Adaptation in animals – the idea that certain animals have developed features which help them survive in their environment.

adaptation in adaptation in animals – the idea animals – the idea that certain that certain animals have animals have developed developed features which features which help them survive help them survive in their in their environment environment

ElephantsElephants

Elephant's bodies are well adapted for Elephant's bodies are well adapted for survival in the rugged conditions of survival in the rugged conditions of Africa. These special adaptations Africa. These special adaptations include: include:

ElephantsElephants

The TrunkThe TrunkThe elephant's trunk does so much more The elephant's trunk does so much more than smell. This "hose nose" is also used than smell. This "hose nose" is also used for drinking (actually blowing water into for drinking (actually blowing water into the mouth), communication, feeding, the mouth), communication, feeding, chemo-communication, offense/defense, chemo-communication, offense/defense, touching, lifting, greeting, caressing, touching, lifting, greeting, caressing, throwing dust, and just about any other throwing dust, and just about any other activity an elephant is involved in. activity an elephant is involved in.

ElephantsElephants

ElephantsElephants

EarsEarsIn the hot African climate, keeping cool is a In the hot African climate, keeping cool is a constant challenge. Believe it or not, an constant challenge. Believe it or not, an elephant's enormous ears (weighing up to 110 elephant's enormous ears (weighing up to 110 pounds each), while exceptionally good at pounds each), while exceptionally good at picking up sound, are also used as an air picking up sound, are also used as an air conditioner of sorts. When the temperature conditioner of sorts. When the temperature rises, elephants flap their ears. This cools rises, elephants flap their ears. This cools blood flowing through vessels in the ears, blood flowing through vessels in the ears, which then flows back to the body, cooling it in which then flows back to the body, cooling it in turn. turn.

GiraffeGiraffe

Giraffes have many obvious physical Giraffes have many obvious physical adaptations to help them survive in the adaptations to help them survive in the African savannas. African savannas.

GiraffeGiraffe

Camouflaged coatCamouflaged coat - Patches of different - Patches of different sizes and colors help hide the giraffe in sizes and colors help hide the giraffe in the African the African savannasavanna..

Fringed tailFringed tail - A fringe at the end of the - A fringe at the end of the tail keeps flies and other pests away. tail keeps flies and other pests away.

GiraffeGiraffe

Long neckLong neck - It is used to reach leaves in - It is used to reach leaves in tall acacia trees.tall acacia trees.

Long front legsLong front legs - Unlike many animals, - Unlike many animals, the giraffe's front legs are longer than the the giraffe's front legs are longer than the hind legs. These long front legs make it hind legs. These long front legs make it easier to reach tall leaves. easier to reach tall leaves.

Echidna Echidna

An Echidna is a mammal and is also An Echidna is a mammal and is also known as the Spiny Anteater. An known as the Spiny Anteater. An Echidna's body is covered with long Echidna's body is covered with long sharp spines set in short fur. These sharp spines set in short fur. These spines are the Echidnas defense spines are the Echidnas defense mechanism. When attacked, it rolls itself mechanism. When attacked, it rolls itself in a tight ball and burrows out of reach. in a tight ball and burrows out of reach.

Echidna Echidna

Echidnas have no teeth, but uses a long Echidnas have no teeth, but uses a long sticky tongue to penetrate ant and termite sticky tongue to penetrate ant and termite nests, which they have gauged open with nests, which they have gauged open with their strong ripping claws.their strong ripping claws.

Echidna Echidna

Shelter is where ever the echidna finds it Shelter is where ever the echidna finds it and this could be in logs, under bushes and this could be in logs, under bushes or in caves. They are 35 - 45 cms long or in caves. They are 35 - 45 cms long and can weigh 2-7 kg. The Echidna has a and can weigh 2-7 kg. The Echidna has a spur on its ankle but it is not poisonous. spur on its ankle but it is not poisonous.

GeckoGecko

At 28 cm long, The Round Island Day At 28 cm long, The Round Island Day Gecko is the largest of 27 species of day Gecko is the largest of 27 species of day geckos. The smallest day gecko is only geckos. The smallest day gecko is only about 8 cm long. Most day geckos are about 8 cm long. Most day geckos are bright green in color. The Round Island bright green in color. The Round Island Day Gecko is probably the dullest looking Day Gecko is probably the dullest looking one of all. It lives on palm trees and is one of all. It lives on palm trees and is perfectly camouflaged against the brown perfectly camouflaged against the brown bark of the main stem of the tree. bark of the main stem of the tree.

GeckoGecko

Geckos have special feet to help them Geckos have special feet to help them climb up smooth surfaces. The flattened climb up smooth surfaces. The flattened toes have elongated scales. A toes have elongated scales. A microscopic view would show thousands microscopic view would show thousands of tiny, hooked bristles that can hold on of tiny, hooked bristles that can hold on to any surface. This means they can to any surface. This means they can easily climb up palm trees, as well as easily climb up palm trees, as well as hide on the underside of leaves. hide on the underside of leaves.

GeckoGecko

They also have sharp teeth to penetrate They also have sharp teeth to penetrate the exo-skeleton of an insect. If attacked, the exo-skeleton of an insect. If attacked, Round Island Day Geckos have a unique Round Island Day Geckos have a unique way of defending themselves. way of defending themselves.

GeckoGecko

The tail just drops off and lies moving The tail just drops off and lies moving around on the ground. Hopefully the around on the ground. Hopefully the enemy will pay attention to the tail while enemy will pay attention to the tail while the gecko escapes. The stump quickly the gecko escapes. The stump quickly heals, and they will eventually grow a heals, and they will eventually grow a new tail. new tail.

KangarooKangaroo

These animals are mostly found in the These animals are mostly found in the dry inland Australia, including desert, dry inland Australia, including desert, grassland, mallee, and mulga country. grassland, mallee, and mulga country. It is able to go with out drinking as It is able to go with out drinking as long as green grass is available and it long as green grass is available and it adapts well to drought. adapts well to drought.

KangarooKangaroo

Despite its name, the Red Kangaroo is Despite its name, the Red Kangaroo is sometimes a blue-grey color, sometimes a blue-grey color, particularly the female. Even though particularly the female. Even though these animals look cuddly, they are to these animals look cuddly, they are to be approached with caution. They be approached with caution. They have evolved with a  large claw have evolved with a  large claw attached to its hind leg.attached to its hind leg.

KangarooKangaroo

Red Kangaroos can hop as fast as 40 Red Kangaroos can hop as fast as 40 mph (64 km).  They use this as their mph (64 km).  They use this as their first line of defense.  Kangaroos have first line of defense.  Kangaroos have a tendon in the leg which acts like a a tendon in the leg which acts like a rubber band, conserving energy as rubber band, conserving energy as the animal moves lands.  Red the animal moves lands.  Red Kangaroos actually expand less Kangaroos actually expand less energy in locomotion as they move energy in locomotion as they move faster, up to very fast speeds.faster, up to very fast speeds.

SharkShark

A shark is a fish. It breathes through its A shark is a fish. It breathes through its gills, has a backbone and lives in water. gills, has a backbone and lives in water. However, unlike all other fish, its skeleton However, unlike all other fish, its skeleton is made from cartilage, not bone and they is made from cartilage, not bone and they do not have scales but denticles. Also, do not have scales but denticles. Also, they have five to seven gill slits rather they have five to seven gill slits rather than one each side as in bony fish. than one each side as in bony fish.

SharkShark

Sharks can detect one part of blood per Sharks can detect one part of blood per ten billion parts of water – that means ten billion parts of water – that means they could detect one drop of blood in an they could detect one drop of blood in an area the size of an Olympic swimming area the size of an Olympic swimming pool! The nose of a shark is only used for pool! The nose of a shark is only used for smell, unlike in humans where we also smell, unlike in humans where we also use our noses for breathing. use our noses for breathing.

African Wild DogAfrican Wild Dog

Location: South Africa and east of Location: South Africa and east of Sahara Sahara

African Wild DogAfrican Wild Dog

Wild dogs have a canine body shape like Wild dogs have a canine body shape like a wolf's, but they have larger, bat like a wolf's, but they have larger, bat like ears and white tipped tails.  They have ears and white tipped tails.  They have splotches of black, yellow, white, and splotches of black, yellow, white, and dark brown, with no two dogs marked dark brown, with no two dogs marked exactly the same. exactly the same.

African Wild DogAfrican Wild Dog

Wild dogs have a highly developed social Wild dogs have a highly developed social structure.  They live in packs that vary structure.  They live in packs that vary from 10 to 15 animals, including males, from 10 to 15 animals, including males, females, and young.  Their packs are females, and young.  Their packs are nomadic, and they roam across a range nomadic, and they roam across a range of 1 to 30 miles a day.  Members of the of 1 to 30 miles a day.  Members of the pack cooperate when hunting and raising pack cooperate when hunting and raising their young. their young.

African Wild DogAfrican Wild Dog

Wild dogs have developed incredible Wild dogs have developed incredible speed and endurance for attacking prey.  speed and endurance for attacking prey.  They have been clocked at running 37 They have been clocked at running 37 miles per hour for distances over 3 miles per hour for distances over 3 miles.  They also have specialized, large, miles.  They also have specialized, large, bat like ears that allow for excellent bat like ears that allow for excellent auditory ability used for hunting and ritual auditory ability used for hunting and ritual ceremonies ceremonies

LionLion

A lion's roar can be heard up to 5 miles A lion's roar can be heard up to 5 miles away. Roaring is believed to have a away. Roaring is believed to have a territorial function and to help animals territorial function and to help animals locate each other. locate each other.

LionLion

Territories are scented marked with Territories are scented marked with urine, feces, and head rubbing. Lions urine, feces, and head rubbing. Lions mark with their clawsmark with their claws on trees and other on trees and other signposts.  The mane of the male  signposts.  The mane of the male  provides protection from the claws and provides protection from the claws and teeth of other males. teeth of other males.

LionLion

They eat anything they can catch and kill, They eat anything they can catch and kill, and groups have even been observed and groups have even been observed killing rhinoceros. A lion can eat up to 35 killing rhinoceros. A lion can eat up to 35 grams of meat at a sitting. They drink grams of meat at a sitting. They drink freely when water is available, but they freely when water is available, but they can survive only on the water they get can survive only on the water they get from their prey for long periods of time. from their prey for long periods of time.

LionLion

Lions can run at speeds over 30 mph, but only Lions can run at speeds over 30 mph, but only over short distances. This speed is insufficient over short distances. This speed is insufficient for catching a large antelope, so group stalking for catching a large antelope, so group stalking is an important hunting strategy. Lions appear is an important hunting strategy. Lions appear to assess how much effort will be required for to assess how much effort will be required for taking down a particular target, and if the prey taking down a particular target, and if the prey is small enough to be taken by a single female, is small enough to be taken by a single female, the other members of the hunting group will let the other members of the hunting group will let her catch it alone. her catch it alone.

Polar BearPolar Bear

Polar bears have thick white fur. Their fur Polar bears have thick white fur. Their fur and layers of fat beneath their skin and layers of fat beneath their skin protect them from the Arctic cold. Their protect them from the Arctic cold. Their fur also provides camouflage when they fur also provides camouflage when they are hunting. Polar bears have a keen are hunting. Polar bears have a keen sense of smell. They can smell food as sense of smell. They can smell food as much as 10 miles away. On land polar much as 10 miles away. On land polar bears can run for short bursts at speeds bears can run for short bursts at speeds of up to 35 miles per hour. of up to 35 miles per hour.

Polar BearPolar Bear

They hunt seals such as the ringed seal They hunt seals such as the ringed seal and other animals for food. and other animals for food.

SkunkSkunk

Sometimes the skunk will dig its own den, Sometimes the skunk will dig its own den, but it may also move into another mammals but it may also move into another mammals den. Skunks also live under old buildings. den. Skunks also live under old buildings.

The skunk drags dried leaves and grass The skunk drags dried leaves and grass into its burrow to make a mat. In the winter, into its burrow to make a mat. In the winter, it might form a ball of grass and push this it might form a ball of grass and push this into the door of the den to keep out the cold into the door of the den to keep out the cold wind.wind.

SkunkSkunk

The skunk is the size of a house cat. Its The skunk is the size of a house cat. Its eyes ane ears are small. It can not see too eyes ane ears are small. It can not see too well, but its sense of hearing is good. well, but its sense of hearing is good.

During the day, a skunk sleeps. It hunts at During the day, a skunk sleeps. It hunts at night, walking slowly along, catching night, walking slowly along, catching insects and looking for small fruit. It also insects and looking for small fruit. It also eats meadow mice, gophers, moles, and eats meadow mice, gophers, moles, and chipmunks. chipmunks.

SkunkSkunk

The skunk has musk glands and can shoot The skunk has musk glands and can shoot a liquid that has a terrible odor.a liquid that has a terrible odor.First, it gives a warning when something First, it gives a warning when something approaches it. With its legs stiff, the skunk approaches it. With its legs stiff, the skunk stamps the ground with its feet, snaps its stamps the ground with its feet, snaps its teeth, and its hairs stand up.teeth, and its hairs stand up.Then,if necessary, the skunk swings its rear Then,if necessary, the skunk swings its rear end round , lifts its tail up out of the way end round , lifts its tail up out of the way and shoots its musk. The liquid can shoot and shoots its musk. The liquid can shoot out as far as four meters. If it hits the enemy out as far as four meters. If it hits the enemy in the eyes, the enemy cannot see for a few in the eyes, the enemy cannot see for a few moments.moments.

ZebraZebra

Each zebra has its own stripe pattern. Each zebra has its own stripe pattern. The zebras recognize each other by their The zebras recognize each other by their stripe pattern and by their smell. Some stripe pattern and by their smell. Some species have narrow close set stripes, species have narrow close set stripes, while others have broader stripes. while others have broader stripes.

Zebras like to help groom each other. Zebras like to help groom each other.

ZebraZebra

Zebras are black with white stripes. If you Zebras are black with white stripes. If you shaved a zebra, you would see that its shaved a zebra, you would see that its skin is black skin is black

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