Adaptations

Learn about animal adaptations & how they help creatures survive in different environments!

What structure (body part) on a hummingbird is adapted to help it gain energy from food? Write "yes" on the structure that matches this function. Write "no" on all the other structures. no no yes no Which of these birds has a beak that is adapted to help it scoop up fish? Use the pictures to help you decide. Scooping Beak #2. Roseate Spoonbill #3. Pelican Non-scooping Beak #1. Finch #4. Hawk #5. Woodpecker Which of these animals have adaptations? Giraffe Echidna Sloth All of the above Fill in the blanks. When an environment changes some animals will unfortunately die, some will move to a new environment and some will develop adaptations. How quickly can animals develop adaptations? in a week over a year over generations throughout their life How do the armadillo's armored plates help it to survive? Camouflage waterproofing warmth in winter protection from predators What adaptations help protect a sloth from predators? Camouflage Being fast Mimicry Sharp teeth What is an important and unique adaptation that humans have? long tongues opposable thumbs camouflage enhanced sense of smell Fill in the blanks. Dogs have developed an extremely strong sense of smell, nearly one million times better than humans. House cats are hunters that use their good sense of sight at night to find their prey. They also have claws used for climbing and hunting. Deer have extremely strong leg muscles that are used to escape from predators. Click on each description and decide if it is a variation or an adaptation. Each group has 9 answers. Variation The difference in the physical traits between organisms in a population In tortoise populations in the Galapagos, some tortoises have long necks and flared shells, and some have short necks and flat shells. A population of fish have two types of scales, lighter grey scale, and dark gray scales. Humans have different colored eyes such as blue, green, brown and gray. A brown fox in a snowy environment. In guinea pigs they have different kinds of fur coat lengths (short, medium, long). Flamingos can be red, orange, white or pink. Color also can vary based on which specific species of flamingo it is. Tulips have many different colors that can be present in the wild. House cats have many different fur patterns and colors present in their species. Adaptation A feature that allows an organism to better survive in its environment In tortoise populations in the Galapagos, tortoises with long necks can reach higher grasses and bushes on the island In a population of fish, those with dark gray scales can blend into the dark rocks better than lighter scaled fish Whales give birth in the breech position (where the baby whale's head comes out first) so the baby whale can come out and once fully out land on the mom's back where the mom brings the baby to the surface for its first breath of oxygen. An angel fish lives in the darkest parts of the ocean where there is little to no light (as the sun cannot reach that far). This attracts prey to the fish so it can eat. In some angel fish their lights are brighter than others and bring in more prey. A white fox in a snowy environment. Giraffes have different lengths of necks. They have short, medium and long. Based on this many giraffes can eat from the same tree. Tigers come in many different colors as well having stripes or not. This is based on what area of the world they live in as to what color their coat is or if stripes are present or not. The skin tone of humans help in a few different ways. Those that have light tones are able to absorb more heat from the sun and helps them stay warmer during the colder times of the year. Those with dark tones do much better in warmer climates as the sun's heat is reflected more. When these skin tones try to go to other climates they experience an act of being colder or warmer than usual. Sort the information into structural and behavioral adaptations. BEHAVIORALADAPTATION The things organisms DO to survive. Polar Bear digdens to stay warmin thecold. Koalas define theirterritories by making scratch marks on trees. When threatened,a skunk will raise itstail and spray atoxin at thepredator. The Great WhiteShark attacks andsurprises their prey(seals andsea lions)from below. Armadillos canroll up into a ball toprotecttheirundersides. Penguins makenests side by side and huddle to keep the chicks warm. Leaf insects swayas they walk so thatthey look like leaves blowing in the wind. Woodchuckshibernate througha longwinter. STRUCTURALADAPTATION The physicalfeatures of anorganism thathelp it survive. The Arctic Fox hasthick fur to keepit warm. Ducks havewebbedfeet to help themswim. Hawks havesharp clawsto catchand killtheir prey. Rabbits have largeears so theycan hearand avoiddanger. Leaf Insects areshaped like a leaf sopredatorsthink theyare realleaves. Frogs have longstrong legs tohopquicklyand far. A moose has longlegs to walk throughdeep snow, over bushesand logs,and wadethroughmarshes.