Hawkmoth (Hemaris tityus) is a moth of the family Sphingidae with a wing span of between 37 and 42 mm found in temperate Europe and Asia flying in May and June.
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The Narrow-winged Pug (Eupithecia nanata) is a moth of the family Geometridae with a wing span of between 13 and 17 mm found throughout Europe where heather grows. two generations are produced flying from May to August.
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The Narrowhead Garter Snake (Thamnophis rufipunctatus) is an American species of Garter snake resembling the water snakes (Nerodia). It is usually grey or olive-green in colour with a series of dark spots that run mis-dorsally and also along the dorsolateral region. The eyes are set high on top the head, more like a water snake than a typical Garter snake.
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The narwhal or narwhale (Monodon monoceros) is a whale of the sub-family Monodontinae found only in the arctic. The male has a long spiralling tusk which is not normally possessed by the female. The tusk which grows to a length of between 1.5 and 3 meters is actually a modified tooth and looks like a twisted and gnarled walking stick. During the 17th century the
Narwhal tusk was thought to have been the horn of the legendary unicorn. Studies suggest that males engage in aggressive behaviour when competing for females. Scars attributed to tusk action have been found on the heads of adult males which are more likely to have broken tusks. The Narwhal is similar in appearance to the Beluga. They are similar in shape and size, they have short beaks, rounded heads, lack dorsal fins and have a thick layer of blubber. An adult Narwhal will grow to a length of five meters and weigh up to one and a half tonnes. The head being proportionately small with a bulbous forehead. While almost all males develop a single tusk from the tooth on the left-hand side of upper jaw, only a few females grow a tusk, and this is then thin. All narwhals have a very slight beak, short flippers and flukes which appear to be on 'backwards'.
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The nassa is a genus of Buccinidae. The shell resembles that of Buccinium, but is smaller. The genus is chiefly distinguished from the Whelks by having a columnellar lip expanded with callous, with a tooth near the anterior canal.
Nassa reticulata is common on English shores at low-water and is commonly known as the Dog-Whelk.
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Nassaviaceae is a tribe of Composites, sub-family Labiatiflorae. The style is never tumid, the branches long, linear, truncate and fringed only at the point. There are three sub-tribes: Polyachyridae, Nassavieae and Trixideae.
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Nasturtium is a genus of plants of the family Cruciferae of the family Arabidae. Common watercress is one of four British varieties of nasturtium. The plants have a nearly-cylindrical pod with concave valves which are neither nerved nor keeled. The seeds are arranged in a double row.
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Natatores is the web-footed order of birds. They are characterized by a body flattened horizontally; the legs short, often placed far behind; the tarsi compressed; generally four toes, the three in front and sometimes all four, more or less united by a membrane.
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Nathrius is a genus of small longhorn beetles (Cerambycidae) often found emerging from wicker baskets.
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Natricinae is the Water Snakes subfamily of reptiles of the family Colubridae (the Typical Snakes) of the sub-order Serpentes (Snakes). The subfamily includes about thirty-seven genera and 185 species found in temperate, sub-tropical and tropical parts of the world. Not all the species are aquatic, some are semi-aquatic, others terrestrial, fossorial or semi-arboreal. They range in length from 30 to 250 centimetres. Some species are venomous and others are not.
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Natter-Jack Toad (Bufo calamita) is another name for the Rush Toad. It is light yellowish-brown in colour, clouded with dull olive and with a bright yellow line running down the back. The warts of the skin and the eyes are more prominent than in the Common Toad but the glandular swellings on the head are less. The Natter-Jack Toad lays eggs in water which hatch into very small tadpoles which take about six weeks to metamorphose. The Natter- Jack Toad is rare in England but found across Europe and Tibet.
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Natterer's bat (Myotis natteri) is a medium-sized bat, the wing-span being about 28 centimetres. The ear is long and narrow, the outer edge notched about one third of the distance from the tip, and ending below the tragus. The tragus is long and narrow, about two thirds of the length of the ear, widest at its base, and pointed; there is a deep notch at the base of its hind edge. The ears are widely spaced. The upper premolars are very small, the lower incisors wide and overlapping. The thick fur is rather long and in colour is greyish brown above and whitish below, the line of separation being distinct and running from the mouth to the fore edge of the wing. Distinctive are the rows of short stiff hairs on the edge of the interfemoral membrane between the end of the calcar and the tail.
Natterer's bat occurs all over temperate Europe and Asia from Ireland to Japan. In England and Wales it has been found in practically every county, plentifully in many of them, but it has only once or twice been reported from Scotland; it is widely distributed over Ireland. It is a gregarious species living in holes in buildings and trees, and in caves, particularly using the latter for hibernation.
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Naucoris is a genus of Nepidae. The body is almost circular and slightly convex. Naucoris cimicoides is found in Britain, is about a centimetre long and when touched can inflict a painful wound.
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The nautilus is a shelled cephalopod of the genus Nautilus, found in the Indian and Pacific oceans. The pearly nautilus (Nautilus pompilius) has a chambered spiral shell about 20cm in diameter. Its body occupies the outer chamber. The nautilus has a large number of short, grasping tentacles surrounding a sharp beak. The living nautiluses are representatives of a group common 450 million years ago.
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The ne-ne or Hawaiian goose is a species of goose, genus Branta sandvicensis of the order Anseriformes, related to the Canada goose but with shorter wings and reduced webs on the feet. About 100 years ago, around 25,000 ne-nes lived on Hawaii, but the introduction of pigs, cats, dogs, rats, and mongooses has almost led to the extinction of this ground-nesting bird.
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The Neapolitan Mastiff is an Italian breed of guard dog originating from the Molossus dogs of ancient Rome. The Neapolitan Mastiff stands about 70 centimetres tall and has a large head and large powerful body. They have a tolerant and agreeable nature, but have strong territorial instincts which make them good guard dogs.
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Nebria is a genus of beetles of the family Carabidae ranging from 12 to 15 mm in length and living mainly near running water where they can be found under stones. They are mostly flat-bodied insects with long antennae and long legs. A few of the species can fly.
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Necrobia is a genus of chequered beetles of the family Cleridae found in dry carrion and other decomposing animal matter.
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Necrodes is a genus of beetles of the carrion beetle, Silphidae, family. One species, Necrodes littoralis, which has unusually large eyes for a carrion beetle, is found in Britain on or near the coast.
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Necrophilus is a genus of beetles of the carrion beetle, Silphidae, family, feeding chiefly on snails.
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A necrotroph is any parasitic organism that kills the living cells of its host and then feeds on the dead matter.
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Nectar is a sugary solution produced by glandular structures (nectaries) in animal-pollinated flowers. Nectar attracts insects, birds, or bats to the flower and encourages pollination as the animal collects nectar from different sources.
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In zoology, nectarivorous refers to an animal that feeds on nectar.
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Necydalis is a genus of longhorn beetles (Cerambycidae).
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The needle bush (Hakea leucoptera) is a small Australian tree of the family Proteaceae. It has needle-shaped leaves and soft wood which is used for veneers.
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The needle fly is a small stonefly of the genus Leuctra, whose rolled-up wings at rest give it a slender pointed appearance.
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Nehemitropia is a genus of rove beetles, Staphylinidae, formerly regarded as a subgenus of Atheta. Species live on dung and decaying matter.
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Nelson's Milk Snake (Lampropeltis triangulum nelsoni) is a species of Milk snake found erratically in tropical forests. Nelson's Milk Snake is mainly red in colour with widely spaced black rings sandwiching whitish coloured bands.
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The nematoda (roundworms or threadworms) are a group of helminths (worms) which have an un-segmented cylindrical body which tapers at both ends. They are found in water, in damp earth, and in decaying animal and vegetable matter. Nearly all the nematodes are parasitic all their lives, others are free as larvae, and parasitic as adults. Nematodes are without any respiratory or vascular system, but the sexes are usually separate, the female being larger than the male. Nematodes are responsible for a number of diseases, including worms in dogs, strangylus in horses, cattle and sheep, gapes in poultry, trichina in pigs. Other varieties are responsible for certain diseases which affect cultivated crops such as ear-cockles in corn.
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Nemegtosaurus was a dinosaur of the Cretaceous period. The only remains discovered of Nemegtosaurus were a skull, found in 1965 in the Gobi Desert. The skull was long and sloped forward, the mouth was furnished with a small peg-like teeth at the front of the jaws.
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The nemertea are the proboscis worms. They are triploblastic animals with a very extensible body. Both a mouth and anus are present. A simple blood vascular system is present. The excretory system is a flame-bulb system.
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Nemesia is a genus of South African herbaceous plants belonging to the family Scrophulariaceae. They bear bright and pretty flowers of many colours.
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The nene (Branta sandvicensis) is a rare black-and-grey short-winged Hawaiian goose. They have partly webbed feet.
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Neolentinus is a genus of fungi belonging to the family Polyporiaceae.
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Neolentinus ponderosus is a gilled polypore with a large cap (up to 33 centimetres in diameter) and a broad stalk. It is edible when young and tender.
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Neomysia is a genus of large ladybirds (Coccinellidae).
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The neornithes are a subclass of bird. The metacarpals are fused, and the tail is short. Teeth are absent.
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Neosporidia is a subclass of Sporozoa. They are obscure Sporozoans.
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Nepenthes is a genus of tropical shrubs and sub-shrubs, bearing small greenish flowers and alternate leaves, the petiole winged at the base, the midrib prolonged at the top and curved or spirally twisted, terminating in a second foliaceous expansion, which is hollowed like an urn, to the opening of which is fitted a sort of lid, attached as by a hinge. They are one of the pitcher plant genus.
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Nepeta is a genus of hardy herbaceous plants belonging to the family Labiatae. They have flowers with a tubular five-toothed calyx, a two-lipped corolla, of which the upper lip is flat and notched, and the lower is three lobed.
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Nephanes is a genus of featherwing beetles, Ptiliidae, found chiefly in manure.
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Nephrolepsis is a genus of tropical ferns with pinnate fronds, the pinnae being articulated at the base.
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The Nepidae are the water-scorpions. They are aquatic, insectivorous Hydrocores with three or four jointed antennae and a body flat above and elliptic below. The fore legs are raptorial, the rest simple, fringed or flattened and used for swimming.
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Nepticulidae is the nepticulid moths or serpentine miners family of insects of the order Lepidoptera.
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Neptune's Cup (Poterion) is a Pacific Ocean sponge which grows to over one meter tall.
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Nereis is a genus of chaetopod worms, of which there are several British species.
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Nerine is a genus of South African bulbous plants belonging to the family Amaryllidaceae. They bear wide, loriform leaves, and umbels of gaily-coloured flowers.
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Nertera is a genus of creeping herbaceous plants belonging to the family Rubiaceae.
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Nest is the collective noun for a group of ants.
Nest is the collective noun for a group of mice.
Nest is the collective noun for a group of rabbits.
Nest is the collective noun for a group of wasps.
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Nestor is a genus of New Zealand parrots including the kaka (Nestor meridionalis) which lives in forests and lives on soft fruit, insects and nectar; and the kea.
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The Netted Carpet (Eustroma reticulata) is a moth of the family Geometridae with a wing span of between 20 and 25 mm locally distributed in the forest belt of Europe and more abundant in Asia flying from June to August.
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The Netted Pug (Eupithecia venosata) is a moth of the family Geometridae with a wing span of between 17 and 22 meters found in Europe and western and central Asia flying from May to July.
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The Netted Slug (Deroceras reticulatum) is a common British slug, about five centimetres long, usually buffish-brown in colour but it varies.
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The nettle (Urtica) is a genus of herbaceous plants of the family Urticaceae. They bear stamens and pistils in separate flowers, the staminate flowers having a perianth of four leaves, whilst the pistillate flowers have one of two leaves.
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The Nettle-tree Butterfly (Libythea celtis) is a small butterfly of the snout butterflies family (Libytheidae). They fly in June and then after hibernating again in March to April.
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Neuraphes is a genus of beetles of the family Scydmaenidae represented by six species in Britain, and living in moss, woodland litter, soil rich in humus and a few species in ants' nests.
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A neurone is a cell which receives and transmits electrical impulses.
Neurones are the basic component of an animal's nervous system.
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Neurotoma is a genus of Leaf-rolling sawfly of the family Pamphillidae.
Neurotoma nemoralis is widespread throughout Europe, often living in gardens, preferring cherry, plum, apricot, peach, sloe and similar fruit trees where the female lays her eggs. The larvae feed on the leaf tissue, at first living communally and later dispersed, hidden in rolled up leaves, later still communally again in a large nest made of the rolled leaves sewn together. The larvae are voracious and can defoliate an entire tree. The adults fly from April to May.
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The New Forest Pony is an English breed of semi-wild pony descended from ancient stock, and found in Hampshire's New Forest since the 10th century. The
New Forest Pony stands between 12 and 14 hands high and occurs mostly in a bay or brown colour. They are gentle and placid ponies and are excellent for use by children, excelling at dressage, jumping, mounted games and cross country riding as well as being in a harness.
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The New Hampshire Red is a breed of chicken.
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The New Mexico Milk Snake (Lampropeltis triangulum celaenops) is an American species of Milk Snake found in oak forests and Pinyon juniper woodlands in eastern New Mexico and Texas, where it feeds mainly on lizards. The
New Mexico Milk Snake has broad orange bands flanked by much thinner white bands and black bands.
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The Newfoundland is a bear-like breed of working dog known for aiding fishermen and sailors by jumping overboard to rescue people and by barking to warn of reefs. They are strong swimmers, and can retrieve people and boats in turbulent waters. They are also used to carry goods between ships. To this end the coat is water-repellent and very long, dense, and lush. The colour may be solid black, bronze, or come in patches of black and white (called landseer). The ears are long, broad, shaggy, and hang to below the bottom of the jaw. The tail is long and full and curves naturally at the end. The eyes are small, deep-set, and dark brown. The adult dog stands about 70cm tall at the shoulder and weighs about 60kg. The Newfoundland is renowned for its gentle nature.
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The newt (Molge) is a genus of Urodela. Newts are scaleless, lizard-like, semi-aquatic creatures related to frogs, but which keep their tales, that always resort to ponds during the breeding season. The males frequently differ from the females in the possession of high crests and other nuptial ornaments. All newts lay eggs, usually singularly, and these are attached to the leaves of submerged plants. By the skilful use of her feet, the female twists or folds the leaf around the egg, the eggs sticky envelope causing the leaf to stick to it, thus concealing the egg from predators. Infant newts are born with external gills, their transformation into lung-breathing newts taking place three or four months after hatching. Generally, after breeding newts leave the ponds and live in holes in the ground in the surrounding area.
The largest British newt is the Great Crested Newt also known as the Warty Newt so called on account of its warty skin. The Great Crested Newt is about 15 cm long, dark brown along the back with a bright orange underside marked with black spots. The male Great Crested Newt has a crest that runs from the head to the tail.
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Newtown Pippin is an American apple. The fruit is green with yellow highlights and has a tangy flavour and a firm flesh that makes it suitable for use in pies and sauces.
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The Nicholas is a breed of turkey.
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Nicobium is a genus of beetle of the family Anobiidae. They range from four to six millimetres in length.
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Nicotiana is the tobacco genus of plants.
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Nicrophorus is a genus of ten species of carrion beetle of the family Silphidae, the species include the Common Sexton Beetle and the Sexton Beetle.
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Nierembergia is a genus of mostly creeping American herbaceous plants, belonging to the family Solanaceae. They bear graceful flowers, with more or less infundibuliform corollas, violet or white in colour.
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Nigella is a genus of Asiatic and south European annual plants belonging to the family Ranunculaceae. They bear white, yellow or blue flowers.
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The Nigerian Pony is a Nigerian breed of large pony related to the Barb. The
Nigerian Pony stands 14 hands high and occurs in various colours. They are gentle, placid and good natured and are versatile being used in light draft and pack capacities as well as being ridden.
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The Nightingale (also known as the attic bird and the bulbul) is any song bird of the Passerine genus Daulias of the Thrush family. The Common Nightingale (Daulias luscinia) is about 17 centimetres long with plumage of a rich chestnut-brown above with a rufous tinge to the tail and greyish-white below deepening in hue on the breast,. The Common Nightingale arrives in England around the middle of April frequenting groves, small shady copses, woods, quiet gardens and thick hedgerows. They feed on worms, insects and insect-larvae. The nest is made in a hollow in the ground or in a low fork in a thick bush. About five olive-green coloured eggs are laid.
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The Nightjar or Goatsucker (Caprimulgus) is any of about 65 species of night- hunting birds forming the family Caprimulgidae. Their distinctive calls have earned them such names as whippoorwill and church-will's-widow.
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Nigroporus is a genus of fungi belonging to the family Polyporaceae.
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Nigroporus vinosus is a woody pore fungus with a dark brown to red brown cap and spore surface and small pores.
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The nikau palm (Rhopalostylis sapida) is a palm tree native to New Zealand. The leaves were used by the Maoris to build their whares and the top of the stem is sometimes eaten.
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The nilgai (Boselaphus tragocamelus) is a large, Indian antelope. The male is blue-grey with white markings and has small horns; the female is brownish and has no horns.
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The nine-spotted ctenuchid (Syntomis phegea) is a moth of the family Ctenuchidae found in warmer parts of Europe. A single generation is produced each year flying from June to August.
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The Niobe Fritillary (Fabriciana niobe) is a species of brush-footed butterfly (Nymphalidae) with a wing span of about 50 mm. The butterflies fly from June to August.
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Niptus is a genus of Spider Beetle (Ptinidae). It was introduced to Britain from Russia in 1838, and has subsequently spread over the whole world.
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Nitidula is a genus of sap-beetle (Nitidulidae) which live on carrion, bones and skins.
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Nitidulidae is the sap-beetles family of insects of the order Coleoptera. The members are mostly very small, oval or ovoid and with various modes of life.
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Noasaurus was a dinosaur of the Cretaceous period. Noasaurus is known from a few remains found in the 1970's which comprise a skull, some vertebrae and two foot bones, one of which has a hooked claw with a pit for a muscle to attach. It is thought from these remains that Noasaurus was a carnivore, about 240 centimetres long, and walked on its hind legs.
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Nocardia is a bacteria found in soil which causes nocardiosis.
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Noctuidae is the owlet moths and millers family of insects of the order Lepidoptera. The members of the family are distinguished by having the apex of the forewing marked with three light triangular spots aligned in a slightly curved row; pectinate antennae; degenerate mouthparts and the moth being active at night, with the males also flying on sunny mornings. The caterpillars have diagonal stripes and black dots.
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The noctule (Nyctalus noctula) is the largest of the British bats, having a wing span of about 38 centimetres. The ear is rounded, nearly as broad as long, the outer edge having a notch below the tragus and ending just behind the angle of the mouth. The tragus is short and broad, the terminal lobe wider than the basal stalk. The ears are spaced widely apart. The lower incisors are crowded and overlap each other, and the first premolar is minute. The colour of the velvety fur is yellowish or golden-brown above and below, the hair extending some way out from the body on both surfaces of the wing and interfemoral membrane; a band of hair is usually present along the hind edge of the wing bones on the inner side as far as the wrist. The noctule inhabits all temperate Europe and Asia, and in Britain it is common as far north as Yorkshire and north Wales, but north of that it rapidly becomes scarcer and has rarely been found in Scotland. It has not been recorded from the Isle of Man or Ireland. Its colonies are usually in holes in trees or buildings, hollow trees being specially favoured during summer; it has rarely been found in caves and then only singly. It is very gregarious, the colonies often containing many individuals, even as many as one or two hundred.
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When referring to an animal, nocturnal means that it is active at night, sleeping or dormant during the day.
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Nodosaurus was a dinosaur of the Cretaceous period. Nodosaurus was first described in 1889 by Othniel C Marsh on the basis of a few fragments of skeleton discovered, and later in 1921 was described more fully by R S Lull after further specimens were found in Wyoming and Kansas, USA. Nodosaurus was a medium-sized dinosaur, about six meters long, walked on all-fours and had an armour of bony knobs covering its body.
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The Nonius is a Hungarian breed of horse with two strains; one heavier used for light draft, farm work and riding and a lighter strain used for pure riding. The breed originated during the early 19th century and stands between 14.3 and 16.2 hands high and is bay or brown in colour. More recently English Thoroughbreds have been introduced to make the Nonius into first-rate competition and sports horses.
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Norfolk Beefing is an English species of apple. It was raised in Norfolk and first known under its present name in 1807. The fruit is round and red and good for cooking when first picked, the flesh tastes almost of raisins and cinnamon, but sweet enough to eat uncooked by spring. Once used for drying, the flesh is very firm and the apples store well.
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The Norfolk black is an easy to rear breed of small domestic turkey.
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The Norfolk Grey is a breed of chicken.
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The Norfolk poll is a British species of domestic cattle. They are red in colour, hornless and excellent dairy and beef cows.
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Norfolk Royal is an English species of apple. The fruit has a striking red appearance and a crisp sweet, juicy flesh. The trees are hardy and grow in cold temperate climates.
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The Norfolk Terrier is an English breed of hunting terrier bred during the 1800s, originally known as the Jones Terrier the breed was subdivided into two in 1964 following a decision by the British Kennel Club, and the animals with folded ears are known as Norfolk Terriers and those with erect ears are known as Norwich Terriers. They are hardy and loyal dogs with a shaggy tan coloured coat and stand twenty-five centimetres tall.
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The Noriker or South German Coldblood is an Austrian breed of heavy horse from the Alps. The Noriker stands between 15 and 17 hands high and is liver chestnut in colour with a flaxen mane and tail, or bay, dun, spotted or skewbald in colour. The Noriker is renowned for having a heavy head, short neck and a deep, broad chest.
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The Normandy Cob is a French breed of heavy horse developed by the Romans. The
Normandy Cob stands 15 to 16 hands high and is chestnut or bay in colour. They have minimal feathering on the legs and a characteristic energetic and free-flowing trot.
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The North Holland Blue is a breed of chicken.
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The North Swedish Horse is a Swedish breed of heavy horse developed around the end of the 19th century. A small heavy horse, standing 15 hands high, they are renowned for their strength and endurance, and are used for forest and lumber work. The North Swedish Horse is mostly brown, chestnut or dun in colour with black points and some feathering to the legs.
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The Northern Bottlenose Whale (Hyperoodon ampullatus) is a friendly whale found in the cold temperate waters of the Atlantic Ocean west of the British Isles where they feed on deep-water squid, a few fish and invertebrates. The male Northern Bottlenose Whale grows to a length of 980 cm, the female to a length of 870 cm, with the young being born at a length of 350 cm. Northern Bottlenose Whales resemble bottlenosed dolphins in having a bulbous forehead and a tube-like beak. They are friendly whales, often approaching ships and to be observed playing together. Scientists have observed long-term relationships established between same-sex Northern Bottlenose Whales. But not between opposite sexes. During history the Northern Bottlenose Whale was heavily hunted, with tens of thousands killed during the 20th century leaving a population believed to be in the region of some 250 by the start of the 21st century, mostly living in the Gully of the northern Atlantic Ocean.
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The Northern Harrier (Circus cyaneus) is an American medium-large hawk of the order Falconiformes, family Accipitridae, with long wings, and a floppy flight low over ground with the wings help up at an angle. It has a white rump patch and banded tail. The male is grey the female brown and larger than the male. It flushes its prey from hiding with its low swooping flight.
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The Northern Lynx or Eurasian Lynx is a species of Lynx related to the Spanish Lynx, but larger at about 35 kg. The Northern Lynx is found in northern Europe and northern Asia in snowy habitats, formerly it was found throughout Europe and Britain but hunting made the species extinct in many parts. The Northern Lynx has a grey or light-brown dark-spotted coat, prominent ear tufts and thick side-whiskers.
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The Northern Spinach (Eulithis populata) is a moth of the family Geometridae with a wing span of between 25 and 32 mm found in the whole Palaearctic and in North America flying from June to September.
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Northern Spy is a large, late-ripening species of eating apple with a striped yellow and red skin.
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The Northern Wall Brown (Lasiommata petropolitana) is a butterfly of the family Satyridae.
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The Northlands Pony is an old breed of pony from Norway descended from a cross of the Przewalski's Horse and the Tarpan. The Northlands Pony stands between 12 and 14 hands high, depending on type - the Lyngen being larger than the Nordland. They are mostly bay or brown in colour, are placid and gentle yet energetic, tough and hardy and have a natural athletic jumping ability.
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The Northwestern Garter Snake (Thamnophis ordinoides) is an American species of Garter snake. Individuals vary widely in colouration, and may be black, brown, grey, yellow or bluish in colour with a mid-dorsal stripe that may be clear or indistinct. They generally grow to 95 centimetres long, and can generally be distinguished by a series of reddish blotches on the belly.
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The Norwegian Fjord Pony is an ancient breed of pony from Norway, formerly used by the Vikings who took them overseas. The Norwegian Fjord Pony is a good natured pony standing 13 to 14 hands high, dun in colour with dark dorsal and zebra stripes and an upright tow-tone mane.
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The Norwegian forest is a breed of long-haired cat renowned for its wild, rugged, and hardy nature and appearance and its remarkably fast-drying coat. The thick and heavy overcoat covers a woolly undercoat and forms an abundant ruff around the neck. The ears are long and pointed and set high on the head, the tail is flowing and as long as the body, the eyes are bright and attentive and vary with the coat colour. In the summer it sheds its fur and only its tail, ear and toe tufts distinguish it as a long-haired cat. The
Norwegian forest originated centuries ago in Norway, where it is called a Skogkatt and is mentioned in Norse mythology where it is referred to as a fairy or troll cat because it comes from the woodlands.
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Nosodendridae is a family of beetles of the order Coleoptera.
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Nosodendron is a genus of small beetles of the family Nosodendridae found on escaping sap.
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Nossidium is a genus of featherwing beetles, Ptiliidae, found on rotting wood and fungi.
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Notaris is a genus of Snout Beetles (Curculionidae) that live on waterside or marsh plants.
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Notelaea is a genus of evergreen Australian shrubs and trees of the family Oleaceae. They bear axillary racemes of small white flowers, followed by bluish drupes.
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Noterus is a genus of predacious diving beetles of the family Dytiscidae. Two species occur in Britain, both with a reddish-brown coloured back, often with a somewhat lighter coloured pronotum.
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Nothochlaena is a genus of tropical and subtropical ferns.
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Nothorhina is a genus of small longhorn beetles (Cerambycidae), between seven and fifteen millimetres long.
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Nothoscordum is a genus of bulbous plants of the family Liliaceae. They bear terminal umbels of flowers, usually of great beauty.
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Nothotecta is a genus of rove beetles, Staphylinidae. They live in ants' nests.
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Notiophilus is a genus of minute dark to bronze brown coloured beetles of the family Carabidae, growing to between three and six millimetres in length. They are recognisable by their large head and large eyes. The adult beetles are active both in the day and at night and may be found under stones and moss.
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A notochord is an axial stiffening rod extending along the length of an animal and lying immediately above the alimentary canal.
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Notodontidae is the puss moths family of insects of the order Lepidoptera.
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Notornis is a genus of extinct New Zealand flightless birds whose members were allied to the rails. The best known species had greenish plumage on the back, with the remainder purple. The wings were rudimentary, but the Notornis could run quickly. The last living specimen was caught in 1898.
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Notoryctemorphia is the marsupial moles order of Metatheria. Marsupial moles are very similar to the eutherian golden moles (the family Chrysochloridae) in size and shape, and in the silky, iridescent texture and appearance of their fur. They have vestigial, functionally blind eyes that lack lens and pupil. External ears are absent. The snout is covered by a horny shield, and the short, stout tail is encased in leathery skin. The fore claws are modified like miniature spades, with the third and fourth digits of the forefeet greatly enlarged and bearing enormous triangular claws.
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Notoxus is a genus of beetle of the family Anthicidae characterised by the presence of a long forward-pointing horn on their rounded pronotum.
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Notylia is a genus of tropical American orchids, bearing inconspicuous flowers with entire unguiculate lips.
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The Novokirghiz is a Kirghizian breed of tough harness and riding horse used for agricultural work, pack work and riding. The Novokirghiz is a tough breed with stamina and endurance able to cope with any kind of terrain and also amenable and energetic. They stand between 14 and 15 hands high and are bay, brown, grey or chestnut in colour.
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The nubian is a breed of domesticated goat with long legs, long ears and a large nose kept for its milk in India, the Middle East, North Africa, Britain and the USA.
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The Nubian Wild Ass was a subspecies of African Wild Ass and the ancestor of domestic donkeys. It became extinct during the 1950s.
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Nuphar is a genus of aquatic herbaceous plants belonging to the family Nymphaeaceae. They bear floating petalate leaves and large yellow flowers.
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The Nut Weevil (Curculio nucum) is a species of Snout Beetle (Curculionidae) that live chiefly on hazel and oaks, the larvae eating the young hazel nuts in which the female lays her eggs before boring their way out of the shell to drop to the floor and pupate in the ground.
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The Nut-tree Tussock (Colocasia coryli) is a moth of the family Noctuidae with a wing span of between 27 and 35 mm found in Europe and Asia in deciduous forests where it produces a single generation between April and June and occasionally a second generation in August.
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In botany, nutation is the spiral movement exhibited by the tips of certain stems during growth; it enables a climbing plant to find a suitable support.
Nutation sometimes also occurs in tendrils and flower stalks. The direction of the movements, clockwise or anticlockwise, is usually characteristic for particular species.
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The nutcracker is a Jay-like bird of the genus Nucifraga, in the crow family Corvidae, order Passeriformes. There are two species: one in the Old World and one in the New World. The Old World nutcracker (Nucifraga caryocatactes) is found in areas of coniferous forest in Asia and parts of Europe, particularly in mountains. About 30 centimetres long, it has a brown back, with a long white spot on each feather, dark brown head, white tipped outer tail feathers, black feet and a powerful black bill. It feeds on conifer seeds. The nest is a big, clumsy structure, and in it about three eggs are laid, which are very light green, spotted with pale brown. Irregularly, there is a mass migration of nutcrackers from Siberia to western Europe.
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The nuthatch is a small bird of the family Sittidae, with a short tail and pointed beak. Nuthatches climb head first up, down, and around tree trunks and branches, foraging for insects and their larvae. The 14 centimetres long white-breasted nuthatch Sitta carolinensis of North America has a black cap, grey wings, and white under-parts. The European nuthatch (Sitta europaea) has a blue-grey back and buff breast; the throat is white, and the tail feathers have white tips. It is fairly common in the southern half of England and in Europe, and is a climber, feeding mainly on nuts. The bill is powerful and wedge-shaped, and is used to force away the bark in the search for insects, as well as to break nuts. The nest is built in a hole in a tree, and 5-8 white eggs with reddish-brown spots are laid in early summer.
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Nutmeg (Myristica fragrans) is an evergreen tree with dark glossy leaves, native to the Molucca Islands. It is cultivated in the tropics for its seeds which is used in cooking as a spice, and for the large, branched crimson arils which constitute the spice mace.
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The Nutmeg Moth (Discestra trifolii) is a moth of the family Noctuidae with a wing span of between 30 and 35 mm found throughout the temperate zone of Europe and Asia and in parts of North America. Two or three generations are produced between May and October.
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The nutria or coypu is a South American water rodent (Myocastor coypus), it is about 60 centimetres long and weighs up to 9kg. It has a scaly, rat-like tail, webbed hind feet, a blunt, muzzled head, and large, orange incisors. The fur is reddish brown. It feeds on vegetation and lives in burrows in river and lake banks. Taken to Europe and then to North America to be farmed for their fur, many escaped or were released and became established, often to the detriment of native species.
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Nutrition is the strategy adopted by an organism to obtain the chemicals it needs to live, grow, and reproduce. The term is also applied to the science of food, and its effect on human and animal life, health, and disease.
Nutrition involves the study of the basic nutrients required to sustain life, their bio-availability in foods and overall diet, and the effects upon them of cooking and storage. It is also concerned with dietary deficiency diseases. There are six classes of nutrients: water, carbohydrates, proteins, fats, vitamins, and minerals. Water is involved in nearly every body process. Animals and humans will succumb to water deprivation sooner than to starvation. Carbohydrates are composed of carbon, hydrogen and oxygen. The major groups are starches, sugars, and cellulose and related material (or ' roughage'). The prime function of the carbohydrates is to provide energy for the body; they also serve as efficient sources of glucose, which the body requires for brain functioning, utilisation of foods, maintenance of body temperature. Roughage includes the stiff structural materials of vegetables, fruits, and cereal products. Proteins are made up of smaller units, amino acids. The primary function of dietary protein is to provide the amino acids
required for growth and maintenance of body tissues. Both vegetable and animal foods are protein sources. Fats serve as concentrated sources of energy, and protect vital organs such as the kidneys and skeleton. Saturated fats derive primarily from animal sources; unsaturated fats from vegetable sources such as nuts and seeds. Vitamins are essential for normal growth, and are either fat-soluble or water-soluble. Fat-soluble vitamins include A, essential to the maintenance of mucous membranes, particularly the conjunctiva of the eyes; D, important to the absorption of calcium; E, an antioxidant; and K, which aids blood clotting. Water-soluble vitamins are the B complex, essential to metabolic reactions, and C, for maintaining connective tissue and cell functioning. Minerals are vital to normal development; calcium and iron are particularly important as they are required in relatively large amounts. Minerals required by the body in trace amounts include chromium, copper, fluoride, iodine, iron, magnesium,
manganese, molybdenum, phosphorus, potassium, selenium, sodium, and zinc.
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The nyala (Tragelaphus angasi) is an antelope found in the thick bush of southern Africa. About one meter at the shoulder, it is greyish-brown with thin vertical white stripes. Males have horns up to 80 centimetres long.
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Nyctaginaceae is a family of mostly herbaceous plants bearing hermaphrodite flowers. The roots of most species act as gastrointestinal irritants.
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Nyctanthes is a genus of small Indian trees belonging to the family Oleaceae. The tree of sadness (Nyctanthes arbor-tristis) bears numerous white, salver- shaped, very fragrant flowers which open at night and fall at sunrise.
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Nycteribia is a genus of anomalous, blood-sucking, wingless flies found on bats.
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Nye is the collective noun for a group of pheasants.
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In entomology, nymph is the immature form of insects that do not have a pupal stage; for example, grasshoppers and dragonflies. Nymphs generally resemble the adult (unlike larvae), but do not have fully formed reproductive organs or wings.
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Nymphalidae (the Nymphalids) is the brush-footed butterflies family of insects of the order Lepidoptera. Members of the family include the best known and most colourful butterflies, and occur in all continents where the weather is suitable. There are more than 1500 known species of Nymphalidae, with new species being discovered still.
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Nyssa is a genus of trees of the family Cornaceae, known as the tupelo trees.
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Abbreviations
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