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A form of learning in which a young animal fixes on the first individual it sees and follows that individual. An example is a duckling following a human if it sees them first.

A set of display behaviors by which animals signal their readiness to mate and attract a partner. Birds-of-paradise have elaborate mating dances.

Behavior by an individual that increases the fitness of another individual while decreasing the fitness of the actor. Vampire bats demonstrate altruism by regurgitating blood to feed roostmates that failed to feed.

A sensory system where animals emit calls and listen to the echoes that reflect from objects to navigate and hunt. Bats use echolocation to hunt insects at night.

The behaviors animals use to find and procure food. Ants forage for food by laying down pheromone trails to guide other ants to food sources.

The organization of individuals in a group that dictates the distribution of resources and mating opportunities. Wolves have a social hierarchy with dominant alpha individuals.

A form of natural selection where individuals increase their own genetic success through altruistic behaviors towards close relatives. Bees exhibit kin selection, helping the queen reproduce to pass on shared genes.

The defense of a bounded physical space against encroachment by other individuals. Lions are territorial and mark their territories with scent markings.

The regular, long-distance movement of animals from one area to another. Monarch butterflies migrate thousands of miles from North America to central Mexico.

The ability of animals to use objects as aids to solve problems or for assistance in acquiring food or other purposes. Crows have been observed using sticks to extract insects from logs.

A state of inactivity and metabolic depression in animals during winter to conserve energy. Bears hibernate during the winter to survive without eating.

Behavior by which different animals select, attract, and maintain mates. Peacocks use their colorful feathers to attract and court females.

An adaptation that allows animals to blend in with certain aspects of their environment. Chameleons can change their skin coloration to blend in with their surroundings.

Social behavior related to fighting, such as aggression, submission, or avoidance. Rams engage in head-butting as agonistic behavior.

A form of mimicry where a harmless species evolves to imitate the warning signals of a harmful species directed at predators. The Viceroy butterfly mimics the Monarch, which is distasteful to predators.

A form of mimicry where two or more harmful species, that are not competitors, evolve to look similar to each other. This is seen in some species of stinging bees and wasps.

A strategy where one species lays its eggs in the nest of another species, leaving the host to care for its offspring. The common cuckoo is known for brood parasitism.

A range of voluntary, intrinsically motivated activities that animals engage in, which seem to have immediate and enjoyable benefits. Young cats play to practice hunting behaviors.

A mating system in which a male and female form an exclusive mating pair bond. Swans are often cited as an example of monogamous animals as they typically mate for life.

A mating system where a male mates with multiple females. In elephant seal societies, dominant bulls maintain harems of females.

A mating system where a female mates with multiple males. This behavior is exemplified by the spotted sandpiper, where females mate with and lay multiple clutches for different males to incubate.

Animals that are active during the day and sleep at night. Squirrels are an example of diurnal animals.

Animals that are active at night and sleep during the day. Owls are well-known for being nocturnal predators.

Animals that are primarily active during twilight, which is at dawn and dusk. Rabbits often forage during these times to avoid predators.

Animals that primarily consume meat. Lions are a classic example of carnivorous animals that rely on hunting other animals for food.

Animals that consume plants as the main component of their diet. Cows are herbivores that graze on grass.

Animals that consume both plant and animal matter. Pigs can eat a varied diet including roots, fruits, and small animals.

The behavior of constructing or using a nest for laying eggs and rearing young. Birds, like the robin, build nests where they lay eggs and care for their hatchlings.

The act of one animal hunting, killing, and consuming another animal. The cheetah is known for its speed in predation, chasing down fleet-footed prey like gazelles.

A strategy where multiple animals work together to hunt and capture prey. African wild dogs often hunt in packs to bring down larger prey.

The use of bright coloration or striking patterns to warn predators that the organism is toxic or unpalatable. Poison dart frogs display aposematic colors to warn of their toxicity.

Coloration that allows an organism to match its surroundings and avoid detection. A walking stick insect mimics the appearance of twigs as a form of cryptic coloration.

A defensive behavior used to scare away predators by suddenly revealing a large eye-spot pattern or making a loud noise. Moths may display eye-spots on their wings when threatened.

A state of torpor or dormancy in response to hot or dry conditions. Certain land snails estivate to survive periods of drought.