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Adaptations of Living Things - Part 2

© Angela Plumb

Animals also have adaptations that increase their chances of survival in their environment. These adaptations can be classified into three types:

1) STRUCTURAL ADAPTATIONS deal with the animal's physical body, such as the way it is shaped, or colored. Camouflage is an important structural adaptation that enables animals to escape from predators, or hide and attack prey.

2)If the animal acts a certain way that increases their chances of survival, it is called a BEHAVIORAL ADAPTATION. Some animals play dead in order to trick predators - when the predator slow down its attack, the animal can get away. Migration is a behavioral adaptation - without it, many animals would freeze to death in the winter.

3)A FUNCTIONAL ADAPTATION is related to life functions, such as reproduction and metabolism. Hibernation is a body's response to seasonal change, and allows some animals to survive through the winter. Desert birds lay eggs during the short rainy season so that their young have enough food.

Let us look at some animals that live in different environments.

DESERT animals must live in extreme heat and dryness, and they escape the hot air during the day by burrowing into the sand. Lizards have upturned nostrils and shields over their eyes to protect them from the sand. Lizards also have thick leathery skin to prevent water loss. These are all structural adaptations.

A kangaroo rat can survive on the water it obtains from its food, and camels can retain water for long periods of time. Some desert mammals can cool the air in their nostrils and condense the moisture in their breath. Animals that need water always live close to a water source.

POND animals live in an area of great moisture, so their adaptations deal with this particular environment. Fish have sleek, streamlined bodies designed for swimming. Whirligig beetles have waterproof bodies and can skitter across the surface of the pond. Some water beetles trap air under their wings in order to resurface.

There is a wide variety of FOREST animals, each with its own set of adaptations. A porcupine's quills and a skunk's spray are deterrents against predators. Woodpeckers have specially shaped beaks that allow them to eat insects from the bark of trees. Beavers have sharp front teeth and flat tails that enable it to build dams and have shelter in the cold winter. They also have water-repellent fur so they don't freeze.

ACTIVITIES

A TRIP AROUND THE WORLD

You don't need to hop on a airplane to experience different environments. Visit a zoo, and check out the indoor exhibits. These exhibits are carefully designed to mimic the environments of specific animals. Bring a clipboard along, and jot down some observations. Is the climate in the exhibit hot or cold? Humid or dry? Are there any aquatic environments? What kind of plants and animals live in each environment? What kind of adaptations do they have that help them survive in this kind of environment?