Adaptation
trait or characteristic that helps an organism survive
Adult
final stage of the life cycle in which an insect or plant can reproduce and is fully grown
Behavioral Adaptation
trait that an animal does to survive, such as migration or hibernation
Camouflage
shape, color, or pattern of an animal that helps it blend in with its surroundings
Characteristic
trait or feature of a living thing
Chrysalis
pupa stage of a butterfly, occurring between the larva and adult stage
Cocoon
case which holds the larva of some insects during the pupa stage
Complete Metamorphosis
life cycle of an organism whose appearance changes substantially at each of the four stages (egg, larva, pupa, adult)
Egg
first in the life cycle of some animals
Function
work or job that a body part does
Gene
part of cells that controls or influences inherited traits such as hair color and eye color
Incomplete Metamorphosis
life cycle of an organism whose appearance does not change substantially and has three growth stages (egg, nymph, adult)
Inherited Trait
characteristics passed from parent to their offspring
Innate Behavior
behavior an organism is born with
Instinct
behaviors that an organism inherits and knows how to do without being taught
Larva
small, worm-like stage in the life cycle of some insects
Learned Behaviors
behavior that an animal doesn't begin life with, but develops as a result of experience or by observing other animals
Life Cycle
stages that a living thing passes through as it grows and changes
Metamorphosis
change in the way an organism looks as it grows
Mimicry
animal's resemblance to another organism or object in color, shape, or design, in order to escape predators or to attack prey
Nymph
stage of incomplete metamorphosis in which the insect is a small version of the adult but in not fully developed
Offspring
young of a person, animal, or plant
Physical Adaptation
physical feature of an organism (also known as structural adaptation)
Pupa
stage of metamorphosis in which an insect changes from a larva to an adult (insect has limited movement and does not eat)
Reproduce
to have offspring or to produce more of a given animal or plant
Trait
characteristic of an organism