Adaptation: A trait that helps a living thing survive Habitat: The natural home of a plant or animal Camouflage: Coloring that helps an animal blend in Mimicry: When one species looks like another to stay safe Hibernation: A deep sleep through winter to save energy Migration: Traveling to another place for food, warmth or breeding Nocturnal: Active at night Diurnal: Active during the day Crepuscular: Active at dawn and dusk Warning coloration: Bright colors that tell predators an animal is harmful, like a poison dart frog Which animal changes color to match its surroundings?: The chameleon Which animal can drop its tail to escape a predator?: A lizard Why do polar bears have thick fur and blubber?: To stay warm in cold Arctic weather Why does an Arctic hare turn white in winter?: To blend in with snow How does a camel survive in a desert?: It stores fat in its hump and can go a long time without water What do a camel's wide feet do?: Keep it from sinking in sand How does a cactus store water?: In its thick stem How do owls hunt in the dark?: Large eyes, sharp hearing and silent flight How do bats find food in the dark?: Echolocation Why do cheetahs have long legs?: To run very fast Why do giraffes have long necks?: To reach leaves high in trees What is an elephant's trunk used for?: Breathing, smelling, drinking and grabbing things Why do ducks have webbed feet?: To swim well Why do woodpeckers have strong beaks?: To peck into trees for insects Why do hummingbirds have long thin beaks?: To drink nectar from flowers Why do eagles have sharp talons?: To catch and hold prey Why do fish have gills?: To take oxygen from water Why do whales have blubber?: To stay warm in cold water Why do skunks spray?: To scare away predators Why do porcupines have quills?: To protect themselves Why do turtles have shells?: For protection What does an octopus do to escape danger?: Squirts ink and changes color How does a snake sense prey?: By smelling with its tongue How do penguins keep warm?: Thick feathers and a layer of fat; they huddle together How does a frog catch insects?: With a long sticky tongue What is a spider's web for?: Catching prey How do bees help plants?: They carry pollen between flowers Why do beavers have flat tails?: To steer when swimming and slap warnings Why do seals have flippers?: To swim How do arctic foxes stay warm?: Thick fur and small ears Why do desert foxes have big ears?: To release heat How do monarch butterflies survive winter?: They migrate to warmer places Where do salmon go to lay eggs?: Back up rivers where they were born Where do Arctic terns migrate?: From the Arctic to the Antarctic and back, a very long trip What do gray whales do each year?: Migrate between cold feeding waters and warm breeding lagoons Ocean habitat: Salt water home for fish, whales and more Desert habitat: Dry land with little rain, like the Sahara Rainforest habitat: Warm, wet forest with many species Grassland habitat: Open land covered with grasses Arctic habitat: The cold region around the North Pole Wetland habitat: Land with shallow water like marshes Pond habitat: Small body of still fresh water Coral reef habitat: Warm shallow seas with coral Mountain habitat: High, cold, windy land Cave habitat: Dark underground home for bats and blind fish Deep-sea adaptation: bioluminescence: Making light to find food or mates Anglerfish: A deep-sea fish with a glowing lure Symbiosis example: clownfish and anemone: The clownfish is protected by the anemone and cleans it Instinct: Behavior an animal is born knowing Learned behavior: Something an animal learns, like a dog sitting on command Free flashcards from Peabody at peabody.kids/flashcards/animal-adaptations-habitats