Animal coverings serve three main protective functions: protection from environmental threats, regulation of body temperature, and camouflage. There are different types of coverings - fur, feathers, scales, smooth skin, and shells - each specially adapted for the animal. Coverings also aid functions like warmth retention, flight in birds, defense from bites, sensitivity to surroundings, and as shelters.

1. Animal Coverings
By Semhar Ghebreselasie

2. Why do animals have body
coverings?
 Animals use body
coverings for protection.
 Each animal has a
specific covering fit just
for them!
 Coverings also help
animals keep their body
temperature!

3. What covering do
these animals have?

4. What are the different kids of
body coverings?
 Fur/Hair
 Feathers
 Scales
 Smooth Skin
 Shells

5. FUR

6. FEATHERS

7. SCALES

8. SMOOTH SKIN

9. SHELLS

10. What else are these
body coverings used
for?

12. This is called
CAMOUFLAGE!
Camouflage is when an animals
covering helps it blend in with
its environment!
Can you think of any other ways coverings
help an animal?

13. Fur helps animals stay
warm! Fur is soft and
some animals even
have TWO coats of fur

14. Birds are the ONLY animals
that have feathers. Feathers
keep birds warm and also
makes them able to fly!

15. Scales offer animals
protection! If some other
animal tries to bite them.
scales are hard and they are
very strong

16. Some animals with smooth skin
use it to keep their skin wet like
frogs. Others with smooth skin,
like humans, are sensitive to
heat and many other things in
their environment.

17. Animals with shells use them
as hard protective coverings.
Some animals also use them
as a home!