Roots of Common Terms in Animal Behavior
Roots
G = Greek, L = Latin, F = French
Agonistic
agon = "contest" (G)
Altruism
alteri huic = "to this other" (L)
Camouflage
camoufler = "to disguise" (F)
The word camouflage started being used in World War I when militaries began to dress in colors that allowed them to blend in.
Circadian
circa = "around" and dies = "day" (L)
Communication
communicare = "to share" (L)
Crepuscular
crepusculum = "twilight" (L)
Diurnal
diurnus= "daily", from dies = "day" (L)
Innate
in = "into" and nasci = "be born" (L)
Kinesis
kinein = "to move" (G)
Migration
migrat- = "moved or shifted" (L)
Monogamous
monos = "single" and gamos = "marriage" (G)
Nocturnal
nocturnus = "of the night" (L)
Pheromones
pherein = "convey" (G) + horman = "set in motion" (G)
Polygamous
polugamos = "often marrying" (G)
Signal
signum = "mark, token" (L)
Taxis
tassein = "arrange" (G)