1. Adaptations

2. 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.

3. We can separate adaptations into two categories:
Physical
Adaptations
AND
Behavioral

4. Physical adaptations help an animal survive in its environment.
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.
Hey! I’m a walking stick. I look just like a stick you’d find on the ground.
© A. Weinberg

5. Physical adaptation
Camouflage : the ability to hide itself from prey by using its own color
The chameleon can change its color to match its surroundings. Can you do that?

6. (looking or sounding like another living organism)
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!

7. Chemical defenses : venom, ink, sprays
Physical adaptation
Chemical defenses : venom, ink, sprays

8. Physical adaptation
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.

9. Behavioral Adaptations :the way an animal behaves in order to survive

10. 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.

11. Homeostasis
The process by which an organism’s internal environment is kept stable despite changes in the 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.

12. Endotherms vs. Ectotherms

13. Endotherms
Endotherms: animals that generate their own heat in order to maintain a body temperature
We call these animals warm-blooded.
Keep a constant body temperature regardless of changes in the surrounding temperature

14. How do endotherms 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.

15. Ectotherms
Ectotherms :animals whose body temperature changes with their surroundings
We call these animals cold-blooded
Body temperature fluctuates with changes in the surrounding temperature.

16. How do ectotherms adapt?
Most marine fish and invertebrates 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.

17. 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.

18. 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

19. Mammals Endothermic or warm-blooded All have some type of “hair”
Some are very specialized, such as white polar bear fur
Way to move around
Care for young

20. Birds Leg Length Foot Webbing Beak Shape Roseate Spoonbill (top right)
Laughing Gull (top left)
Beak Shape
Long Billed Curlew (bottom)

21. Reptiles Ectothermic or cold- blooded Scales
Some undergo hibernation and estivation
Lay eggs on land
Leg structure and position

22. Amphibians Ectothermic Lay eggs in water
Partially or fully webbed feet
Have lungs or can absorb oxygen through their skin

23. 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

24. 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.

25. 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.

26. 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.

27. 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.

28. 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.

29. Reproductive adaptations:
Sexual Reproduction: 2 parents
Asexual Reproduction: 1 parent
What is an advantage/disadvantage of each type of reproduction for survival of an organism?

30. Examples of plant adaptations:
Thorns (for protection)
Poisons (for protection)
Bright colors (for pollination)
Spines (for protection)
Odor (for protection)
Deep roots (desert plants)

31. Adaptations for certain biomes:
1. Desert: ability to store water (cactus, camel), deep roots (plants)
2. Aquatic: plants have floating seeds, animals have to be adapted to high pressure under water, webbed feet
3. High altitude biomes (mountains): larger lungs and organisms carry more oxygen in red blood cells

32. Resources
This PowerPoint is partially adapted from Ms. Weinberg. The original PowerPoint can be viewed at
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