Animal Adaptations

Types of Adaptation Anything that helps an organism survive in its environment is an adaptation.  It also refers to the ability of living things to adjust to different conditions within their environments.  Structural/physical adaptation Behavioral adaptation Physiological adaptation

Structural/Physical Adaptations A structural/physical adaptation involves some part of an animal's body. Body parts-Eyes/ teeth/claws/beaks hooves/feet/legs/ ears/whiskers/wings Body coverings- fur/feathers/scales/ quills/skin/spines    A structural adaptation involves some part of an animal's body, such as the size or shape of the teeth, the animal's body covering, or the way the animal moves.   Teeth - since different animals eat different things, they don't all have the same kind of teeth Body coverings - Hair, scales, spines, and feathers grow from the skin.  All of these parts help animals survive in their environments.   Movement - animals find food by moving from place to place

Protective Coloration Coloration and protective resemblance allow an animal to blend into its environment.  Another word for this might be camouflage.  Their camouflage makes it hard for enemies to find the animal, because it blends in to the surroundings.   

Mimicry Mimicry allows one animal to look, sound, or act like another animal to fool predators into thinking it is poisonous or dangerous.   Coral snake (left) very poinsonous & Milk snake (right)

Behavioral Adaptations Behavioral adaptations include activities that help an animal survive. Something the animal does.  Behavior adaptations can be learned or instinctive. Social behaviour   Behavior for protection Behavior for survival   Behavior adaptations include activities that help an animal survive.  Behavior adaptations can be learned or instinctive. (a behavior an animal is born with). Social behavior - some animals live by themselves, while other live in groups.  Behavior for protection -  An animal's behavior sometimes helps to protect the animal.  For instance the opossum plays dead.  A rabbit freezes when it thinks it has been seen. 

Migration 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. This is a behavioral adaptation that involves an animal or group of animals moving from one region to another and then back again.  Migration-is the behavioral adaptation that involves an animal or group of animals moving from one region to another and then back again.  Animals migrate for different reasons.  The reasons are as follows. better climate better food safe place to live safe place to raise young go back to the place they were born.

Hibernation This is deep sleep (dormancy) in which an animal’s body temperature drops and body activities slow to conserve energy. E.g. Bats, woodchucks & bears. Hibernation- is a deep sleep in which an animal's body temperature drops to about the temperature of the environment.  Body activities, such as heartbeat and breathing are slowed causing the animal to need very little food.  Animals that hibernate are  bats  woodchucks snakes  bears. During the hibernation the animals live off of the fat that is stored in their body. 

Estivation This is when animals go underground or dormant and slow body processes to survive extreme heat by conserving energy. E.g. Toad/frog, tortoise, salamander, ground squirrels. Hibernation- is a deep sleep in which an animal's body temperature drops to about the temperature of the environment.  Body activities, such as heartbeat and breathing are slowed causing the animal to need very little food.  Animals that hibernate are  bats  woodchucks snakes  bears. During the hibernation the animals live off of the fat that is stored in their body. 

Heat Avoidance This is when animals survive in the desert by adapting the time they are active. E.g. Crepuscular, diurnal, nocturnal. Hibernation- is a deep sleep in which an animal's body temperature drops to about the temperature of the environment.  Body activities, such as heartbeat and breathing are slowed causing the animal to need very little food.  Animals that hibernate are  bats  woodchucks snakes  bears. During the hibernation the animals live off of the fat that is stored in their body. 

Heat Dissipation This is when animals have activities that help them get rid of heat or cool off. E.g. Owls hold mouth open to cool off , Turkey Vultures urinate on legs to cool off, kangaroos lick arms/legs to use evaporation Hibernation- is a deep sleep in which an animal's body temperature drops to about the temperature of the environment.  Body activities, such as heartbeat and breathing are slowed causing the animal to need very little food.  Animals that hibernate are  bats  woodchucks snakes  bears. During the hibernation the animals live off of the fat that is stored in their body. 

Water Acquisition or Retention This is when animals have ways to keep water in their bodies or to get/find it. E.g. Kangaroo Rat recycles breath and water in urine, reptiles/birds excrete white waste-less water lost, turkey vulture gets almost all water from its food Hibernation- is a deep sleep in which an animal's body temperature drops to about the temperature of the environment.  Body activities, such as heartbeat and breathing are slowed causing the animal to need very little food.  Animals that hibernate are  bats  woodchucks snakes  bears. During the hibernation the animals live off of the fat that is stored in their body. 

Physiological Adaptations Some animals can use or alter their body chemistry and metabolism to survive. This is inside the body. E.g. A kangaroo rat can manufacture water from the seeds it digests, a camels hump using fat for energy, pit vipers can sense heat with membranes