What does the term 'opportunist' signify when referring to animals?

The term 'opportunist' in reference to animals highlights their adaptability in foraging behavior and feeding habits. An opportunistic animal is one that takes advantage of a variety of food sources rather than being selective about its diet. This means they will scavenge and utilize whatever food is most readily available in their environment. They can shift their feeding strategies based on what is accessible, which allows them to thrive in changing conditions and environments.

This adaptability is particularly beneficial in situations where food is not consistently available or when competition for resources is high. For example, raccoons and certain bird species are known to exhibit opportunistic feeding behavior, as they will consume fruits, nuts, human food scraps, and smaller animals depending on what they encounter.

In contrast, the other options describe different animal behaviors or characteristics, such as having a specialized diet, being migratory, or exhibiting territorial behavior, none of which specifically relate to the flexible and varied feeding strategies that define opportunistic animals. Thus, the choice that aligns with the concept of opportunism is the one describing animals that scavenge and utilize available food sources.