Tag: animal behaviour

Questions Related to animal behaviour

Mimicry always involves a model and a mimic as well as a dupe or signal receiver (the organism the mimic is trying to fool). An example of Batesian mimicry is

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  1. A walking stick (a herbivore) sitting on a branch of a tree

  2. A rat snake (nonpoisonous) that looks like a poisonous species

  3. An oppossum playing possum

  4. A spider that looks like an ant

  5. A flounder that blends in with the bottom to avoid being eaten

Show answer
Correct Option: B
Explanation:
Batesian mimicry refers to the resemblance of a harmless or palatable species with that of a dangerous or unpalatable one to make predators avoid them. It is opposite to Mullerian mimicry wherein  dangerous, unpalatable, or poisonous species resemble one another to make predator recognize them easily. Rat snake is the nonpoisonous snake that vibrates their tails to trick predator as if they are the poisonous rattlesnake, exhibiting Batesian mimicry. None of the given options exhibit the defensive patterns of Batesian mimicry. Thus, the correct answer is option B.

All of the following show a means of communication except

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  1. Auditory

  2. Chemical

  3. Instinctual

  4. Tactile

  5. Visual

Show answer
Correct Option: C
Explanation:

So the correct answer is 'instinctual'.

Fish are given food at the same time as a tap on their glass bowl and soon learn to approach when a tap sounds even in the absence of food.

biology animal behaviour ethology natural selection coordination in human beings- chemical control endocrine system in humans

  1. Reasoning/insight

  2. Imprinting

  3. Classical conditioning

  4. Habituation

  5. Instinct

Show answer
Correct Option: C
Explanation:

Fish are given food at the same time as a tap on their glass bowl and soon learn to approach when a tap sounds even in the absence of food - it is an example of Classical conditioning.

Classical conditioning is a type of learning behaviour in which a potential stimulus is responsible for eliciting a response and is repeated many times. 

Which of the following behaviour takes place in an animals life at a certain critical time?

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  1. Dominance

  2. Reflex

  3. Instinct

  4. Imprinting

  5. Habituation

Show answer
Correct Option: D
Explanation:

A form of learning that occurs during a brief genetically determined critical period shortly after birth is called as imprinting. Habituation occurs throughout the life where individual learn to ignore the irrelevant stimuli. Reflex is a response to external or internal stimuli experienced throughout the life. Instinct and dominance are innate behaviours. The correct answer is D.

When the sperms of Funaria and Pteris are put together
near the archegonia of Pteris, only the sperms of Pteris
readily enter the archegonia and reach the egg. The reason
being that

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  1. Sperms of Funaria are killed when mixed with sperms

    of Pteris

  2. Archegonia of Pteris secrete a substance with repels

    sperms of Funaria

  3. Archegonia of Pteris secrete a chemical substance which

    attracts sperms of Pteris thermostatically

  4. Sperms of Funaria are less motile

Show answer
Correct Option: C
Explanation:

Because archegonia of pteris secrete a chemical malic acid which attracts only sperms of Pter!s thermostatically.

Which of the following explains the return of salmon to their own birth place to breed?

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  1. Habituation

  2. A stimulus

  3. Operant conditioning

  4. Reasoned behavior

  5. Imprinting

Show answer
Correct Option: E
Explanation:

A form of learning that occurs during a brief genetically determined critical period shortly after birth is called as imprinting. Salmon learned, shortly after birth, about their birth place as they found themselves there just after birth. This makes them recognize the place and go there for breeding. Conditioned is also a learned response in which stimulus becomes associated with a consequence. Habituation is the most complicated form of learned behavior and includes applying something already learned to a new situation without a period of trial and error. The reasoning is making the concept of cause and effect in particular context. Thus, the correct answer is option E.

Organisms within a community have developed defenses against predators. Identify the type of defense described in the following 4 questions using the answers provided. Answer choices may be used once, more than once or not at all.
Skunks spray a toxic substance when they are threatened. This is an example of 

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  1. Aposematic coloration

  2. Batesian mimicry

  3. Cryptic coloration

  4. Chemical defense

  5. Herbivory

Show answer
Correct Option: D
Explanation:
A. Aposematic colouration is a type of defense mechanism, also known as warning coloration in which the color or pattern of a predator is perceived by an organism that the predator is harmful for him.
B. Batesian mimicry is a type of defense mechanism in which on organism protects itself from a predator by mimicking a organism that is otherwise safe from the predator.
C. Cryptic coloration is a type of defense mechanism in which an organism camouflage by blending its color with the background color of its environment to protect itself from the predator.
D. Chemical defense is a type of defense mechanism in which toxic chemicals are produced by the organism to protect itself from the predator.
E. Herbivory is the eating of plants by animals (herbivores).
Hence the statement given in the question that Skunks spray a toxic substance when they are threatened, is an example of Chemical defense.
So, the correct answer is 'Chemical defense'.

Sinking of zooplankton during the day and rising to the
surface at night is an example of

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  1. Circinal rhythm

  2. Circadian rhythm

  3. Tidal rhythm

  4. None of these

Show answer
Correct Option: B
Explanation:

Circadian rhythm or diurnal rhythm is any 24 hour  periodicity in the behaviour or physiology of animals or  plants .Examples are sleep /activity cycle in many  animals and the growth movements of plants. Circadian  rhythms are generally controlled by biological clocks.

Which of the following sets is of flightless birds

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  1. Penguin, Pecock, Fowl, Rhea, Kiwi, Moa, Ostrich

  2. Emu, Penguin, Rhea, Kiwi, Moa, Cassowary

  3. Albatros, Humming bird, Falcon, Hawk, Emu

  4. Ostrich, Emu, Kiwi, Falcon, Albatros

Show answer
Correct Option: B
Explanation:

All flightless  birds belong to the super -order Ratitae e.g. Emu, Panguin, Rhea, win, Moa, Cassowary .

Sea cows are aquatic mammals included under

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  1. Lagomorpha

  2. Pinnipedia

  3. Cetacea

  4. Sirenia

Show answer
Correct Option: D
Explanation:

Sea cows (Rhytina) belong to order Sirenia of mammals. Presence of blubber and few hairs are characters of order sirenia.