Inherited Vs. Acquired Traits
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Future Zoologist Academy offers more than 100 zoology and ecology lessons for grades 3-8. Explore educational videos, readings, quizzes, activities, projects, and more. Each lesson is designed specifically for kids who love animals.
Why Animals Are the Way They Are
Click through the slides below to explore how and why animals have developed such amazing characteristics!
Inherited Traits
- Inherited traits can be physical or behavioral.
- They are passed from parents to offspring in DNA.
- Closely related animals often share inherited traits!
- Animals may be born with physical traits (eye color) or naturally develop them as a part of their lifecycle (tadpoles develop legs).
- Inherited behaviors are known as instincts. There are behaviors animals do naturally without being taught (bears hibernate).
Acquired Traits
- Acquired traits can be both physical and behavioral.
- They are not passed from parent to offspring and are not a result of DNA.
- Acquired physical traits are characteristics animals develop due to external factors during their life (elephant breaks its tusk).
- Acquired behavioral traits are things animals do that they learned during their life (elephant travels to a known waterhole).
Physical or Behavioral?
For each trait listed below, determine if it is a physical or behavioral trait by dragging it to the correct box.
Inherited or Acquired?
For each trail below, determine if it is an inherited trait or an acquired trait by selecting the correct answer.
Your Turn!
Watch the crocodile or spotted owl videos below and identify 8 traits on the worksheet. Then, determine if each trait is inherited or acquired AND if it is physical or behavioral.
Enter your email address below and the worksheet will be emailed to you momentarily!
Crocodile
Spotted Owl
Looking for More Lessons?
Future Zoologist Academy is a virtual zoology and ecology program designed for kids who love animals. Explore more than 100 complete lessons that will strengthen your knowledge of core science topics like adaptations and food webs while furthering your passion for wildlife and nature.
