Which of the following is an aboreal organism?

Step 1: Analyze the question "Arboreal" asks which organism lives in trees. (The word is spelled arboreal.)

Step 2: Explain the concept The word comes from the Latin arbor, meaning "tree". An arboreal organism spends most or all of its life in trees. Examples are monkeys, squirrels, chameleons, tree snakes, and many birds. Their adaptations include:

• Grasping limbs, claws, or feet for perching and climbing
• Good balance
• Strong eyesight for judging distances between branches
• Wings, in the case of birds, for moving between trees

Step 3: Evaluate each option

• A. Elephant: A large terrestrial (land-dwelling) animal. It is far too heavy to climb trees.
• B. Fish: An aquatic organism that lives in water.
• C. Antelope: A terrestrial grazer or browser that lives on open land and in savanna. It has hooves, not grasping feet.
• D. Bird: Most birds nest, perch, roost, and feed in trees. Their feet are adapted for gripping branches, so among the options, a bird is the one that fits "arboreal".

Step 4: Answer The correct option is D. Bird.

Exam tip: Learn habitat terms in groups:

• Arboreal = trees
• Terrestrial = land
• Aquatic = water
• Aerial = air
• Fossorial = burrowing underground

If you see "arbor" in a word, think of a tree.