Understanding Animal Terminology in English
To begin with, the English language utilises a remarkably diverse vocabulary to categorise the animal kingdom. Specifically, English speakers use different names for animals depending on whether they are male, female, young, domesticated, or travelling in groups.
Common Terms for Males and Females
For instance, people assign special names to differentiate the male and female forms of many common species. When observing farm animals, agricultural workers call male chickens roosters and female chickens hens. Furthermore, farmers refer to male cattle as bulls and females as cows.
We see similar naming conventions in wildlife observation. Naturalists identify male deer as bucks and female deer as does. Additionally, animal experts clearly distinguish male lions from lionesses. You can learn more about these specific species profiles and their distinct characteristics at educational institutions such as the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance.
Identifying the Young and Animal Groups
In addition to distinguishing adult animals by sex, English speakers use unique words to describe baby animals and their social gatherings. For example, we call young cattle calves and baby deer fawns. Moreover, when animals gather, observers use specific collective nouns to describe them, such as identifying a herd of cattle, a flock of chickens, or a pride of lions.
The Science of Hermaphroditism
On the other hand, nature sometimes defies these strictly binary naming conventions. Biologists classify an organism that naturally develops both male and female reproductive organs as a hermaphrodite. Scientists refer to this fascinating biological condition as hermaphroditism; a reproductive strategy commonly found in many invertebrates and certain fish species. To dive deeper into how these unique reproductive systems function in the wild, you can research scientific publications through databases like the Encyclopaedia of Life or Nature.
| # | Animal | Male | Female | Young |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Antelope | Buck | Doe | Calf |
| 2 | Ass | Jack | Jenny | Foal |
| 3 | Bear | Boar | Sow | Cub |
| 4 | Camel | Bull | Cow | Calf |
| 5 | Caribou | Buck | Doe | Calf |
| 6 | Cat | Tom | Queen | Kitten |
| 7 | Cattle | Bull | Cow | Calf |
| 8 | Chicken | Cock / Rooster | Hen | Chick |
| 9 | Chimpanzee | Blackback / Emperor | Empress | Infant |
| 10 | Coyote | Dog | Bitch | Pup |
| 11 | Crocodile | Bull | Cow | Hatchling |
| 12 | Deer | Stag / Buck | Doe | Fawn |
| 13 | Dog | Dog | Bitch | Pup |
| 14 | Donkey | Jack | Jenny | Foal |
| 15 | Duck | Drake | Duck / Hen | Duckling |
| 16 | Elephant | Bull | Cow | Calf |
| 17 | Elephant-Seal | Bull | Cow | Calf |
| 18 | Elk | Bull | Cow | Calf |
| 19 | Falcon | Tiercel | Falcon | Eyass / Eyas |
| 20 | Ferret | Hob | Gill / Jill | Kit |
| 21 | Fox | Dog / Reynard | Vixen | Cub |
| 22 | Gerbil | Buck | Doe | Pup |
| 23 | Giraffe | Bull | Cow | Calf |
| 24 | Goat | Billy / Buck | Nanny / Doe | Kid |
| 25 | Goose | Gander | Goose | Gosling |
| 26 | Guinea Pig | Boar | Sow | Pup |
| 27 | Hamster | Buck | Doe | Pup |
| 28 | Hare | Buck / Jack | Doe / Jill | Leveret |
| 29 | Hawk | Tiercel | Hen | Eyas |
| 30 | Hedgehog | Boar | Sow | Hoglet |
| 31 | Hippopotamus | Bull | Cow | Calf |
| 32 | Horse | Stallion | Mare | Foal |
| 33 | Hyena | Dog | Bitch | Cub |
| 34 | Kangaroo | Boomer / Buck / Jack | Flyer / Doe / Jill | Joey |
| 35 | Leopard | Leopard | Leopardess | Cub |
| 36 | Lion | Lion | Lioness | Cub |
| 37 | Mallard | Greenhead | Hen | Duckling |
| 38 | Mole | Boar | Sow | Pup |
| 39 | Mouse | Buck | Doe | Kitten / Pup |
| 40 | Opossum | Jack | Jill | Joey |
| 41 | Otter | Boar | Sow | Pup / Whelp |
| 42 | Panther | Panther | Pantheress | Cub |
| 43 | Peafowl | Peacock | Peahen | Peachick |
| 44 | Pig | Boar / Barrow | Sow / Gilt | Piglet / Farrow |
| 45 | Polar Bear | Boar | Sow | Cub |
| 46 | Rabbit | Buck | Doe | Bunny / Kit / Kitten |
| 47 | Rat | Buck / Bull | Doe / Cow | Pup |
| 48 | Red Deer | Stag / Hart | Hind | Calf |
| 49 | Seahorse | Seastallion | Seamare | Seafoal |
| 50 | Sheep | Ram | Ewe | Lamb |
| 51 | Swan | Cob | Pen | Cygnet |
| 52 | Swine | Boar | Sow | Piglet |
| 53 | Tiger | Tiger | Tigress | Cub |
| 54 | Turkey | Gobbler / Stag / Tom | Hen | Poult |
| 55 | Wallaby | Jack | Jill | Joey |
| 56 | Walrus | Bull | Cow | Calf |
| 57 | Whale | Bull | Cow | Calf |
| 58 | Wolf | Dog | Bitch | Pup |
| 59 | Wolverine | Wolverine | Angeline | Kit / Whelp |
| 60 | Wombat | Jack | Jill | Joey |
| 61 | Zebra | Stallion | Mare | Colt / Foal |