Animal Adaptations

What is ecology?

● The study of the interactions that take place among organisms and their environment

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

AND

Behavioral

Adap

tatio

ns

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. 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.

© A. Weinberg

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. Physical Behavioral

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?

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. Physical Behavioral

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

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!

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. Physical Behavioral

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

Camouflageuse of color in a

surrounding

Mimicry(looking or

sounding like

another living

organism)

Chemical defenses (like venom, ink,

sprays)

Physical adaptation

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. Physical Behavioral

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

Camouflageuse of color in a

surrounding

Mimicry(looking or

sounding like

another living

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.

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. Physical Behavioral

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

Camouflageuse of color in a

surrounding

Mimicry(looking or

sounding like

another living

organism)

Chemical

defenses

(like venom,

ink, sprays)

Body coverings

& parts(claws, beaks, feet,

armor plates, skulls,

teeth)

Behavioral Adaptations allow

animals to respond to life

needs.

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. Physical Behavioral

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

Camouflageuse of color in a

surrounding

Mimicry(looking or

sounding like

another living

organism)

Chemical

defenses

(like venom,

ink, sprays)

Body coverings

& parts(claws, beaks, feet,

armor plates, skulls,

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.

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. Physical Behavioral

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

Camouflageuse of color in a

surrounding

Mimicry(looking or

sounding like

another living

organism)

Chemical

defenses

(like venom,

ink, sprays)

Body coverings

& parts(claws, beaks, feet,

armor plates, skulls,

teeth)

allow animals to

respond to life

needs.

animals’

actions

We can divide Behavioral Adaptations

into two groups:

Instinctive Learned

These behaviors happen naturally & don’t have to be

learned.

These behaviors must be taught.

Instinctive

behaviors happen naturally

& don’t need to

be learned

=

Finding shelter

Methods of

gathering & storing

food

Defending oneself

Raising young

Hibernating

Migrating

Learned

behaviors

Obtained by

interacting with the

environment and

cannot be passed

on to the next

generation except

by teaching.

=

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

Birds

● 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

Frog

● “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/Anima

l-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