Animal Adaptations. How do adaptations help animals survive in their environment? An adaptation is a...

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Animal Adaptations

How do adaptations help animals survive in their environment?

• An adaptation is a body part or behavior that helps an animal survive in a particular environment.

• Adaptation can help an animal breathe, catch food, or hide.

• All animals are adapted to live in certain habitats.

• Animals that cannot adapt will die out.

body part or behavior that helps an animal survive in a particular environment.

help an animal

breathe, catch food,

or hide.

adapted to live in certain habitats.

We can separate adaptations into two categories:

Physical

Behavioral

help an animal

or hide.

adapted to live in certain habitats. Physical Behavioral

•Physical adaptations are body structures that allow an animal to find and consume food, defend itself, and to reproduce its species.

•Physical adaptations help an animal survive in its environment.

Hey! I’m a walking

stick. I look just like a

stick you’d find on the

ground.

help an animal

or hide.

body structures that allow an animal to find and consume food, defend itself, and to reproduce its species.

help an animal survive in its environment

Physical adaptation

Camouflage (use of color in a surrounding)

The chameleon can change its color to match its surroundings. Can you do that?

help an animal

or hide.

Camouflageuse of color in a

surrounding

Mimicry (looking or sounding like another living

organism)

The Viceroy butterfly uses mimicry to look like the Monarch butterfly. Can you tell them apart?

Poisonous

Not poisonous

Physical adaptation

I’m the Monarch!

I’m the Viceroy!

help an animal

or hide.

surrounding

Mimicry (looking or

sounding like another living

organism)

Chemical defenses (like venom, ink, sprays)

Physical adaptation

help an animal

or hide.

surrounding

Mimicry (looking or

organism)

Chemical defenses

(like venom, ink, sprays)

Body coverings & parts (claws, beaks, feet, armor plates, skulls, teeth)

Physical adaptations

The elephant’s trunk is a physical adaptation that helps it to clean itself, eat, drink, and to pick

things up.

help an animal

or hide.

surrounding

Mimicry (looking or

organism)

Chemical defenses

Body coverings & parts

(claws, beaks, feet, armor plates, skulls,

teeth)

Behavioral Adaptations allow animals to respond to

life needs.

help an animal

or hide.

surrounding

Mimicry (looking or

organism)

Chemical defenses

teeth)

allow animals to respond to life needs.

Each organism has unique methods of adapting to its environment by means of

different actions.

Behavioral Adaptations are animals’ actions.

Remember that Physical Adaptations are body

structures.

help an animal

or hide.

surrounding

Mimicry (looking or

organism)

Chemical defenses

teeth)

allow animals to respond to life needs.

animals’ actions

Example of Adaptation

• The shape of an animal’s teeth is related to its diet. – Herbivores, such as

deer, have many molars for chewing tough grass and plants.

– Carnivores, such as lions, have sharp canines to kill and tear meat.

Who experiences adaptations?

• All species have experienced adaptation and will continue to slowly adapt as the next generations are born.

• We will identify certain species from each of these groups and the reasons for their success:– Mammals– Birds– Reptiles– Amphibians

Mammals

• Endothermic or

warm-blooded• All have some type

of “hair”– Some are very

specialized, such as white polar bear fur

• Method of locomotion

• Care for young

• Leg Length – Roseate Spoonbill

(top right)

• Foot Webbing – Laughing Gull

(top left)

• Beak Shape– Long Billed Curlew

(bottom)

Reptiles

• Ectothermic or cold- blooded

• Scales• Some undergo

hibernation and estivation

• Lay eggs on land• Leg structure and

position

Amphibians

• Ectothermic• Lay eggs in water• Partially of fully

webbed feet• Have lungs or can

absorb oxygen through their skin

Animal Defense• Some animals use

these methods of defense to protect themselves:– Camouflage

• Snake

– Mimicry• Mexican Milk Snake

– Bright colors• Skunk and Poison Arrow

– “Hair” projections• Hedgehog quills• Deer Antlers

Adaptation Applications: Lions• Why are the eyes of

a lion set in front of the head rather than on the sides?

• Answer: Eyes in front of the head allow for depth perception and ability to judge distances when hunting.

Adaptation Applications: Lions

• What is the purpose of the mane on a male lion? What is the reason for the lion’s color?

• A thick mane helps the male to appear larger and serves as protection for the throat. The tawny brown coat color camouflages the animal and young among vegetation.

Adaptation Applications: Giraffe

• Why are giraffes able to go for long periods of time without water?

• Answer: Giraffes drink water when available, but can go weeks without it. They rely on morning dew and the water content of their food.

Adaptation Applications: Giraffe

• How are their long necks adapted to their lifestyle?

• Answer: This extra length is thought to have evolved to help the giraffe spot predators and other giraffes in the distance. Interestingly, giraffes and humans have the same number of vertebrate in their necks.

Adaptation Applications: Zebras

• How do zebras defend themselves?

• Capable of running up to 40 mph. Zebras defend themselves by kicking and biting. Coloration also plays a role in evading predators, although theories have not reached an agreement.

Resources• This PowerPoint is partially adapted from Ms.

Weinberg. The original PowerPoint can be viewed at– http://www.quia.com/files/quia/users/amiew/An

imal-Adaptations-PPT• It is also partially adapted from an animal

adaptation powerpoint created by City of Corpus Christi Museum of Science and History the original can be viewed at – http://

www.ccmuseumedres.com/Animal%20Adaptations.ppt

• http://science.jrank.org/pages/6750/Temperature-Regulation-Internally-heated-animals.html

• http://science.jrank.org/pages/6749/Temperature-Regulation-Externally-heated-animals.html

Animal Adaptations. How do adaptations help animals survive in their environment? An adaptation is a...

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