This document discusses animal adaptations. It defines adaptations as physical or behavioral traits that help animals survive in their environments. Physical adaptations are body structures, while behavioral adaptations are actions. Examples of physical adaptations include camouflage, mimicry, chemical defenses, and body parts. Behavioral adaptations allow animals to regulate homeostasis and respond to their needs. The document also explains how endothermic and ectothermic animals regulate their body temperatures through different physical adaptations.

1. Animal Adaptations

2. What is ecology?
• The study of the
interactions that
take place among
organisms and
their environment

3. Adaptations

4. 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.

5. body part or
behavior that
helps an
animal
survive in a
particular
environment.
help an
animal
breathe,
catch
food, or
hide.
adapted
to live in
certain
habitats.

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

7. body part or
behavior that
helps an
animal
survive in a
particular
environment.
help an
animal
breathe,
catch
food, or
hide.
adapted
to live in
certain
habitats. Physical Behavioral

8. •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

9. body part or
behavior that
helps an
animal
survive in a
particular
environment.
help an
animal
breathe,
catch
food, or
hide.
adapted
to live in
certain
habitats. Physical Behavioral
body structures that
allow an animal to
find and consume
food, defend itself,
and to reproduce
its species.
help an animal
survive in its
environment

10. Physical adaptation
Camouflage (use of color in a surrounding)
Thechameleoncanchangeitscolortomatchitssurroundings. Cany ou dothat?

11. body part or
behavior that
helps an
animal
survive in a
particular
environment.
help an
animal
breathe,
catch
food, or
hide.
adapted
to live in
certain
habitats. Physical Behavioral
body structures that
allow an animal to
find and consume
food, defend itself,
and to reproduce
its species.
help an animal
survive in its
environment
Camouflage
use of color in a
surrounding

12. Mimicry
(looking or sounding like another living organism)
TheViceroybutterflyusesmimicrytolookliketheMonarchbutterfly.Canyoutell
themapart?
P oisonous
Notpoisonous
Physical adaptation
I ’mtheMonarch!
I ’mtheViceroy!

13. body part or
behavior that
helps an
animal
survive in a
particular
environment.
help an
animal
breathe,
catch
food, or
hide.
adapted
to live in
certain
habitats. Physical Behavioral
body structures that
allow an animal to
find and consume
food, defend itself,
and to reproduce
its species.
help an animal
survive in its
environment
Camouflage
use of color in a
surrounding
Mimicry
(looking or
sounding like
another living
organism)

14. Chemical defenses (like venom, ink,
sprays)
Physical adaptation

15. body part or
behavior that
helps an
animal
survive in a
particular
environment.
help an
animal
breathe,
catch
food, or
hide.
adapted
to live in
certain
habitats. Physical Behavioral
body structures that
allow an animal to
find and consume
food, defend itself,
and to reproduce
its species.
help an animal
survive in its
environment
Camouflage
use of color in a
surrounding
Mimicry
(looking or
sounding like
another living
organism)
Chemical
defenses
(like venom,
ink, sprays)

16. Body coverings & parts (claws, beaks, feet,
armor plates, skulls, teeth)
Physical adaptations
Theelephant’strunk isaphysical adaptationthathelpsittocleanitself,
eat,drink,andtopickthingsup.

17. body part or
behavior that
helps an
animal
survive in a
particular
environment.
help an
animal
breathe,
catch
food, or
hide.
adapted
to live in
certain
habitats. Physical Behavioral
body structures that
allow an animal to
find and consume
food, defend itself,
and to reproduce
its species.
help an animal
survive in its
environment
Camouflage
use of color in a
surrounding
Mimicry
(looking or
sounding like
another living
organism)
Chemical
defenses
(like venom,
ink, sprays)
Body coverings
& parts
(claws, beaks, feet,
armor plates, skulls,
teeth)

18. Behavioral Adaptations
allow animals to respond to life
needs.

19. body part or
behavior that
helps an
animal
survive in a
particular
environment.
help an
animal
breathe,
catch
food, or
hide.
adapted
to live in
certain
habitats. Physical Behavioral
body structures that
allow an animal to
find and consume
food, defend itself,
and to reproduce
its species.
help an animal
survive in its
environment
Camouflage
use of color in a
surrounding
Mimicry
(looking or
sounding like
another living
organism)
Chemical
defenses
(like venom,
ink, sprays)
Body coverings
& parts
(claws, beaks, feet,
armor plates, skulls,
teeth)
allow animals to
respond to life
needs.

20. Each organism has unique
methods of adapting to its
environment by means of
different actions.
Behavioral Adaptations are
animals’ actions.
Remember that Physical
Adaptations are body
structures.

21. body part or
behavior that
helps an
animal
survive in a
particular
environment.
help an
animal
breathe,
catch
food, or
hide.
adapted
to live in
certain
habitats. Physical Behavioral
body structures that
allow an animal to
find and consume
food, defend itself,
and to reproduce
its species.
help an animal
survive in its
environment
Camouflage
use of color in a
surrounding
Mimicry
(looking or
sounding like
another living
organism)
Chemical
defenses
(like venom,
ink, sprays)
Body coverings
& parts
(claws, beaks, feet,
armor plates, skulls,
teeth)
allow animals to
respond to life
needs.
animals’
actions

22. Homeostasis
• Maintenance of constant internal
conditions in the face of a varying
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.

23. Maintenance of constant internal
conditions in the face of a varying
external environment

24. Endotherms
vs.
Ectotherms

25. Maintenance of constant internal
conditions in the face of a varying
external environment
Endotherms Ectotherms

26. Endotherms
• Endotherms are animals that warm
their bodies mainly from their own
metabolism.
– We call these animals warm-blooded.
– Maintain a constant body temperature
regardless of changes in the surrounding
temperature

27. Maintenance of constant internal
conditions in the face of a varying
external environment
Endotherms Ectotherms
animals that warm their
bodies mainly from their
own metabolism
Warm-
blooded
Body temp the
same
regardless of
weather

28. How do endothems 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.

29. Maintenance of constant internal
conditions in the face of a varying
external environment
Endotherms Ectotherms
animals that warm their
bodies mainly from their
own metabolism
Warm-
blooded
Body temp the
same
regardless of
weather
How do
endothems
adapt?
Fat
layers,
fur, and
feathers
Shivering
Muscles
Hibernation

30. Ectotherms
• Ectotherms are animals that warm
their bodies by absorbing heat from
their surroundings.
– We call these animals cold-blooded
– Body temperature fluctuates with
changes in the surrounding temperature.

31. Maintenance of constant internal
conditions in the face of a varying
external environment
Endotherms Ectotherms
animals that warm their
bodies mainly from their
own metabolism
Warm-
blooded
Body temp the
same
regardless of
weather
How do
endothems
adapt?
Fat
layers,
fur, and
feathers
Shivering
Muscles
Hibernation
animals that warm their
bodies by absorbing heat
from their surroundings
Cold-
blooded
Body Temp
changes
with weather

32. How do ectotherms adapt?
• Most marine fish and
invertebrates, however, 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.

33. Maintenance of constant internal
conditions in the face of a varying
external environment
Endotherms Ectotherms
animals that warm their
bodies mainly from their
own metabolism
Warm-
blooded
Body temp the
same
regardless of
weather
How do
endothems
adapt?
Fat
layers,
fur, and
feathers
Shivering
Muscles
Hibernation
animals that warm their
bodies by absorbing heat
from their surroundings
Cold-
blooded
Body Temp
changes
with weather
How do ectotherms
adapt?
weather is
warm, they
become active.
They slow
down when the
temperature
drops.
warm up by
moving into
the sun or
diving into
warm water
cool off by
entering the
shade

34. 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.

35. 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

36. Mammals
• Endothermic or
warm-blooded
• All have some type of
“hair”
– Some are very
specialized, such as
white polar bear fur
• Method of locomotion
• Care for young

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

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

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

40. 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

41. 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.

42. 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.

43. 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.

44. 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.

45. 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.

46. Resources
• This PowerPoint is partially adapted from Ms.
Weinberg. The original PowerPoint can be viewed at
– http://www.quia.com/files/quia/users/amiew/Anim
• 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
– http://
www.ccmuseumedres.com/Animal%20Adaptations.pp
• http://science.jrank.org/pages/6750/Temperature-Reg
• http://science.jrank.org/pages/6749/Temperature-Reg