Parts of animals
anatomical
adjective
relating to the physical structure of an animal or plant
anatomy
noun
the body of a human or animal, or the structure of a plant
antler
noun
one of the horns on the head of a male deer
belly
noun
the soft lower part of an animal’s body
blowhole
noun
a hole in the top of the head of a sea animal such as a whale or dolphin, through which it breathes
body
noun
the main part of a person’s or animal’s body, not including the head, arms, or legs
bony
adjective
made mainly from bone
capsule
noun
a small container in which seeds or eggs develop in some plants and animals
carapace
noun
a hard shell on the back of an animal such as a turtle
claw
noun
the sharp curved end of a front leg of a sea creature such as a crab that it uses for holding things
claw
noun
the sharp curved part at the end of some animals’ toes, for example a cat
cloven hoof
noun
the foot of an animal such as a cow or a sheep that has two separate parts
collar
noun
an area around an animal’s or bird’s neck that is a different colour from the rest of its body
compound eye
noun
the type of eye that insects and crustaceans have, made from several different parts that are sensitive to light
dorsal
adjective
relating to or found on the back of a fish or animal
flank
noun
the side of an animal’s body between its hip and its ribs, or the meat from this part of an animal’s body
flipper
noun
a wide flat body part like an arm that some sea animals such as penguins, dolphins, and seals use for swimming
foreleg
noun
one of the two front legs of an animal that has four legs
genitals
noun
the outer sex organs of a person or animal
haunch
noun
the upper part of an animal’s or human’s leg, including the hip and buttock
hind
adjective
the hind legs or feet of an animal are its back legs or feet
hindquarters
noun
the back parts of an animal’s body, including its back legs
hock
noun
the part in the middle of an animal’s back leg
horn
noun
one of the hard pointed parts that usually grow in a pair on the heads of some animals, for example cows or goats. The horns on a deer are called antlers.
hump
noun
a large round part on the back of an animal such as a camel
leg
noun
one of the parts of the body of an insect or animal that it uses for walking
mandible
noun
the lower jaw of a person, animal, or fish
muzzle
noun
the nose and mouth of an animal such as a dog or horse
pad
noun
an area of flesh on the bottom of the foot of an animal such as a cat or dog
paw
noun
the foot of some animals such as cats, dogs, and bears
pouch
noun
a fold of skin on the body of an animal, for example the place where a kangaroo carries its baby
prickle
noun
a sharp pointed part on a plant or animal
proboscis
noun
the long nose of some animals, for example an elephant’s trunk
quill
noun
a long thin sharp object like a stick that grows from the body of porcupines and some other animals
rump
noun
the part of an animal’s body above its back legs
sac
noun
a part of an animal or plant that is shaped like a small bag and is usually filled with liquid or air
shank
noun
the lower part of an animal’s leg, or meat from an animal’s leg
shell
noun
the hard outer part that protects the body of a sea creature
shoulder
noun
the upper part of the front leg of an animal, or meat from this part
simple eye
noun
an eye in insects and some other creatures that has a single lens
snout
noun
the long nose of a pig or a similar animal
snout
noun
the nose and mouth of a dolphin or a similar animal
spine
noun
a sharp point on a plant or animal
stalk
noun
a long thin part of an object or animal that supports something on the end of it
sting
noun
the sharp part of an insect’s or animal’s body that it can push into your skin
tail
noun
a part at the back of an animal’s body that can move
teat
noun
one of the small pointed parts of a female animal’s body through which a baby animal sucks milk
tentacle
noun
one of the long thin arms of an octopus that it uses for feeling things or for moving
throat
noun
the front part of a bird’s or animal’s neck
trotter
noun
the foot of a pig, sometimes cooked and eaten as food
trunk
noun
an elephant’s long nose
udder
noun
the part under the body of a cow and some other female animals, shaped like a small bag, in which milk is produced
underbelly
noun
the part under an animal’s body where the stomach is
womb
noun
the organ in a woman’s or female animal’s body where a baby grows before it is born