Intro to Animal Adaptive Traits, Part 1

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Question 1: Can an adaptive trait be a behavior?

• No

• Yes

Answer explanation

Yes. Examples are how some animals live in groups to either hunt or share look-out responsibilities (like mongooses).

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Can animals use sunlight to make food?

• No

• Yes

Answer explanation

No. Plants can (via photosynthesis) but not animals.

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Are animals that only eat plants called carnivores?

• No

• Yes

Answer explanation

No. Carnivores eat animals. Herbivores only eat plants.

Does “camouflage” mean to have color that is similar to the environment?

• No

• Yes

Answer explanation

Yes. For example: polar bears are white like snow; lions are light brown like dry grass.

In general, can predators move fast?

• No

• Yes

Answer explanation

Yes. The fastest land animal is the cheetah; the fastest animal overall is the peregrine falcon. Even if a predator only moves a short distance, it will move very fast (e.g., alligators).  

Can an animal be almost transparent?

• No

• Yes

Answer explanation

Yes. An example in the video are jellyfish. This is to evade predators.

Does “mimicry” mean when one organism tries to look like another one (like wearing a disguise)?

• No

• Yes

Answer explanation

Yes. Insects do this a lot (e.g., twigs, new or old leaves).

Do prey animals often have eyes on the sides of their heads rather than in the front?

• No

• Yes

Answer explanation

Yes. This widens their visual field so they can see predators coming.  

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