What is an adaptation?

An adaptation is a physical or behavioral

characteristic that has developed to help an organism

survive in its environment.

Physical Adaptations

A physical adaptation is a change made to a part of the body.

Physical Adaptations

Camouflage is a visual disguise:

when the color of an animal changes

to look like its surrounding.

Camouflage

Looking or sounding like another living organism. They basically copycat another animal to fool their predators.

Mimicry Physical Adaptations

Using venom and sprays for defense Chemical Defenses

Physical Adaptations

A skunk sprays to defend itself

from predators. Their spray produces a

chemical that contains sulfur and the smell really stinks!

Body coverings and parts Examples: Sharp claws, feathers, large beaks, fur, scales, wings

A crab’s hard shell protects it from predators, drying out, and being crushed

by waves.

Physical Adaptations

Behavioral Adaptations

A behavioral adaptation is something an animal does (how it acts) to stay alive.

Examples:• What an animal is able to eat • Moving to warmer or colder

climates• Pretending to be injured to lure a

predator away from the young

Lets divide behavioral adaptations in two groups:

Behavioral Adaptations

Instinctive Learned Behaviors that

happen naturally. They don’t have to

be learned.

These behaviors are taught through observation and

experiencing their environment.

Instinctive Behavior

Examples:• Finding ways to gather food • Finding Shelter• Raising the young • Defending oneself• Hibernating (when an animal

sleeps during the cold days of winter)

• Migrating (when animals travel long trips to find warmer weather, food supply, and a safe place to give birth to their young)

Behaviors that happen naturally. They don’t have to be learned.

Chipmunk hibernating during winter

Birds migrating

Instinctive Behavior: Example

When a baby sea turtle hatches, it instinctively knows how to dig its way through the sand.

Learned Behavior: Example

Do you think these tigers are fighting? Well.. Their not. By playing, these tigers are learning moves that will help them become successful predators as adults.