Animal Adaptations

Objectives The learner will be able to compare how organisms adapt to different environments.

Writing Activity At the end of the lesson, you will be required to write a paragraph about one animal adaptation and two facts.

What is Adaptation? An adaptation is something about an animal that makes it possible for it to live in a particular place and in a particular way. It may be a physical adaptation, like the size or shape of the animal's body, or the way in which its body works. Or it may be the way the animal behaves. As the environment changes, animals that cannot adapt die out. Adaptations make it possible for a great variety of creatures to live and thrive on earth.

Iguanas Most iguanas live in the rainforests of Central and South America but some come from drier areas and along the coasts. Older iguanas live high up in the trees and are excellent climbers and swimmers. Iguanas are herbivores, which means that in their natural habitat they dine exclusively on leaves and flowers.

South America Iguanas live mainly in the Rain Forest of South America.

Characteristics of Iguanas Young iguanas are a very light green and blend in well with their natural habitat. Their tail is striped and this also helps them blend in. They hold their legs close to their body and propel through the water using their tail, much the same way as crocodiles and alligators swim.

Rabbits Rabbits can weigh up to two to ten pounds. It is 15 inches tall. When the babies are born, they look like black blobs. Rabbits have good hearing because of their big ears.

Habitats Rabbits and hares will use burrows of woodchucks and skunks during periods of bad weather, never venturing far inside. Not only a defensive aid, the hollow white hairs, without the pigment melanin, have more air spaces within the hairs and thus has greater insulation. Snowshoe hares' white winter pelage has 27% better insulative qualities than the summer brown coat.

BEARS Medium-sized bears are usually black with a brown muzzle. Adult male black bears range from about 50 to 75 inches in length and weigh 130 to 660 pounds. Females measure from 50 to 75 inches and weigh 90 to 175 pounds. Black bears vary considerably in size, depending on the quality of the food available. Males may be from about 20 to 60 percent larger than females. At birth, cubs weigh 7 to 11 ounces.

HABITATS Black bears are normally found only in forested areas, but within such habitat they are highly adaptable. They live in both arid and moist forests, from sea level to over 6,560 feet. Brown bear habitat includes forested mountains, meadows, and river valleys

DIETS Black bears are omnivorous and feed on a wide range of foods, depending on what is available. Insects (particularly ants), nuts, berries, acorns, grasses, roots, and other vegetation form the bulk of their diet in most areas. Black bears can also be efficient predators of deer fawns and moose calves. In some areas of coastal British Columbia and Alaska they also feed on spawning salmon.

Resources Pictures and information was acquired with the help from the following website: ownbears2.html Additional information on fun facts on Iguanas can be found at the web address: