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Animal Adaptations – Quiz

1. The paleontologist found a skull that has very sharp teeth. What can the
paleontologist MOST LIKELY conclude from this discovery?
A. that the animal was an omnivore B. that the animal lived in the desert
C. that the animal was a carnivore D. that the animal lived in a herd

2. What adaptations does a cactus have to help it survive in the harsh, dry desert?
A. thorns to keep animals away B. small leaves to prevent water loss
C. long roots that reach deep down D. all of the above

3. Which characteristic would have the GREATEST effect on the ability of a species
to survive an environmental change?
A. size B. shape of their feet C. life span D. ability to reproduce

4. A walking stick looks a lot like the branches on which it lives. Which animal
defense does this describe?
A. escape B. protective resemblance C. hibernation D. avoidance

5. Which type of vertebrate would you MOST LIKELY find in the desert?
A. amphibian B. reptile C. mammal D. fish

6. What direction would the Canadian Geese be moving in the spring?

A. South B. North C. West D. not moving at all

7. The Goliath beetle can’t run very fast, but it has a thick exoskeleton. Which
animal defense does this describe?
A. body covering B. chemical defense C. escape D. mimicry

8. Animals that live in the desert must be able to survive in very hot temperatures.
Which of the following is an adaptation that most helps desert animals survive
in the hot temperatures?
A. being active at night B. being active during the day
C. being a carnivore D. having smooth skin

9. Which adaptation would MOST benefit an animal that lives near water?
A. being nocturnal B. sharp teeth
C. webbed feet D. large eyes

10. Which animal is MOST LIKELY to share an environment with a bear that has
white fur?
A. a bear with brown fur B. a deer with red fur
C. a hairless mouse D. a hare with white fur
11. The Viceroy butterfly is often mistaken for the poisonous Monarch butterfly.
Which animal defense does this describe?
A. mimicry B. migration C. group defense D. protective resemblance

12. Plants with very small leaves are more likely to be found in which biome?
A. rain forest B. desert C. pond D. deciduous forest

13. Sea otters and polar bears have a special adaptation to help them survive the cold
temperatures in the arctic tundra. Which adaptation do they both share?
A. camouflage to help them blend into the white snow
B. blubber to keep their body warm
C. fur that traps in air for extra insulation
D. hibernating to cut down on the energy used during cold months

14. A new bird has been discovered in the tropical rain forest. It has a long, thin beak
and small feet. What inferences can be made about this new bird?
A. The bird is actually a new type of mammal.
B. The bird is an herbivore that lives in water.
C. The bird is a carnivore that lives in the trees.
D. The bird is nocturnal and hibernates for the winter.

15. Leaves that lose their leaves are ________ for the winter.
A. camouflaged B. dormant C. hibernating D.migrating

16. What is the advantage of the giraffe’s very long neck?

A. It can go weeks without water.
B. It doesn’t compete with any other animal for food.
C. It can look long distances to find its prey.
D. It can store extra fat, like the camel.

17. Gray whales spend the summer in the Bering Sea and the fall in Baja California.
What adaptation is this?
A. hibernation B. camouflage C. migration D. body covering

18. Based on the information in the chart provided, which animal most likely at meat?
A. triceratops B. pterodactyl C. mammoth D. saber-toothed cat

19. Scientists found this fossil in a desert. Which of the following would the
scientists most likely conclude about the desert after observing this fossil?
A. Amphibians once lived in the desert.
B. Many kinds of plants once grew in this desert.
C. There was once water where the desert is now.
D. the desert did not have any oxygen until recently.
20. Which of the following can be determined by observing this fossil?
A. The organism’s size B. The organism’s color
C. the organism’s predators D. the organism’s behavioral adaptations