Structures and Adaptations of Animals
Animals are adapted to their habitat so that their needs can be met. Some adaptations of animals can help them find food or water, protect them from danger, or help them survive when conditions in the environment change. These adaptations include:
DEFENSE
Some animals have physical adaptations to protect themselves from being hurt, killed, or eaten. These adaptations include quills, claws, fangs, or spraying scent glands and warning stripes in skunks. Giraffes have horns that allow them to spar with other animals. |
OBTAINING RESOURCES
Animals have special structures used for obtaining and eating food. For example,
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LOCOMOTION
In order for animals to find the resources they need for food, shelter, or space, they must be able to move around. Animals have special structures for moving, depending on where they live.
In order for animals to find the resources they need for food, shelter, or space, they must be able to move around. Animals have special structures for moving, depending on where they live.
- Above ground: swinging (monkey tails), climbing and traction (squirrel claws), and flying (bird wings).
- On the ground: crawling (webbed lizard feet), walking (dog paws, donkey hooves), or hopping (grasshopper legs)
- In the water: floating (jellyfish), swimming (fish fins), or diving (dolphin and penguin flippers).
CAMOUFLAGE
Camouflage is a color or pattern that allows an animal to blend into its environment and protects it from being seen by its enemies or allows it to sneak up more easily on its food.
Camouflage is a color or pattern that allows an animal to blend into its environment and protects it from being seen by its enemies or allows it to sneak up more easily on its food.
- Tigers have vertical stripes that help them blend into the grassland areas in which they live.
- The macaw uses its brightly colored feathers to hide among brightly colored plants in the rainforest.
Sources:
Text: ed.sc.gov
Image 1: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Puffed_up_Pufferfish.jpg
Image 2: http://sierraclub.bc.ca/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/Spores_under_a_fern_leaf.jpg
Image 3: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/46/Purple-throated_carib_hummingbird_feeding.jpg
Image 4: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/7a/Great_male_Leopard_in_South_Afrika-JD.JPG
Text: ed.sc.gov
Image 1: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Puffed_up_Pufferfish.jpg
Image 2: http://sierraclub.bc.ca/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/Spores_under_a_fern_leaf.jpg
Image 3: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/46/Purple-throated_carib_hummingbird_feeding.jpg
Image 4: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/7a/Great_male_Leopard_in_South_Afrika-JD.JPG