Animal Adaptation Student Research
Overview: You will be working in pairs to investigate animal adaptations. An adaptation is a trait that
makes an animal suited to its environment. It can be a behavioral, structural or physiological trait. You
will brainstorm and compose a list of the many adaptations animals must undergo to survive in their
respective environments. The following is a recap of the three types of adaptation.
Structural Adaptation: This involves some part of an animal’s body, such as the size and shape of the
teeth, the animal’s body covering, or the way the animal moves.
Physiological Adaptation: A biological change occurring in an organism in response to a change in
conditions. Protective coloration, or protective resemblance, which allows an animal to blend into its
environment, is also known as camouflage. Camouflage makes it harder for enemies to single out
individual animals.
Behavioral Adaptation: Include activities that help an animal survive. Behavior adaptations can be
learned or instinctive, such as spraying toxic gases for protection. Migration, another behavioral
adaptation, involves an animal or group of animals moving from one region to another and back
again. Hibernation is also a behavioral adaptation in which the animal’s entire system slows. Requiring
little fuel, the animal lives off of the fat that is stored in the body.
Your team will pick one of the following animals to research:
Bandicoot, Puffer Fish, Frilled Lizard, Fennec Fox, Ermine, Emerald Tree Boa, Beluga Whale, Electric
Eel, Echidna, Brown Bear, Duckbill Platypus, Pica, African Rock Python, Desert Tortoise, Chimpanzee,
Aardvark, Cranes, Bald Eagle, River Otter, Crabs, Reindeer, Hummingbird, Komodo Dragon, Cheetah.
Your team will complete an annotated diagram (a diagram with a series of explanatory notes) of your
animal and will present your findings to the class. (see other side)
The Northern flying squirrel (Glaucomys sabrinus) is
one of two species of the genus Glaucomys, the only
flying squirrels found in North America. They do not
fly but actually glide.
Flying squirrels have skin flaps (patagia) that extend
between the wrists and ankles, and a tail that is
flattened top to bottom so they can steer when
gliding from tree to tree. The northern flying squirrel
travels principally by gliding, with an average
distance of about 65 feet. Through a series of short
jumps, it can reach a ground speed of eight miles per
hour. Their large eyes are an adaptation for nocturnal
activity.
Flying squirrels are nocturnal, flying at night as they
are not adept in escaping birds of prey that hunt
during daylight.
A major food source for the squirrels are mushrooms
fungi (truffles) of various species, although they also
eat lichens, mushrooms, all mast-crop nuts, tree sap,
insects, carrion, bird eggs and nestlings, buds and
flowers.
The following questions should be researched and presented.
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What is the common & scientific name of the animal you are researching?
Where does the animal generally reside?
What is the climate in the area?
What is the diet of the animal?
What is the anatomy of the animal?
What are other identifying aspects of the animal?
Explain the function and types of adaptations your animal has experienced
What type of scientific evidence did you find to support the adaptation claims made on behalf
of the animal?
9. Did you find evidence of scientific debate over whether these claims are true? Please elaborate on
your findings.
You will present the results of your findings to the class after creating an annotated diagram of your
selected animal. This diagram should be as detailed as possible and include all aspects of the animal
that are functional in the animal’s adaptation and survival process. You may use a poster or ppt.. to
present your animal.