Animal Adaptations
What is ecology?
• The study of the
interactions that
take place among
organisms and
their environment
Adaptations
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.
body part or
behavior that
helps an
animal
survive in a
particular
environment.
help an
animal
breathe,
catch
food, or
hide.
adapted
to live in
certain
habitats.
We can separate adaptations into two
categories:
Physical
AND
Behavioral
body part or
behavior that
helps an
animal
survive in a
particular
environment.
help an
animal
breathe,
catch
food, or
hide.
adapted
to live in
certain
habitats.
Physical
Behavioral
•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.
© A. Weinberg
body part or
behavior that
helps an
animal
survive in a
particular
environment.
help an
animal
breathe,
catch
food, or
hide.
adapted
to live in
certain
habitats.
Physical
body structures that
allow an animal to
find and consume
food, defend itself,
and to reproduce
its species.
help an animal
survive in its
environment
Behavioral
Physical adaptation
Camouflage (use of color in a surrounding)
The chameleon can change its color to match its
surroundings. Can you do that?
body part or
behavior that
helps an
animal
survive in a
particular
environment.
help an
animal
breathe,
catch
food, or
hide.
adapted
to live in
certain
habitats.
Physical
body structures that
allow an animal to
find and consume
food, defend itself,
and to reproduce
its species.
Camouflage
use of color in a
surrounding
help an animal
survive in its
environment
Behavioral
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!
body part or
behavior that
helps an
animal
survive in a
particular
environment.
help an
animal
breathe,
catch
food, or
hide.
adapted
to live in
certain
habitats.
Physical
body structures that
allow an animal to
find and consume
food, defend itself,
and to reproduce
its species.
Camouflage
use of color in a
surrounding
Mimicry
(looking or
sounding like
another living
organism)
help an animal
survive in its
environment
Behavioral
Physical adaptation
Chemical defenses (like venom, ink,
sprays)
body part or
behavior that
helps an
animal
survive in a
particular
environment.
help an
animal
breathe,
catch
food, or
hide.
adapted
to live in
certain
habitats.
Physical
body structures that
allow an animal to
find and consume
food, defend itself,
and to reproduce
its species.
Camouflage
use of color in a
surrounding
Mimicry
(looking or
sounding like
another living
organism)
help an animal
survive in its
environment
Chemical
defenses
(like venom,
ink, sprays)
Behavioral
Physical adaptations
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.
body part or
behavior that
helps an
animal
survive in a
particular
environment.
help an
animal
breathe,
catch
food, or
hide.
adapted
to live in
certain
habitats.
Physical
body structures that
allow an animal to
find and consume
food, defend itself,
and to reproduce
its species.
Camouflage
use of color in a
surrounding
Mimicry
(looking or
sounding like
another living
organism)
Behavioral
help an animal
survive in its
environment
Chemical
defenses
(like venom,
ink, sprays)
Body coverings
& parts
(claws, beaks, feet,
armor plates, skulls,
teeth)
Behavioral Adaptations allow
animals to respond to life
needs.
body part or
behavior that
helps an
animal
survive in a
particular
environment.
help an
animal
breathe,
catch
food, or
hide.
adapted
to live in
certain
habitats.
Physical
body structures that
allow an animal to
find and consume
food, defend itself,
and to reproduce
its species.
Camouflage
use of color in a
surrounding
Mimicry
(looking or
sounding like
another living
organism)
Behavioral
help an animal
survive in its
environment
Chemical
defenses
(like venom,
ink, sprays)
allow animals to
respond to life
needs.
Body coverings
& parts
(claws, beaks, feet,
armor plates, skulls,
teeth)
Behavioral Adaptations are
animals’ actions.
Remember that Physical
Adaptations are body structures.
Each organism has unique
methods of adapting to its
environment by means of
different actions.
body part or
behavior that
helps an
animal
survive in a
particular
environment.
help an
animal
breathe,
catch
food, or
hide.
adapted
to live in
certain
habitats.
Physical
body structures that
allow an animal to
find and consume
food, defend itself,
and to reproduce
its species.
Camouflage
use of color in a
surrounding
Mimicry
(looking or
sounding like
another living
organism)
Behavioral
help an animal
survive in its
environment
Chemical
defenses
(like venom,
ink, sprays)
allow animals to
respond to life
needs.
Body coverings
& parts
(claws, beaks, feet,
armor plates, skulls,
teeth)
animals’
actions
Homeostasis
• Maintenance of constant internal
conditions in the face of a varying
external environment.
• Examples:
– The thickening of fur in winter.
– The seeking of shade in heat.
– The production of more red blood cells at
high altitude.
Maintenance of constant internal
conditions in the face of a varying
external environment
Endotherms
vs.
Ectotherms
Maintenance of constant internal
conditions in the face of a varying
external environment
Endotherms
Ectotherms
Endotherms
• Endotherms are animals that warm
their bodies mainly from their own
metabolism.
– We call these animals warm-blooded.
– Maintain a constant body temperature
regardless of changes in the surrounding
temperature
Maintenance of constant internal
conditions in the face of a varying
external environment
Endotherms
animals that warm their
bodies mainly from their
own metabolism
Warmblooded
Body temp the
same
regardless of
weather
Ectotherms
How do endothems adapt?
• Fat layers, fur, and feathers
insulate the body and
retain heat.
• Shivering muscles contract
to increase body heat.
• Some animals hibernate.
Hibernation enables
animals to survive long
periods of cold and lack of
food.
• Canines, like this Brittany,
use panting as a means of
temperature regulation.
Maintenance of constant internal
conditions in the face of a varying
external environment
Ectotherms
Endotherms
animals that warm their
bodies mainly from their
own metabolism
Warmblooded
Body temp the
same
regardless of
weather
How do
endothems adapt?
Fat
layers,
fur, and
feathers
Shivering
Muscles
Hibernation
Ectotherms
• Ectotherms are animals that warm
their bodies by absorbing heat from
their surroundings.
– We call these animals cold-blooded
– Body temperature fluctuates with
changes in the surrounding temperature.
Maintenance of constant internal
conditions in the face of a varying
external environment
Ectotherms
Endotherms
animals that warm their
bodies mainly from their
own metabolism
Warmblooded
Body temp the
same
regardless of
weather
How do
endothems adapt?
Fat
layers,
fur, and
feathers
Shivering
Muscles
Hibernation
animals that warm their
bodies by absorbing heat
from their surroundings
Coldblooded
Body Temp
changes with
weather
How do ectotherms adapt?
• Most marine fish and
invertebrates, however, live in
water that stays the same
temperature.
• When the weather is warm, they
become active. They slow down
when the temperature drops.
– To warm up, reptiles find sunny
places, and stretch out for
maximum exposure. If it gets too
warm, lizards alternate between
sun and shade.
– Amphibians warm up by moving
into the sun or diving into warm
water. They cool off by entering
the shade.
Maintenance of constant internal
conditions in the face of a varying
external environment
Ectotherms
Endotherms
animals that warm their
bodies mainly from their
own metabolism
Warmblooded
Body temp the
same
regardless of
weather
How do
endothems adapt?
Fat
layers,
fur, and
feathers
Shivering
Muscles
Hibernation
animals that warm their
bodies by absorbing heat
from their surroundings
Coldblooded
Body Temp
changes with
weather
How do ectotherms
adapt?
warm up by
moving into
the sun or
diving into
warm water
weather is
warm, they
become active.
They slow
down when the
temperature
drops.
cool off by
entering the
shade
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.
Who experiences adaptations?
• All species have experienced adaptation and will
continue to slowly adapt as the next generations
are born.
• We will identify certain species from each of these
groups and the reasons for their success:
–
–
–
–
Mammals
Birds
Reptiles
Amphibians
Mammals
• Endothermic or
warm-blooded
• All have some type of
“hair”
– Some are very
specialized, such as
white polar bear fur
• Method of locomotion
• Care for young
Birds
• Leg Length
– Roseate Spoonbill
(top right)
• Foot Webbing
– Laughing Gull
left)
• Beak Shape
– Long Billed Curlew
(bottom)
(top
Reptiles
• Ectothermic or
cold- blooded
• Scales
• Some undergo
hibernation and
estivation
• Lay eggs on land
• Leg structure and
position
Amphibians
• Ectothermic
• Lay eggs in water
• Partially of fully
webbed feet
• Have lungs or can
absorb oxygen through
their skin
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
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.
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.
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.
Adaptation Applications: Giraffe
• How are their long necks
adapted to their lifestyle?
• Answer: This extra length
is thought to have evolved
to help the giraffe spot
predators and other
giraffes in the distance.
Interestingly, giraffes and
humans have the same
number of vertebrate in
their necks.
Adaptation Applications: Zebras
• How do zebras defend
themselves?
• Capable of running up to
40 mph. Zebras defend
themselves by kicking and
biting. Coloration also
plays a role in evading
predators, although
theories have not reached
an agreement.
Resources
• This PowerPoint is partially adapted from Ms.
Weinberg. The original PowerPoint can be viewed at
– http://www.quia.com/files/quia/users/amiew/
Animal-Adaptations-PPT
• 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
– http://www.ccmuseumedres.com/Animal%20Ad
aptations.ppt
• http://science.jrank.org/pages/6750/Temperature
-Regulation-Internally-heated-animals.html
• http://science.jrank.org/pages/6749/Temperature
-Regulation-Externally-heated-animals.html