1. Structures and Functions of Animal Adaptations
Presentation by: Teresa Roe
Brandon Elementary
November 2009

2. Adaptations Structure Function How the organism is built; examples:
teeth, feet, bones,
leaves, thorns,
etc.
Function
What the structure
does for the
organism; examples:
help it to swim, blend
in, eat specific foods,
etc.

3. Getting Food - Teeth
Specific teeth help an organism to eat certain foods. Carnivores, meat eaters, need canine teeth. Herbivores, plant eaters, do not need canine teeth.

4. Getting Food - Beaks
Beaks are designed to help the organism eat specific foods like seeds, fruit, or meat.

5. Staying Warm
Body coverings, external structures, like small ears and internal structures, such as blubber, can help organisms survive in very cold climates.

6. Swimming
Webbed feet, stream-lined bodies, and flippers can help animals swim.

7. Blending In
Some animals need to be camouflaged in order to hide from predators. Some animals need to be able to hide from their prey.

8. NOT Blending In
Some animals want to be highly noticeable and different from harmless organisms. Predators know to avoid them.

9. Walking in Different Areas
Animals need special feet to help them walk in their habitat. For example, animals who live in areas with steep slopes need small hooves while animals living on sand need large feet.

10. Eyesight
Predators need to focus on their prey so many have eyes in the front of their head. Prey need to see around them as much as they can so many have eyes on the sides of their head.

11. Heat Sensors
Some animals have special parts that allow them to sense warm blooded animals that are near.

12. Defense
Large teeth, long claws, thick skin, and thick hair or fur are examples of some things that can help an animal to defend itself.

13. Picture Sources www.denverzoo.org www.valdosta.edu
animal.discovery.com
ku-prism.org
www6.miami.edu
homepage.mac.com

14.
homepage.mac.com
jasperwildlife.com