Flora and fauna (= plants and animals) Fauna

evolve (from something) (into something) The idea evolved from a drawing I discovered in the attic.

The company has evolved into a major chemical manufacturer.

evolve something (from something) Each school must evolve its own way of working.

Reptile
any animal that has cold blood and skin covered in scales, and that lays eggs. Snakes, crocodiles and tortoises are all reptiles.
Cortex
​the outer layer of an organ in the body, especially the brain

• 
  the cerebral/renal cortex (= around the brain/ kidney)
  

Respire
​to breathe

• 
  Terrestrial amphibians respire through their skin.
  

Conscious
aware of something; noticing something

• 
  conscious of something She's very conscious of the problems involved.
  
• 
  I am conscious of the fact that there's a limit to what we can achieve here.
  
• 
  conscious of doing something He became acutely conscious of having failed his parents.
  
• 
  conscious that… I was vaguely conscious that I was being watched.
  

Swift

1. 
   ​happening or done quickly and immediately; doing something quickly
   
   • 
     swift action
     
   • 
     a swift decision
     
   • 
     He rose to his feet in one swift movement.
     
   • 
     swift to do something The White House was swift to deny the rumours.
     

Stroll

1. 
   to walk somewhere in a slow relaxed way
   
   • 
     People were strolling along the beach.
     

lizard

1. 
   ​a reptile with a long body and tail, four short legs and a rough skin. There are many different types of lizard.
   

anguish
​severe physical or mental pain, difficulty or unhappiness

• 
  He groaned in anguish.
  
• 
  Tears of anguish filled her eyes.
  

a small group of sea animals, such as dolphins or whales, swimming together

• 
  a pod of adult dolphins
  
• 
  a pod of pilot whales
  

Mammal
any animal that gives birth to live young, not eggs, and feeds its young on milk. Cows, humans and whales are all mammals.

• 
  deaths among marine mammals