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Sources for definitions: Gordh & Headric 2001, Martin & Davis 2004, Lawrence 2000, Thorp& Covitch 1991, Merriam-Webster 2005, Blass 2007 and the various identification key references
 

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umbos beak or older part of shells of bivalve mollusc
uncate hooked
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unicellular referring to organism or structure consisting of only one cell
unidentate descriptive of mandibles displaying one tooth only
urogpmphi plural of urogomphus
urogomphus fixed or mobile cuticular processes on the apical abdominal segment
uropod any of the abdominal feet of arthropods
urosome tail region of the abdomen
urosomite a single segment of the tail region of the abdomen
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vagrant

an animal that moves from place to place following the food source, not establishing a shelter or home area
valve each half of the hinged two-part shells
venation complete system of veins in the wing
venter ventral surface of a segment
ventral descriptive of the underside of the body
ventrite a ventral, sclerotised part of a body segment; the ventral aspect of a body ring of an insect
vermiform worm-shaped; an elongate, cylindrical body with more or less parallel sides and tapered or rounded ends
vertex the top of the head between the eyes
viviparous referring to organisms that bear live young
volant flying or capable of flight
voracious agressive, greedy
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waterbody an volume of water, standing or flowing, of any size, depth or salinity
waterbodies plural of waterbody
water column the main part of the waterbody that does NOT include the bottom, edges or surface
waterfall sudden vertical descent of a river
waterhole a natural hole or hollow in which water collects
wetland an area saturated with water up to a depth of six metres, wholly or partially, permanent or temporary
whorl the spiral turn of a univalve shell
wing pads the encased underdeveloped wings of nymphs
x

y

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zooid an individual organism in a colony of bryozoans
zooplankton microscopic animal life found floating and drifting in large numbers in bodies of freshwater
zygote cell formed by the union of male and female gametes
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