Adaptation in Animals By Sanjay and Vijay

An Introduction Organisms live in different habitats They do not survive if taken out of their natural habitats Organism develop certain features to survive and reproduce successfully in their environment

What is adaptation? Structural and functional features of living forms developed over a period of time which enables them to survive and reproduce in the particular habitat.

Types of adaptation Short term adaptations –eg. Skin turning its colour due to exposure to sunlight Long term adaptations –Eg. Beaks and claws in birds

Adaptation in different habitats In aquatic habitat In terrestrial habitat In arboreal habitat

Adaptation in aquatic habitat Aquatic habitats are both salt and fresh water habitats Organisms may have floats,air sacs air cavities etc. Streamlined body and fins as in fishes Special coverage like shell,scales waxy coat to protect against decay Some have special respiratory organs like gills

Adaptation in terrestrial habitat Adaptation to vagaries in climatic factors like temperature, rain fall,etc. Adaptation of body for rapid movement Protective adaptation like colour of skin,cover on body etc. Colouration and climbing eg. Chameleon

Adaptation in arboreal habitat Stong body with well developed pectoral girdle which support weight of the body Tail may be prehensile(capable of holding) as in monkey or not prehensile but with hair and scales(to help against slipping) as in squirrels The girdle is broad to support the body

Know few more interesting adaptations Warning colours: some insects like wasps,bees and butterflies exhibit such colours that enemies feel they are unpalatable Protective resemblance: some insects and their larvae look like twigs of trees and thus escape from enemies. Eg. Leaf insect Mimicry: Similarity of one species with another eg.long horned beetle resembles wasp in form and colour.

Acknowledgements and bibliography Microsoft encarta encyclopaedia Biology for class 9 by Mishra and Saha