What is an adaptation?
An adaptation is a physical or behavioral
characteristic that has developed to help an organism
survive in its environment.
Physical Adaptations
A physical adaptation is a change made to a part of the body.
Physical Adaptations
Camouflage is a visual disguise:
when the color of an animal changes
to look like its surrounding.
Camouflage
Looking or sounding like another living organism. They basically copycat another animal to fool their predators.
Mimicry Physical Adaptations
Using venom and sprays for defense Chemical Defenses
Physical Adaptations
A skunk sprays to defend itself
from predators. Their spray produces a
chemical that contains sulfur and the smell really stinks!
Body coverings and parts Examples: Sharp claws, feathers, large beaks, fur, scales, wings
A crab’s hard shell protects it from predators, drying out, and being crushed
by waves.
Physical Adaptations
Behavioral Adaptations
A behavioral adaptation is something an animal does (how it acts) to stay alive.
Examples:• What an animal is able to eat • Moving to warmer or colder
climates• Pretending to be injured to lure a
predator away from the young
Lets divide behavioral adaptations in two groups:
Behavioral Adaptations
Instinctive Learned Behaviors that
happen naturally. They don’t have to
be learned.
These behaviors are taught through observation and
experiencing their environment.
Instinctive Behavior
Examples:• Finding ways to gather food • Finding Shelter• Raising the young • Defending oneself• Hibernating (when an animal
sleeps during the cold days of winter)
• Migrating (when animals travel long trips to find warmer weather, food supply, and a safe place to give birth to their young)
Behaviors that happen naturally. They don’t have to be learned.
Chipmunk hibernating during winter
Birds migrating
Instinctive Behavior: Example
When a baby sea turtle hatches, it instinctively knows how to dig its way through the sand.
Learned Behavior: Example
Do you think these tigers are fighting? Well.. Their not. By playing, these tigers are learning moves that will help them become successful predators as adults.