Introduction to Animals Chapter 12 notes Introduction to Animals

Animal Characteristics -Is it an animal? Animal characteristics: depend on other living things for food, digest their food, most animals move from place to place, and they are capable of reproducing. - Any structure, process, or behavior that helps an organism survive in its environment is an adaptation. Herbivores- eat only plants( they eat more often and in greater amounts because plants don’t supply as much energy as other types of food. Carnivores- captures and kill other animals for food. Omnivores- eat plant and animals. Detritivores- feed on bits of decaying matter called detritus. Scavengers- eat only the remains of other animals.

Physical and Behavioral Adaptations Mimcry- adaptation where one animal closely resembles another animal in appearance or behavior. Camoflage- any markings or coloring that helps an animal hide from other animals. Some behavioral adaptations are chemical like a skunk spraying or a squid letting out a cloud of ink. Other behavioral adaptations are physical like an animal running faster, or animals traveling in groups.

Animal Classification Vertebrates- animals with backbones. Invertebrates- animals without backbones Symmetry is how the body parts of an animal are arranged. Radial Symmetry- animals with body parts are arranged in a circle around a center. (Ex. Jellyfish) Bilateral Symmetry- can be divided into right and left halves that are nearly mirror images of each other. (Ex. Humans).

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