How are Animals Adapted to their Environments?

Learning Intention

• To be able to explain why migratory animals are adapted to their environment.

Tuesday 18th November 2014

Success Criteria

• I will be able to listen carefully to information about animals and take notes.

• I will be able to explain why and how animals are adapted to their environment.

• I will be able to work co-operatively with others.

Descriptive Sentences

Some words come before the noun.Some words come after the noun.

What are we talking about?

What type is it?

What’s it like?

A turtleA leatherback turtle

A coldblooded, leatherback turtleA large, coldblooded, leatherback turtleA large, coldblooded, leatherback turtle which has leathery skin and flippers.

What is it?What kind is it?

What’s it like?

Which one?

What’s it like?

I have a

bat

owl

Please can I see a

……mammal ……fish with……bird which has……crustacean……reptile……insect

…. exo-skeleton….. feathers …. fur and ………. ..skin…. . wings…. ..scales

Darts Activity

Elephants have

flexible trunks which

help them to smell,

breathe and detect

vibrations from

predators,

Describe Explain Sort the cards into the correct columns

Elephants are

browsing animals,

feeding on fruits,

leaves, shoots, and

tall grasses

The Language of Explanation

How the African Elephant is adapted to the Environment.

African elephants are the world’s largest land mammals They can grow to 4 m tall and weigh up to 7,000 kg. They are well adapted to their environment. Elephants are browsing animals who like to feed on fruits, leaves, shoots and tall grasses; Their dexterous, flexible trunks help them to smell, breathe, detect vibrations from predators, suck up water and grasp objects . In addition, the elephants have long curved tusks, which they use for digging, foraging, and fighting. Their wrinkled grey skin keeps them cool by holding water and they are able to flap their large thin ears to stay cool and show aggression. Their excellent hearing allows them to listen out for predators. They do not sleep much, and they roam over great distances while foraging for food. Amazingly, many elephant calls are too low (15 hertz) for human hearing ability (20 hertz).  These infrasonic sounds are capable of traveling long distances, and most occur in the early morning or evening hours

The……………………………

How is the…………adapted to its environment?

The Language of Explanation

There are a number of reasons why………….

One reason

Secondly

Another reason

In addition

Finally

One A secondA third A fourth A fifthA final

reasonis that it hasIs that because it has

sowhich meansthereforeand as a resultthis means

How Elephant Seals are Adapted to their Environment

Elephant seals are large ocean loving mammals which get their name from their large noses which look like elephant’s trunks.  As well as long noses, elephant seals have an outer coat of hair to protect them from the cold. Under their skin is a thick layer of blubber to keep them warm in the cold seas. They are fast swimmers because of their streamlined, torpedo like shape and smooth skin. Their hind flippers propel them through the water while their small front flippers act as rudders or stabilizers

They are able to hold their breath for up to two hours as they dive up to 600 meters deep to search for their food. Their large, round, black eyes help them to see their prey clearly and their ear-holes help them to hear while they are diving.

torpedo

How Emperor Penguins are Adapted to their Environment

Emperor penguins are flightless birds which live around the coasts of Antarctica on the frozen sea ice and in the freezing water all around. They are well adapted to their environment. All over their bodies are four layers of feathers which are covered in a greasy waterproof coating to stop the penguins getting wet. The dark coloured feathers of a penguin's back surface absorb heat from the sun, so helping them to maintain warmth. Under their skin is a thick layer of blubber and on their feet are strong claws so they can grip the ice during their long migrations across Antarctica. On arrival at their breeding grounds, the females will lay an egg and then pass it on to their husbands who hold the eggs on their feet and tuck them under folds of skin to protect them. Huddling together helps the male penguins keep warm and survive while they take care of the eggs as the females are feeding on fish, squid and krill in the sea. Their webbed feet and streamlined bodies help them swim quickly through the water.

How Leatherback Turtles are Adapted to their Environment

Leatherback turtles are large, coldblooded, saltwater reptiles who are well adapted to their environment. They have streamlined, leathery bodies which help them swim smoothly through the water. In addition, their flippers power them forward and help them escape from danger. Their tough, rubbery skin also means they are difficult for predators to eat. They are mostly black on top with ridges ending in a point at the back. Their mouths are lined with stiff spines that point backwards and help them swallow their prey such as jellyfish, sea-squirts and other soft-bodied animals. Because leatherbacks are such strong swimmers, they are able to make long distance migrations across the Atlantic ocean from their feeding grounds to their nesting beaches in the warm tropics. On arrival, they use their flippers to bury themselves in the sand. They have very good senses of smell, eyesight and hearing so they know when predators are near.

The leatherback turtle swims across the Atlantic ocean. It can swim 48 kms a day and reach speeds of 35 kms. It can grow up to two metres in length and weigh up to 900 kg. Female leatherbacks return to the same beach where they hatched to lay their own eggs.

How Spiny Lobsters are Adapted to their Environment

Spiny lobsters are warm water crustaceans which live in the tropical, shallow seas off Florida, the USA and the Caribbean. They are well adapted to their environment. For example, the spines attached to their exo-skeleton point forwards and cover their bodies to help protect them. They also have long antennae which they wave to scare off predators. Spiny lobsters have poor eyesight but a very good sense of taste and smell which they use to search for food when the sun goes down. During daytime, the lobsters hide in the crevices and caverns of coral reefs avoiding predators. In the autumn, because of storms which churn up the sea, 100,000 lobsters migrate to warmer, safer waters offshore. Up to 60 lobsters travel in single file across the ocean bed.

How Reindeer are adapted to their Environment

Reindeer are a type of mammal whose habitat is the Arctic and the forests of Greenland, Scandinavia, Russia, Alaska and Canada. They are well adapted to their environment. They live on tundras which are vast flat, treeless places. During migration, reindeer use their sharp hooves to dig for food in the snow and also to walk on ice and rocks. As well as this, their feet spread out when they walk which means they don’t sink so far down in the snow. All over their bodies, they have soft hair which varies in colour from dark brown to white. The hair is hollow and traps air to insulate them in winter. They have furry nostrils which helps keep their noses warm when they are looking for food in the snow. At each side of the reindeer’s head are tall, branching antlers These are used to defend themselves and their young against predators. They will also use their antlers to dig up food from under the snow and ice. Reindeer move around in large herds so they can protect each other as there are more eyes watching out for predators.