toad Animal Adaptations

Have you ever wondered how animals are able to survive in the wild? Animals have certain adaptations that help them to survive.

Physical adaptations help an animal survive in its environment. are body structures that allow an animal to find and consume food, defend itself, and to reproduce its species. Hey! I’m a walking stick. I look just like a stick you’d find on the ground. I am using disguise. Physical adaptations help an animal survive in its environment. © A. Weinberg

Camouflage (use of color in a surrounding) Physical adaptation Camouflage (use of color in a surrounding) The chameleon can change its color to match its surroundings. Can you do that?

Concealing Coloration Coloration and protective resemblance allow an animal to blend into its environment.  Another word for this might be camouflage.  Their camouflage makes it hard for enemies to single out individuals.  

Frog (Concealing Coloration)

Fish (Concealing Coloration)

Moth (Concealing Coloration)

Alligator (Concealing Coloration)

Owl (Concealing Coloration)

Disruptive Coloration These creatures are colored so that their outline is broken up so that they will not stick out and be easily seen.

(Disruptive Coloration) Zebra: Although it maybe easy for you to find the zebras, loins are color blind and only see stripes that look like tall grass. (Disruptive Coloration)

Disruptive Coloration

Disruptive Coloration

Disguise These creatures blend in with their surroundings usually by their body shape.

Leaf Insect

Stonefish

Cuttlefish

Grasshopper

Physical adaptation Mimicry These creatures look like other animals who are more dangerous than themselves. 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!

Coral Snake and King Snake Red touches black, you’re okay Jack. Red touches Yellow, you’re a dead fellow.

Owl and Moth

Chemical defenses (like venom, ink, sprays) Physical adaptation Chemical defenses (like venom, ink, sprays)

Snakes

Octopus

Box Jellyfish

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.

Horns

Claws