🐾 Animals & Nature · IELTS Vocabulary by Topic · 20 words

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species /ˈspiːʃiːz/ n	a group of animals or plants that share similar features and can breed together Thousands of species could disappear if rainforests continue to shrink.
extinction /ɪkˈstɪŋkʃn/ n	the situation in which a type of animal or plant no longer exists Hunting drove the dodo to extinction in the seventeenth century.
ecosystem /ˈiːkəʊsɪstəm/ n	all the living things in an area and the way they affect each other Introducing a foreign species can upset the balance of an entire ecosystem.
predator /ˈpredətə(r)/ n	an animal that kills and eats other animals Wolves are natural predators that keep deer populations under control.
prey /preɪ/ n	an animal that is hunted and eaten by another animal Small birds are easy prey for domestic cats.
poaching /ˈpəʊtʃɪŋ/ n	the illegal hunting or catching of animals Poaching for ivory has caused a dramatic fall in elephant numbers.
captivity /kæpˈtɪvəti/ n	the state of being kept in a zoo or cage rather than living freely Animals kept in captivity often show signs of stress and boredom.
migrate /maɪˈɡreɪt/ v	(of birds or animals) to move from one region to another each season Many birds migrate south to escape the cold winter.
breed /briːd/ v	(of animals) to produce young; to keep animals in order to produce young Zoos help endangered animals breed and increase their numbers.
mammal /ˈmæml/ n	an animal that gives birth to live young and feeds them with milk Whales and dolphins are mammals, not fish.
marine /məˈriːn/ adj	connected with the sea and the creatures that live in it Plastic waste is a major threat to marine life.
nocturnal /nɒkˈtɜːnl/ adj	(of animals) active at night rather than during the day Owls are nocturnal birds that hunt mainly in the dark.
food chain /ˈfuːd tʃeɪn/ n	a series of living things where each one is eaten by the next Chemicals in the water can build up at every level of the food chain.
animal welfare /ˌænɪml ˈwelfeə(r)/ n	the health and fair treatment of animals Animal welfare groups campaign against cruel farming methods.
vulnerable /ˈvʌlnərəbl/ adj	easily harmed or attacked Young turtles are extremely vulnerable to predators when they reach the sea.
fauna /ˈfɔːnə/ n	all the animals living in a particular area The island is famous for its unique flora and fauna.
invasive /ɪnˈveɪsɪv/ adj	(of a species) spreading quickly into new areas and harming native species Invasive species are a growing threat to native plants and animals.
domesticated /dəˈmestɪkeɪtɪd/ adj	(of animals) kept by humans as pets or farm animals rather than living wild Dogs were among the first animals to be domesticated by humans.
hibernate /ˈhaɪbəneɪt/ v	(of animals) to sleep through the winter Bears hibernate for several months to survive the winter.
rainforest /ˈreɪnfɒrɪst/ n	a thick forest in a tropical area with heavy rainfall all year The Amazon rainforest is often called the lungs of the planet.