Question

When frightened, a Killdeer "freezes" and allows this adaptation to help protect it:

Select one:
a. breast bands for disruptive coloration
b. earth tones and blotchy patterns for background matching
c. vertical stripes for background matching
d. huge eyespots to look "larger than life"
e. none of the above

Answer 1

The Killdeer uses earth tones and blotchy patterns for background matching as an adaptation to protect itself when frightened by blending into its environment.

Step-by-step explanation:

When frightened, a Killdeer adopts a behavior called "freezing," which allows it to blend into its environment. The correct answer to this question is b. earth tones and blotchy patterns for background matching. Killdeers have a body coloration that mirrors the environment, helping them to avoid detection by predators.

This adaptation is crucial for their survival as it makes them less conspicuous against the ground, which is often made up of earthy tones such as browns, greys, and other colors found in their natural habitat.