Adaptations Vocabulary

A behavior or action that helps an organism survive or reproduce, such as migration.

Behavioral Adaptation A behavior or action that helps an organism survive or reproduce, such as migration.

An adaptation characterized by how physical features help animals survive, such as the color of fur.

Structural (or Physical) Adaptation An adaptation characterized by how physical features help animals survive, such as the color of fur.

A behavior or activity that must be taught. (Cougar mom teaches cub to hunt)

Learned Behaviors A behavior or activity that must be taught. (Cougar mom teaches cub to hunt)

Natural behaviors animals are born with and need in order to survive in their environment. (baby leatherback turtle makes its way to the ocean without instruction)

Instinct Natural behaviors animals are born with and need in order to survive in their environment. (baby leatherback turtle makes its way to the ocean without instruction)

When an animal looks like another animal or object in its environment to fool its predator.

Mimicry When an animal looks like another animal or object in its environment to fool its predator.

When an animal can change its color to blend in with its environment.

Camouflage When an animal can change its color to blend in with its environment.

Symbiosis The relationship between two different organisms: mutualism, parasitism, and commensalism. Do we help each other? Does one hurt the other?

The symbiotic relationship between two organisms where both organisms benefit mutually. The remora fish eats bacteria off of the whale. The remora gets food And the whale is cleaned.

Mutualism The symbiotic relationship between two organisms where both organisms benefit mutually. The remora fish eats bacteria off of the whale. The remora gets food And the whale is cleaned.

The symbiotic relationship between two organisms where one organism benefits and the other is unaffected. The jackal follows the tiger. The tiger kills its prey and the jackal feeds on what is left. The jackal is helped, but the tiger is unaffected.

Commensalism The symbiotic relationship between two organisms where one organism benefits and the other is unaffected. The jackal follows the tiger. The tiger kills its prey and the jackal feeds on what is left. The jackal is helped, but the tiger is unaffected.

A symbiotic relationship where one organism benefits at the expense of the host organism. Mosquito gets blood from the human and the human then is injected with poison.

Parasitism A symbiotic relationship where one organism benefits at the expense of the host organism. Mosquito gets blood from the human and the human then is injected with poison.

When an animal disappeared from Earth and no longer exist

Extinct When an animal disappeared from Earth and no longer exist

The preserved remains of animals, plants, and other organisms from the past.

Fossil The preserved remains of animals, plants, and other organisms from the past.