Plant and Animal Adaptations

Adaptation

• An adaptation is a structure or behavior

that helps organisms survive in their

surroundings.

• A structure is a body part that does a

certain “job”.

Survival

• Animals live all over the world and in many

different environments.

• Each kind of animal has adapted over

many years to suit their environment.

• Animals that do not adapt do not survive

or they go somewhere else.

Land or Water

• Most animals are either suited for land or

water.

• Lungs are adaptations that allow

organisms to breathe on land.

• Gills are adaptations that allow organisms

to breathe under water.

Camouflage

• Camouflage is the shape, color, or pattern of an animal that helps it blend in with its surroundings

Why Camouflage?

• Animals camouflage to protect them from

their predators or to hide from their prey

so they can attack.

Mimicry

• Mimicry is one organism looking like

another kind of organism in its

environment so it can escape predators or

catch prey.

Monarch or VICEROY

• The Monarch butterfly is very bad tasting

to its predators.

• The Viceroy butterfly will mimic the

Monarch butterfly so it will not be eaten.

Attracting Mates

• Some animals are brightly colored to

attract mates.

Teeth-Carnivores

• Meat-eating

animals

have sharp

teeth for

tearing and

ripping their

prey.

Teeth-Herbivores

• Animals

that eat

leaves and

grasses

have large

flat teeth for

chewing.

Eyes-In Front

• Predators

usually

have eyes

in the

front to

see prey.

Eyes-On the side

• Prey usually have eyes on the side to

search for predators.

Behaviors

• Desert animals may hide from the sun.

Plant Adaptations

• Desert plants like

Cacti have adapted

by having few or no

leaves to limit

transpiration.

Plant Adaptations

• Plant’s roots will grow toward the water

source.

Questions

What is an adaptation?

An adaptation is a structure or

behavior that helps organisms

survive in their surroundings.

Name some adaptations of the

animal.

Tusk-Protection

Skin-Water Absorption

Eyes-On the side to see

predators

Name some adaptations of the

animal.

Beak-Getting nectar

Claws-Balance

Wings-Flying

Eyes-On the side