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At birth, baby kangaroos climb to their mother's pouch and begin to nurse. This behavior is:

A) Innate behavior
B) Learned behavior
C) Instinctive response
D) Parental guidance

User Octonion
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Final answer:

The behavior of baby kangaroos climbing to their mother's pouch to nurse at birth is an example of innate behavior, which is an unlearned, instinctive response necessary for survival and does not require learning or experience.

Step-by-step explanation:

At birth, baby kangaroos instinctively climb to their mother's pouch and begin to nurse. This behavior is an example of an innate behavior. Innate behaviors, such as the newborn reflexes observed in many animal species including humans, are present at birth and do not have to be learned. Newborn infants display similar innate behaviors like crying, the rooting reflex, and the sucking reflex, which are crucial for their survival. These behaviors occur naturally and do not require previous experience or parental teaching, implying that they are hardwired responses to specific stimuli. Innate behaviors are essential for the survival of the species as they lead to important actions like feeding and attachment to the caregiver.

Similarly, other animals show a variety of innate behaviors. Birds engaging in migration or nest building, dogs shaking off water, and salmon swimming upstream to spawn all exemplify this type of behavior. These instinctual actions are inherent and not influenced by learning through environmental changes. Instead, they ensure the organism can survive and successfully reproduce within its environment.

User Bat Masterson
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