Animal Adaptations

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
help an
helps an animal adapted
animal breathe, to live in
survive in a catch certain
particular food, or habitats.
environment.
hide.
We can separate adaptations into two
categories:

Physical

AND

Behavioral
body part or
behavior that
help an
helps an animal adapted
animal breathe, to live in
survive in a catch certain
particular
environment.
food, or habitats. Physical Behavioral
hide.
 •Physical adaptations are
body structures that allow an
animal to find and consume
food, defend itself, and to
reproduce its species.

Hey! I’m a
•Physical adaptations
walking help an animal survive
stick. I look in its environment.
just like a
stick you’d
find on the
ground.

© A. Weinberg
body part or
behavior that
help an
helps an animal adapted
animal breathe, to live in
survive in a catch certain
particular
environment.
food, or habitats. Physical Behavioral
hide.

body structures that help an animal

allow an animal to survive in its
find and consume environment
food, defend itself,
and to reproduce
its species.
 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
help an
helps an animal adapted
animal breathe, to live in
survive in a catch certain
particular
environment.
food, or habitats. Physical Behavioral
hide.

body structures that help an animal

allow an animal to survive in its
find and consume environment
food, defend itself,
and to reproduce
its species.

Camouflage
use of color in a
surrounding
 Physical adaptation
Mimicry
(looking or sounding like another living organism)

The Viceroy butterfly uses mimicry to look like the Monarch

butterfly. Can you tell them apart?

I’m the Viceroy!

Not poisonous

Poisonous

I’m the Monarch!

body part or
behavior that
help an
helps an animal adapted
animal breathe, to live in
survive in a catch certain
particular
environment.
food, or habitats. Physical Behavioral
hide.

body structures that help an animal

allow an animal to survive in its
find and consume environment
food, defend itself,
and to reproduce
its species.

Camouflage Mimicry
use of color in a (looking or
surrounding sounding like
another living
organism)
 Physical adaptation

Chemical defenses (like venom, ink, sprays)

body part or
behavior that
help an
helps an animal adapted
animal breathe, to live in
survive in a catch certain
particular
environment.
food, or habitats. Physical Behavioral
hide.

body structures that help an animal

allow an animal to survive in its
find and consume environment
food, defend itself,
and to reproduce
its species.

Camouflage Mimicry Chemical

use of color in a (looking or
sounding like
defenses
surrounding
another living (like venom,
organism) ink, sprays)
 Physical adaptations
Body coverings & parts (claws, beaks, feet, armor
plates, skulls, teeth)

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
help an
helps an animal adapted
animal breathe, to live in
survive in a catch certain
particular
environment.
food, or habitats. Physical Behavioral
hide.

body structures that help an animal

allow an animal to survive in its
find and consume environment
food, defend itself,
and to reproduce
its species.

Body coverings
Camouflage Mimicry Chemical & parts
use of color in a (looking or
sounding like
defenses (claws, beaks, feet,
surrounding armor plates, skulls,
another living (like venom, teeth)
organism) ink, sprays)
 Behavioral Adaptations allow
animals to respond to life needs.
body part or
behavior that
help an
helps an animal adapted
animal breathe, to live in
survive in a catch certain
particular
environment.
food, or habitats. Physical Behavioral
hide.

body structures that help an animal allow animals to

allow an animal to survive in its respond to life
find and consume environment
food, defend itself,
needs.
and to reproduce
its species.

Body coverings
Camouflage Mimicry Chemical & parts
use of color in a (looking or
sounding like
defenses (claws, beaks, feet,
surrounding armor plates, skulls,
another living (like venom, teeth)
organism) ink, sprays)
 Behavioral Adaptations are
animals’ actions.

Remember that Physical Adaptations

are body structures.

Each organism has unique

methods of adapting to its
environment by means of different
actions.
body part or
behavior that
help an
helps an animal adapted
animal breathe, to live in
survive in a catch certain
particular
environment.
food, or habitats. Physical Behavioral
hide.

body structures that help an animal allow animals to

allow an animal to survive in its
animals’
respond to life
find and consume environment
needs. actions
food, defend itself,
and to reproduce
its species.

Body coverings
Camouflage Mimicry Chemical & parts
use of color in a (looking or
sounding like
defenses (claws, beaks, feet,
surrounding armor plates, skulls,
another living (like venom, teeth)
organism) ink, sprays)
 Homeostasis
• Maintenance of constant internal
conditions in the face of a varying
external environment.
• Examples:
– The thickening of fur in winter.
– The seeking of shade in heat.
– The production of more red blood cells at
high altitude.
Maintenance of constant internal
conditions in the face of a varying
external environment
Endotherms
vs.
Ectotherms
 Maintenance of constant internal
conditions in the face of a varying
external environment

Endotherms Ectotherms
 Endotherms
• Endotherms are animals that warm
their bodies mainly from their own
metabolism.
– We call these animals warm-blooded.
– Maintain a constant body temperature
regardless of changes in the surrounding
temperature
 Maintenance of constant internal
conditions in the face of a varying
external environment

Endotherms Ectotherms

animals that warm their

bodies mainly from their
own metabolism

Body temp the

Warm-
same
blooded
regardless of
weather
How do endothems adapt?
• Fat layers, fur, and feathers
insulate the body and
retain heat.
• Shivering muscles contract
to increase body heat.
• Some animals hibernate.
Hibernation enables
animals to survive long
periods of cold and lack of
food.
• Canines, like this Brittany,
use panting as a means of
temperature regulation.
 Maintenance of constant internal
conditions in the face of a varying
external environment

Endotherms Ectotherms

animals that warm their How do

bodies mainly from their endothems
own metabolism adapt?

Fat
Body temp the
Warm-
same
layers, Shivering
blooded
regardless of
fur, and Muscles
feathers
weather

Hibernation
 Ectotherms
• Ectotherms are animals that warm
their bodies by absorbing heat from
their surroundings.
– We call these animals cold-blooded
– Body temperature fluctuates with
changes in the surrounding temperature.
 Maintenance of constant internal
conditions in the face of a varying
external environment

Endotherms Ectotherms

animals that warm their How do animals that warm their

bodies mainly from their endothems bodies by absorbing heat
own metabolism from their surroundings
adapt?

Fat Cold-
Body temp the Body Temp
Warm-
same
layers, Shivering blooded
blooded changes
regardless of
fur, and Muscles with weather
feathers
weather

Hibernation
 How do ectotherms adapt?
• Most marine fish and
invertebrates, however, live in
water that stays the same
temperature.
• When the weather is warm, they
become active. They slow down
when the temperature drops.
– To warm up, reptiles find sunny
places, and stretch out for
maximum exposure. If it gets too
warm, lizards alternate between
sun and shade.
– Amphibians warm up by moving
into the sun or diving into warm
water. They cool off by entering
the shade.
 Maintenance of constant internal
conditions in the face of a varying
external environment

Endotherms Ectotherms

animals that warm their How do animals that warm their How do ectotherms
bodies by absorbing heat
bodies mainly from their
own metabolism
endothems
from their surroundings adapt?
adapt?
weather is
Fat Cold- warm, they
Body temp the Body Temp
Warm-
same
layers, Shivering blooded warm up by
moving into become active.
blooded changes
regardless of
fur, and Muscles with weather
the sun or They slow
down when the
feathers diving into
weather warm water temperature
drops.

cool off by
Hibernation entering the
shade
 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/
Animal-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%20Adaptatio
ns.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