Animal adaptation

ANIMAL ADAPTATIONSAnimals adapt

themselves to their physical environment for food getting, protection and survival.

Adaptation is the ability of an animal to adjust to its environment.

HOW DO SOME ANIMALS GET THEIR FOOD

ANIMALSFOOD THEY

EATBODY PARTS

USED IN GETTING

FOOD

Carabaos and cow

grassFlat wide teeth for chewing and grinding grass

horses grassSharp-edged upper teeth for tearing grass

ANIMALS FOOD THEY EAT

BODY PARTS

USED IN GETTING

FOOD

Giraffe grassLong neck to reach

the leaves on trees

Lions, tigers and

wolves

meat-eating

animals

Sharp –pointed teeth to

tear meat and sharp claws to

catch their prey.

ANIMALS FOOD THEY EAT

BODY PARTS

USED IN GETTING

FOOD

man Plants and meat

Sharp and flat teeth

Hawks, eagles and

owlsmeat

Strong hooked bills to

catch their prey

Pigeons and hens seeds

Short beaks

adapted to eating seeds

ANIMALS FOOD THEY EAT

BODY PARTS

USED IN GETTING

FOOD

Pelicans and

seagullsfish

Large bills to dive into

water to catch fish

Kingfishers and herons fish

Long slender beaks to catch fish

Butterflies, bees and

dragonfliesnectar

Proboscis to sip

nectar from flowers

ANIMALS FOOD THEY EAT

BODY PARTS

USED IN GETTING

FOOD

grasshopper

grassMandible

which look like tiny

saw in their mouth

Frogs and toads

insectsLong sticky tongue to

catch flying insects

Mosquitoes and flies

bloodSucking

mouthparts used to

suck blood

ADAPTATION FOR PROTECTION

Animals use different disguises or camouflage for defence protection. They also employ other methods to evade their enemies.

Some animals blend their colours and shape with their environment. This disguise is called protective coloration.

The stripes of zebra make it difficult to see when the animals does not move among the stems of plants.

Grasshoppers and caterpillar s are hard to see when they are underneath leaves. Their colours blend with their surroundings.

Some animals look and move like other animals. They copy the shape and movement of other animals. This disguise is called mimicry. Spiders imitate the movements of ants to show their enemies that they can bite like ants.

Some animals uses special body structure for self defence or protection. A hard shell covering called carapace protect the turtle, snail and crab.

Clams and oysters have strong and hard to open valves.

Dogs and wolves have canine which are very sharp teeth for their protection.

Elephants and rhinoceros have tusks to protect themselves.

The skunk sprays a very bad-smelled chemical when an enemy gets close to it.

The eel and catfish possess slippery skin which makes it difficult for the enemies to catch them.

Crabs and scorpions use pincers to attack their enemies.

Cheetahs have long legs which make them the fastest running animals.

ADAPTATION FOR SEASONAL CHANGES

1. Migration – Birds fly across the sky in flock and move from one place to another in search of food and shelter. This birds from north fly to south during winter to keep themselves warm. They also look for food and find home for their young. During spring they return back to the north to rest and breed.

2. Hibernation Some animals like squirrels

dig themselves a hole under the soil and trees. Bears stay in a cave and sleep there for a long time. Then, their heartbeat and other bodily functions slow down. This adaptation is called hibernation. Frogs, toads and other amphibians hibernate too. They rest at the bottom of the ponds during winter.

3. EstivationThe mudfish buries itself in

the mud during summer. It uses its stored fat and gets air through the crack in the soil. It lives there until the next rainy season. The camel stores water in its body. Thus, it can live in the desert for so many days even without water. This adaptation is called estivation.