Which of the following best defines basking?

• A. The behavior of reptiles lying in the sun to raise their body temperature.
• B. The movement of individuals during paratical reproduction
• C. The act of hiding in water to avoid predators
• D. The practice of burrowing in sand.

Answer: (A)

Basking is a heat-seeking behavior used by ectotherms, especially reptiles, where they lie in sunny spots to raise their body temperature. By absorbing solar heat, their metabolic rate increases, enabling activity like movement, digestion, and reproduction that wouldn’t be efficient at cooler temperatures. Animals typically regulate their temperature by moving between sun and shade to stay within an optimal thermal range.

That makes the described choice the best fit: it directly states lying in the sun to raise body temperature. The other options describe behaviors unrelated to warming the body with sunlight—reproductive movement, hiding underwater to avoid predators, and burrowing in sand.