Which of the following is an example of a behavioral adaptation for survival in animals?

Step 1: Analyze the question The question asks for a behavioral adaptation. That means something an animal does (an action or habit), not something it has (a body part or body colouring).

Step 2: The concept Adaptations are features that help organisms survive in their environment. There are three main types:

• Structural (morphological) adaptations: physical body parts, such as teeth, wings, beaks, and claws.
• Physiological adaptations: internal body processes, such as venom production or sweating.
• Behavioral adaptations: actions animals take to survive, such as migration, hibernation, aestivation, and nocturnal activity.

Step 3: Evaluate each option

• A. Sharp teeth: a body structure for tearing food. This is structural.
• B. Migration: animals move seasonally from one region to another to find food, water, or breeding grounds, or to escape harsh weather. This is something the animal does, so it is behavioral.
• C. Wings: a body structure for flight. This is structural.
• D. Camouflage: body colouring or patterning that blends with the surroundings. This is generally classed as a structural/physical adaptation. (Note: an animal choosing to stay still or position itself against a background is behavioral, but the colouring itself is structural.)

Step 4: Answer The correct answer is **B. Examples in a Nigerian context include the seasonal movement of birds such as swallows and some cattle egrets, and the movement of herders' cattle in search of pasture.

Step 5: Exam tip Ask yourself: "Is it a thing the animal HAS or a thing the animal DOES?"

• Has → structural (teeth, wings, colour)
• Does → behavioral (migrating, hibernating, hunting at night)

Watch out for camouflage in JAMB questions. If the question says "behavioral," go for actions like migration or hibernation first.