We all know about colts, calves and eaglets—but even experienced naturalists sometimes can’t remember the names for certain species. The various and oftentimes bizarre names used to describe animal offspring are often stumpers to even the best Trivial Pursuit player.
For example, a baby toad is called, appropriately enough, a toadlet. On the other hand, a one-year-old male turkey is called a jake.
Similarly, baby mice are known as pinkies, while the babies (caterpillars) of Giant Swallowtail butterflies and Regal Moths are known as Orange Dogs and Hickory Horned Devils, respectively.
As for the ghastly named Hag Moth, it fares no better in the larval stage, when it’s called a Monkey Slug. Young elephant seals, meanwhile, are known as weaners, young cod as sprat, and young mackerel as blinkers.
And while there are lots of calves, pups, and kits, only the louse gives birth to baby nits.
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Spat = oyster young