1. pets
2. reptiles

Animal Adaptations
Have you ever wondered how animals
are able to survive in the wild?
Animals have certain
adaptations that help them to
survive.
I. What is an adaptation?
A. An adaptation is a change in an animal’s
physical structure or behavior that helps an animal
to survive in their habitat.

Examples: The shape of a bird’s beak, number of fingers and
toes, or the color of an animal’s fur.
B. Physical adaptations do not develop during
one lifetime, but over many generations.
II. Physical
adaptations
A. are body structures
that allow an animal to
find and consume food,
defend itself, and survive
in its environment.
© A. Weinberg
Physical adaptation
Camouflage (use of color in a surrounding)
The chameleon can change its color to match its surroundings. Can you
do that?
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!
Physical adaptation
Chemical defenses (like venom, ink,
spines, sprays)
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.
Now let’s learn about
Behavioral Adaptations…
Behavioral
Adaptations are
animals’ actions.
Behavioral Adaptations allow
animals to respond to life
needs.
We can divide Behavioral Adaptations
into two groups:
Instinctive
Learned
These behaviors
happen naturally &
don’t have to be
learned.
These behaviors
must be taught.
Instinctive
behaviors
=
1. Methods of
2. Defending
gathering & storing
oneself
food
4. Finding shelter
happen naturally
& don’t need to
be learned
3. Hibernating
5.Migrating
1.Migration


a. This is when
behavioral adaptation
that involves an
animal or group of
animals moving from
one region to another
and then back again.
B. Animals migrate for
different reasons.




better climate
better food
safe place to live
go back to the place they
were born.
2. Hibernation


This is deep sleep in which animal’s body
temp droops, body activities are slowed to
conserve energy.
Ex. Bats, woodchucks & bears.
Estivation


A summer sleep
Animals rests in
cool or shady
areas.

Ex – snails,
earthworms,
bees, snakes
Learned
behaviors
=
Obtained by
interacting with the
environment and
cannot be passed
on to the next
generation except
by teaching.
B.Mammals
1. Endothermic or
warm-blooded
A. All have some type of
“hair”
1.Some are very specialized,
such as white polar bear fur
C. Birds
1. Leg Length

Roseate Spoonbill
(top right)
2. Foot Webbing

Laughing Gull
(top left)
3. Beak Shape

Long Billed Curlew
(bottom)
D. Reptiles
1. Ectothermic or
cold- blooded
2. Scales
3. Some undergo
hibernation and
estivation
4. Lay eggs on land
5. Leg structure and
position
E. Amphibians
1. Ectothermic
2. Lay eggs in water
3. Partially of fully
webbed feet
4.Have lungs or can
absorb oxygen
through their skin
F. Animal Defense
1. Some animals use these
methods of defense to
protect themselves:
a. Camouflage
 Snake
b. Mimicry
 Mexican Milk Snake
c. Bright colors
 Skunk and Poison Arrow
Frog
d. “Hair” projections
 Hedgehog quills
Example of Adaptation
The shape of an
animal’s teeth is
related to its diet.


Herbivores, such as
deer, have many
molars(dull teeth)
for chewing tough
grass and plants.
Carnivores, such as
lions, have sharp
canines to kill and
tear meat.
Click on each picture in order to read about that animal in winter.
Arctic fox
Bat
Geese
Snowshoe rabbit
Caribou
Brown Bear
Squirrel
Frog
Arctic wolf
Snowy owl
Whale
Butterfly
In winter, an Arctic fox’s fur turns
white to blend in with the snow.
Arctic foxes CAMOUFLAGE.
Keep Going
In winter, an Arctic wolf’s fur
turns white to blend in with the
snow. Arctic wolves CAMOUFLAGE.
Keep Going
In winter, a snowy owl’s feathers
turn white to blend in with the snow.
Snowy owls CAMOUFLAGE.
Keep Going
In winter, a snowshoe rabbit’s fur
turns white to blend in with the
snow. Snowshoe rabbits
CAMOUFLAGE.
Keep Going
In winter, geese fly south to
warmer weather. Geese
MIGRATE.
Keep Going
In winter, whales swim south to
warmer water. Whales MIGRATE.
Keep Going
In winter, caribou travel to
warmer places. Caribou MIGRATE.
Keep Going
In winter, butterflies fly to
warmer places. Butterflies
MIGRATE.
Now it’s time for a sorting activity.
In winter, squirrels fall into a
deep sleep until spring time.
Squirrels HIBERNATE.
Keep Going
In winter, some bears fall into a
deep sleep until spring time.
Some bears HIBERNATE.
Keep Going
In winter, bats fall into a
deep sleep until spring time.
Bats HIBERNATE.
Keep Going
In winter, frogs fall into a
deep sleep until spring time.
Frogs HIBERNATE.
Keep Going