verb

if a whale (=large sea animal) is beached, it lands on the beach and cannot get back into the water

verb

if a snake or insect bites you, it makes a small hole in your skin

noun

an instance of an animal biting someone

verb

if an animal’s fur bristles, it sticks up because the animal is angry or afraid

verb

if an animal such as a horse bucks, it kicks its back legs in the air or jumps off the ground in an uncontrolled way

verb

an animal that burrows digs a hole or tunnel in the ground to live in

verb

if a snake casts its skin, it slides out of it

verb

to attack someone, or to try to cut or tear something using claws

verb

if young animals frisk, they run and jump

verb

if an animal such as a bull gores someone, it injures them with its horns

verb

if an animal growls, it makes a frightening or unfriendly low noise

verb

if an animal hibernates, it sleeps through the winter months

noun

if an animal or bird has a homing instinct, it is able to find its way home across long distances

verb

if a bird or animal hops, it uses both or all feet to jump forward

noun

a short quick jump by a small animal, such as a rabbit, or a bird

verb

if animals or insects infest a place, there are very many of them in it, so that they might cause damage or disease

noun

a situation in which a lot of insects or animals are in a place and are causing damage or disease

verb

if an animal laps water, it drinks it gently with its tongue

verb

if an animal lashes its tail, or if its tail lashes, it moves its tail fast and violently from side to side, often when it is angry

noun

a quick violent movement of an animal’s tail from side to side, often because it is angry

verb

if an animal mauls a person or other animal, it attacks them with its claws and teeth, usually causing serious injury

verb

if a bird or animal migrates, it travels to another part of the world for warmer weather at a particular time of the year

noun

the process by which people or animals migrate to another place or country

verb

if a plant or animal mimics another plant or animal or mimics something in its environment, it makes itself look like it in order to be less noticeable to its enemies

noun

the way in which a plant or animal is able to make itself look like another plant or animal or something in its environment in order to be less noticeable to its enemies

the American spelling of moult

verb

if an animal or bird moults, it loses its outer layer of skin, fur, feathers etc so that a new layer can replace it

verb

if a male animal mounts a female animal, he climbs on her back in order to have sex

verb

if plants or animals overwinter somewhere, they live through the winter there without dying

verb

if an animal paws something, it touches it several times with its foot

verb

if a horse prances, it walks with lively steps, raising its legs high in a way that is not natural

noun

the relationship between two groups of animals in which one species hunts, kills, and eats the other

verb

if a bird or animal preens or preens itself, it cleans and arranges its feathers or fur with its beak or tongue

to hunt another creature in order to eat it

verb

if a horse rears, it lifts its front legs up into the air

verb

if an animal scavenges, it eats anything that it can find

verb

if an animal scents someone or something, it knows they are there because of their smell

verb

if an animal scrabbles, it moves its feet quickly against a surface

verb

if a horse shies, it moves suddenly away from something because it is afraid

verb

to remove an outer layer of skin

verb

if a cat sprays a particular area, it urinates in many places around the area to show other cats that it lives there

verb

if plants or animals tolerate particular conditions, they are able to exist in those conditions

verb

if a horse or other animal trots, it moves more quickly than when walking but does not run

noun

if an animal chews the cud, it brings food that it has swallowed back into its mouth to chew again