Adaptations and Behavior Flashcards
adaptation
any trait that helps a plant or animal survive
camouflage
something (such as color or shape) that protects an animal from attack by making the animal difficult to see in the area around it
defense
a way to protect or guard oneself against danger
function
the special purpose, or activity, for which a thing exists or is used
mimicry
the imitation by an organism of its environment or of other organisms as a means of survival
predator
an animal that lives by killing and eating other animals
prey
an animal that is hunted or killed by another animal for food
structural adaptation
An inherited physical characteristic that helps an organism survive in its environment.
structure
something of many parts that is put together
survive
to continue to live
behavior
the way a person or animal acts or behaves
heredity
the passing of characteristics from parent to offspring
inherited trait
a characteristic that is passed from parent to offspring
instinct
something you don’t need to learn — it happens naturally, without you even thinking about it
learned behavior
a behavior that has been learned from experience or observation
offspring
the young of an animal or plant
parent
an animal or plant that produces a young animal or plant
complete metamorphosis
the four stages certain insects go through to become an adult: egg, larva, pupa, and adult
egg
the shell-covered, round object that’s laid by birds and reptiles, which usually has an embryo inside
germinate
the sprouting of a seed
incomplete metamorphosis
the three stages certain insects go through to become an adult: egg, nymph, and adult
larva
the stage of complete metamorphosis after an organism hatches from its egg
life cycle
the changes that happen to an organism during its life
metamorphosis
a process some animals go through to become adults
nymph
a young insect that has almost the same form as the adult
pupa
the stage of complete metamorphosis in which an organism is wrapped in a cocoon or a chrysalis
seedling
a young tree or plant grown from a seed