1. Adaptations

2. ADAPTATION
Is a characteristic that helps an organism survive and reproduce.
Survive means: eat, blend, hunt, protect self, find food, etc.

3. 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.

4. We can separate adaptations into 3 types:
Physical
Adaptations
Physiological
Behavioral

5. Physical adaptations help an animal survive in its environment.
Physical adaptations are body structures that allow an animal to find and consume food, defend itself, and to reproduce its species.
Physical adaptations help an animal survive in its environment.
Hey! I’m a walking stick. I look just like a stick you’d find on the ground.
© A. Weinberg

6. Physical adaptation
Camouflage : the ability to hide itself from prey by using its own color
The chameleon can change its color to match its surroundings. Can you do that?

7. (looking or sounding like another living organism)
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!

9. 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.

10. Example of Adaptation Widely spaced eyes- Body coverings –
Rabbits have this to give them a wide field of vision for surveillance and detection of danger
Body coverings –
Hair, scales, spines, and feathers grow from the skin.  All of these parts help animals survive in their environments.  

11. 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.

12. 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.

13. Physical adaptation
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.

14. Physiological adaptation
Chemical defenses : venom, ink, sprays

16. Physiological Adaptations :a body process that helps an organism to survive/reproduce

17. Physiological Adaptations
Physiological Adaptations. A whole lot happens inside our bodies and inside other organisms. ... Organisms that make venom or poison are good examples of physiological adaptations. Or animals and plants in the desert that have special tissues to hold or absorb water are also good examples.

18. 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.

19. Behavioral Adaptations :the way an animal behaves in order to survive

20. Behavioral Adaptations are animals’ actions-what they DO.
Remember that Physical Adaptations are body structures.
Each organism has unique methods of adapting to its environment by means of different actions.

21. Migrating - Some animals, like wildebeests move from one part of the world to another to find better food to eat when the seasons change.
Bats huddle together to stay warm

22. Acting dead - Some animals, like the opossum in the picture below pretend to be dead so that they won't be chased by other animals.
Hunting in groups - some animals like wolves hunt in groups so that they can work as a team and catch more to eat. 

24. 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

25. Reproductive adaptations:
Sexual Reproduction: 2 parents
Asexual Reproduction: 1 parent
Gestation Time: short gestation and high fertility aid rapid population increases when food is available
What is an advantage/disadvantage of each type of reproduction for survival of an organism?

26. Examples of plant adaptations:
Thorns (for protection)
Poisons (for protection)
Bright colors (for pollination)
Spines (for protection)
Odor (for protection)
Deep roots (desert plants)

27. Adaptations for certain biomes:
1. Desert: ability to store water (cactus, camel), deep roots (plants)
2. Aquatic: plants have floating seeds, animals have to be adapted to high pressure under water, webbed feet
3. High altitude biomes (mountains): larger lungs and organisms carry more oxygen in red blood cells

28. Resources
This PowerPoint is partially adapted from Ms. Weinberg. The original PowerPoint can be viewed at
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