Glossary
A
active margins: where colliding continental
and oceanic plates trigger volcanic eruptions, earthquakes,
and mountain building
B
barkhans: sand dunes with low, curved sides;
crescent-shaped dunes formed by one-directional blowing
of the wind.
bipedal: walking on two legs
Bororo: "Cattle Fulani;" the name of this
nomadic tribe comes from the bororo cattle they herd
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C
carnivore: meat eating animal
carrying capacity: maximum weight that can
be carried
Cenozoic Era: 65mya to present; Era associated
with the development of and domination by mammals
correlation: the process geologists use to relate
rock layers in area to rock layers from another area
Cretaceous Period: last period of the Mesozoic
Era; time period during which dinosaurs became extinct:
"creta" comes from Latin, meaning chalk
crust: earth's outer surface; ranges from
4 miles : 40 miles thick
cram-cram: low scattered grass which marks
the southern end of the of the "real desert"
and the beginning of the Sahel
crystal: a solid form of mineral with a regular,
geometrical shape
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D
dehydrated food: food that is dried and has
most of the water taken out of it
desert: an area that receives less than 10
inches of rain a year
desertification: process of becoming a desert,
either by poor land management or by climate changes
desert melon: small inedible gourd, which
if eaten, will induce vomiting.
drought: long period of dry weather with little
or no rainfall or snow
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E
erg (Arabic): vast sea of huge rolling sand
dunes, devoid of vegetation, usually hundreds of miles
wide
erosion: wearing away of the earth's surface
due to heat, wind and water
estivation: when an animal's body processes
(such as breathing and heart rate) slow down in reaction
to a dry season so that it will need less water (similar
to hibernation)
excavate: to dig-up or unearth
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F
femur: a bone of the leg situated between
the pelvis and knee in human beings, or a functionally
similar bone in the leg or hind limb of a vertebrate
animal. It is the largest and strongest bone in the
body. Also called thighbone.
fennec: the world's smallest fox; inhabits
the Sahara. The fennec's exceptionally large ears
help disperse heat and give it acute hearing.
fibula: the outer and narrower of two bones
of the human lower leg, extending from the knee to
the ankle, or the corresponding bone in the hind leg
of an animal.
formation: a group of rock layers that are
recognizable from one place to another
fossil: the remains of a living thing, or
direct evidence of its presence, preserved in rocks.
usually only hard parts such as bones, teeth, and
shells are preserved by burial or chemical change
fossil record: the history of life on earth
as revealed by fossils
Fulani: traditionally nomadic people living
throughout West African savannah areas; one of the
largest groups in West Africa. Pastoral Fulani rely
on cattle for wealth, and exist primarily on sheep.
(also known as "Wodaabe")
Fulfulde: language of the Fulani people
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G
geographic map: depicts the location of cits,
roads, major land formations
geologic column: shows rock units as they
were laid down in sequence
geologic map: depicts the age of rocks (ancient,
dinosaur age, or mammal age) and under what conditions
the rock formed (on land, in the sea, on a volcano)
geologist: a scientist who studies the structure
of the earth and its rocks
gerewol: Fulani ceremonial courtship dance
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H
hamada (Arabic): flat, wind-swept rocky desert
surface; stony desert plain
harmattan: cold, dry northeastern wind, which
blows from October-February and brings dusty storms
to the Sahara
Hausa: refers both to a language and a group
of people. Currently, Hausa people are most commonly
associated with Northern Nigeria, but Hausa people
live throughout West Africa and historically dominated
commercial activity. Hausa is the dominant language
of commerce throughout the Central Sudan savannah
herbivore: plant-eating animal
hooded vulture: this scavenger bird is often
found near oases in the Southern Sahara
humerus: the long bone of the arm or forelimb,
extending from the shoulder to the elbow.
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J
Jurassic Period: second period of the Mesozoic
Era; time period during which Pangea began to rift
apart' :"Jurassic" comes from fossil:bearing limestone
rocks found in Europe's Jura Mountains
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I
igneous rocks: formed when melted rock in
volcanoes or under the earth's surface cools and hardens
(also known as volcanic, intrusive or extrusive)
index fossils: a fossil that provides precise
correlation because it: has recognizable unique features,
a wide distribution and is present in the geologic
record for only a limited time.
inner core: a solid ball inside the middle
of the earth; 1540 miles thick; intense pressure keeps
the inner core solid despite a temperature of 3700
degrees C
invertebrate: an animal that has no backbone.
The vast majority of animals are invertebrates
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L
Laurasia: northern portion of Pangaea, which
consisted of the present day continents of Eurasia
(Europe and Asia) North America
longitudinal dunes: caused by strong wind
blowing continuously in one direction and forming
troughs in the sand which run parallel to the wind;
also called "seif" ("sword" in
Arabic)
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M
magma: hot molten rock formed beneath the
earth's surface.
mammals: animals with backbones that have
hair, give live birth, and feed their young milk
mantle: layer of rock between the earth's
crust and outer core; 1800 miles think; semi-molten
and denser than crustal rock
marine rock: rock that formed in the ocean
(i.e. limestone)
metacarpals: any of the five bones between
the fingers and the wrist.
metamorphic rocks: are formed when igneous
or sedimentary rocks are subjected to extreme heat
and pressure, causing them to bend, fold, squeeze
and literally, "change" shape and composition.
metatarsals: any of the five bones between
the toes and the ankle.
Mesozoic Era: 248-65 million years ago; geologic
time period during which dinosaurs lived; composed
of the Triassic, Jurassic and Cretaceous Periods
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N
nocturnal: active during the night
nomads: people who traditionally move seasonally
in order to feed and water their flocks of sheep,
goats and/or camels
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O
oasis: small fertile green spot in the desert
caused by groundwater coming to the surface
Ornithischians: "bird-hipped" dinosaurs with
a hip structure in which the two lower bones on each
side lie parallel; all ornithischians were plant eaters
outer core: layer of dense, molten rock between
the mantle and the inner core; 140 miles thick; may
be mainly iron and nickel
P
paleontologist: a scientist who studies fossils
and organisms in ancient times by determining their
lifestyles and relationship to other organisms
Paleozoic Era: 540-248 million years ago
Pangaea: an ancient supercontinent composed
of all the major continents we recognize today
passport: An official government document
that certifies one's identity and citizenship and
permits a citizen to travel abroad.
pelvic girdle: plate-shaped bones for limb
attachment
petrified: literally "turned to stone," Petrification
is the long process by which organic material is replaced
by rock materials
petroglyphs: prehistoric rock carvings
phalanges: bone of a finger or toe
piste (French): track or unpaved road in the
desert
plate tectonics: term geologists use to describe
the study of the movement of the plates under the
earth's crust. Most plates are composed of two parts:
ocean floor and continental crust prospect: to explore
or search
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Q
quadrapedal: walking on four legs
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R
radius: one of two forearm bones; the other
is the ulna
rain-shadow desert: a desert formed on the
side of a mountain range, sheltered from winds that
carry rain
rehydrate: literally, "to add water again."
Food that has been dehydrated needs to be rehydrated
(allowed to absorb water) before you can cook with
it.
rift: break apart
rock section: a clean surface exposing a rock
layer
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S
sahara (Arabic): desert, or "empty grave"
Sahel: dry, sparsely vegetated area on the
southern edge of the Sahara, marked by scattered grasses
and low, thorny trees
Saurischians: "lizard-hipped" dinosaurs with
a hip structure in which the two lower bones on each
side point in opposite directions
Sauropods: large quadrupedal, saurischian,
plant-eating dinosaurs, with very long necks and tails
scapula: either of two large, flat, triangular
bones forming the back part of the shoulder. Also
called shoulder blade.
sedimentary rocks: most form on from particles
eroded from rocks on land; some form from dissolved
chemicals or organic particles from shells or other
living organisms
semi-arid zone: fairly dry area, with an average
yearly rainfall between 10:12 inches
skeleton: the internal structure composed
of bone and cartilage that protects and supports the
soft organs, tissues, and other parts of a vertebrate
organism
skull: the bony framework of the head of vertebrates
that contains the brain, jaws, and teeth
star dunes: where winds blow from all directions
surface
subduction zone: area where oceanic plates
move into the mantle
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T
tarsal bones: any of the seven small bones
of the human ankle
therapods: carnivorous, bipedal dinosaurs
tibia: the inner and larger of the two bones of
the lower human leg, extending from the knee to the
ankle, or a corresponding bone in other vertebrates.
Also called shinbone.
Tomacheck: spoken language of the Touareg
people
topographic map: map that depicts the changing
elevation of a surface
Touareg (or Tuareg): traditionally nomadic
people living in the Sahara. Touaregs have operated
the main camel caravan routes across the Sahara for
centuries
Triassic Period: first period of the Mesozoic
Era; time period when dinosaurs first evolved; "Triassic"
comes from Latin, "trias" describing three particular
rock layers in Germany
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U
ulna: The bone extending from the elbow to
the wrist on the side opposite to the thumb in human
beings, or the corresponding bone in other vertebrates
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V
vaccination: an inoculation, usually a shot,
to protect against a particular disease
ventifacts: sand-blasted stones with flat,
smoothed surfaces that have been eroded by wind over
prolonged exposure
vertebrae: bones that form the backbone vertebrate:
an animal with a backbone
visa: An official authorization appended to
a passport, permitting entry into and travel within
a particular country or region
volcano: An opening through which molten rock
comes from deep inside the earth.
W
wadi: steep sided valleys in desert areas
that have been carved by water. These areas may experience
occasional flooding
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