Animal adaptations are physical or behavioral traits that help animals survive in their habitats, such as a bird's beak shape or the color of a mammal's fur, and develop over generations rather than a single lifetime. Examples provided include how a lion's eyes and mane help with hunting and appearance, a giraffe's long neck aids visibility, and zebras defend themselves with speed, kicking, and biting while their coloration provides camouflage from predators. The document also outlines adaptations in mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians as well as defenses like camouflage, mimicry, and protective coatings.

1. Animal Adaptations
Provided by:
City of Corpus Christi
Museum of Science and History

2. What is an adaptation?
 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.
 Physical adaptations do not develop during one
lifetime, but over many generations.

3. 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.

4. 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

5. 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

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

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

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

9. 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

10. 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.

11. 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.

12. 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.

13. 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.

14. 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.

15. More Information:
 We are happy to provide tours through the
museum as well as an “Adaptation Trunk”,
which can be arranged with the Museum’s
Education Department.
 We are also happy to provide further
information regarding this topic. Please
refer to our website at:
 www.ccmuseum.com