Animal Adaptations Provided by: City of Corpus Christi Museum of Science and History.

Animal Adaptations

Provided by:City of Corpus Christi Museum of Science and History

Our Standard

Identify physical and behavioraladaptations that enable animals such as amphibians, reptiles, birds, fish, and, mammals to survive in a particular environment.

Have you ever wondered how animals are able to survive in the

wild?

Animals have certain adaptations that help

them to survive.

I. What is an adaptation?

A. An adaptation is a change in an animal’s physical structure or behavior that helps an animal to survive in their habitat. Examples: The shape of a bird’s beak, number of fingers and toes, or the color of an animal’s fur.

B. Physical adaptations do not develop during one lifetime, but over many generations.

Think about the way you dress in the winter.

You don’t wear your shorts and bathing suit when it’s snowing outside!

You wear warm clothes, and maybe even a hat and mittens to protect

yourself from the weather.

And what if you are having a snowball fight?

You probably run away from the person throwing at you,

and maybe even try to sneak up on that person and

throw some snowballs!

The way you dress in the winter, as well as the way that you run and hide from

someone throwing snow at you are kinds of …

Adaptations.

II. Physical adaptations

A. are body structures that allow an animal to find and consume food, defend itself,

and to reproduce its species.

B. 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.

© A. Weinberg

Physical adaptation

C. Camouflage (use of color in a surrounding)

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

D. 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!

E. Chemical defenses (like venom, ink, sprays)

Physical adaptation

F. 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.

Now let’s learn about

III. Behavioral Adaptations…

A. Behavioral Adaptations allow

animals to respond to life needs.

C. Each organism has unique methods of

adapting to its environment by means of different

actions.

B. Behavioral Adaptations are animals’

actions.

Remember that Physical Adaptations are body

structures.

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.

D. Instinctive behaviors

happen naturally &

don’t need to be learned

=

4. Finding shelter

1. Methods of gathering & storing food

2. Defending oneself

5. Raising young

3. Hibernating

6.Migrating

1.Migration B. Animals migrate for

different reasons.

better climate better food safe place to live safe place to raise young go back to the place they

were born.

a. This is when behavioral adaptation that involves an animal or group of animals moving from one region to another and then back again.

2. Hibernation A.This is deep sleep in which animal’s body

temp droops, body activities are slowed to conserve energy.

B. E.g. Bats, woodchucks & bears.

E. Learned behaviors

Obtained by interacting with the environment and cannot be

passed on to the next generation

except by teaching.

=

IV.Who experiences adaptations?

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

B.Mammals

1. Endothermic or warm-blooded

A. All have some type of “hair” 1.Some are very

specialized, such as white polar bear fur

B. Method of locomotion

C. Care for young

C. Birds

1. Leg Length Roseate Spoonbill

(top right)

2. Foot Webbing Laughing Gull

(top left)

3. Beak Shape Long Billed Curlew

(bottom)

D. Reptiles

1. Ectothermic or cold- blooded

2. Scales3. Some undergo

hibernation and estivation

4. Lay eggs on land5. Leg structure and

position

E. Amphibians

1. Ectothermic2. Lay eggs in water3. Partially of fully

webbed feet4.Have lungs or can

absorb oxygen through their skin

F. Animal Defense

1. Some animals use these methods of defense to protect themselves:a. Camouflage

Snakeb. Mimicry

Mexican Milk Snakec. Bright colors

Skunk and Poison Arrow Frog

d. “Hair” projections Hedgehog quills

E. Shells F. Tentacles- like

jelly fish G. Sounds- like

roar of a lion. H. Spines I. Antlers J. Claws K. Thorns

L. Horns M. Odor

Example of Adaptation

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

deer, have many molars(dull teeth) for chewing tough grass and plants.

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

Arctic fox Snowshoe rabbit Caribou Brown Bear

Bat Squirrel Frog Arctic wolf

GeeseWhaleSnowy owl Butterfly

Click on each picture in order to read about that animal in winter.

In winter, an Arctic fox’s fur turnswhite to blend in with the snow. Arctic foxes CAMOUFLAGE.

Keep Going

In winter, an Arctic wolf’s fur turns white to blend in with thesnow. Arctic wolves CAMOUFLAGE.

Keep Going

In winter, a snowy owl’s feathersturn white to blend in with the snow. Snowy owls CAMOUFLAGE.

Keep Going

In winter, a snowshoe rabbit’s furturns white to blend in with thesnow. Snowshoe rabbits CAMOUFLAGE.

Keep Going

In winter, geese fly south towarmer weather. Geese MIGRATE.

Keep Going

In winter, whales swim south towarmer water. Whales MIGRATE.

Keep Going

In winter, caribou travel towarmer places. Caribou MIGRATE.

Keep Going

In winter, butterflies fly towarmer places. ButterfliesMIGRATE.

Now it’s time for a sorting activity.

In winter, squirrels fall into a deep sleep until spring time.Squirrels HIBERNATE.

Keep Going

In winter, some bears fall into a deep sleep until spring time.Some bears HIBERNATE.

Keep Going

In winter, bats fall into a deep sleep until spring time.Bats HIBERNATE.

Keep Going

In winter, frogs fall into a deep sleep until spring time.Frogs HIBERNATE.

Keep Going

Sort the winter animals into the boxes below.

Thick warm, white fur coat

Thick warm, white fur coatKeeps the bear warm in below

freezing temperatures and allows him to camouflage in the snow.



Large Paws



Large PawsProduce an oil that stops his feet freezing

on the snow.




on the snow.

Little eyes




on the snow.

Little eyesKeeps cold

and icy snowblizzards

out of theireyes.

Big, flat feet

Big, flat feetEnable camels to walk on the sand

without sinking into it.



Humps



Humps

Camel can store a

supply of water

so it doesn’t have

to stop to drink



Humps

Camel can store a

supply of water


to stop to drinkLong eyelashes



Humps

Camel can store a

supply of water


to stop to drink

Long eyelashesKeeps sand from storms

and glaring sun fromcamels eyes.



Humps

Camel can store a

supply of water


to stop to drink



Long Legs



Humps

Camel can store a

supply of water


to stop to drink



Long Legs

Help to move across

the dessert quicker

and keeps the sand

off the camels

stomach.

Humans adapt to suit their climate and surroundings.


In the summer we wear thin clothes, drink plenty of water, and keep our selves in the shade.


In the summer we wear thin clothes, drink plenty of water, and keep our selves in the shade.

In the winter we have to wrap up warm, eat warm food and drink hot drinks.

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.

So what did some of these animals look like hundreds, thousands, or millions of years ago?

As you see the following pictures look at the similarities to a present day animal and what environment each of these would have lived in.

Baby Wooly Mammoth found in Russians Tundra beneath the permafrost in August 2011.

Mastodon

http://www.50birds.com/extan/gextanimals1.htm

Animal Adaptations Provided by: City of Corpus Christi Museum of Science and History.

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