Species must be adapted to their habitat. Species must protect themselves from the heat, cold, move around, feed themselves, communicate and reproduce. These are the types of adaptations which we will be covering.
These are adaptations linked to behaviour. These are things that an animal does. These are adaptations linked to something physical. These are things that an animal has. Behavioural Physical
These adaptations are linked to climate. Examples of these are: more fur Fat fur or skin colour Nocturnal/Diurnal Etc.
Desert snake Desert fox
These are adaptations linked to movement Examples of these are: Long legs Fins Wings Having no legs Webbed feet Etc.
These are adaptations linked to how an animal eats. Examples of these are: Teeth Beaks Hunting techniques Roots Leaves Etc.
The teeth of an animal determines what that animal eats. An animal can be a: Carnivore Herbivore Omnivore
Carnivores are meat eaters Carnivores have large pointy teeth to enable them to hold on to its prey and rip off flesh. Examples of animals with these type of teeth are lions, wolves, dogs, cats, sharks, etc.
Herbivores are animals which eat plants. Their teeth are short and flat to enable them to grind their food. Examples of this are horses, cows, deer, moose, etc.
Omnivores are animals which eat plants and animals. They have sharp pointy teeth as well as flatter teeth to be able to eat anything. Examples of this are humans, bears, monkeys, apes, etc.
These are adaptations linked to how animals communicate with each other. There are three categories: Visual Olfactory (smell) Auditory
Visual modes of communication can be broken down into three types: Colours Colours to show emotion or for mating purposes Signals Showing a sign as a way to communicate Light Animals producing light to give a message
Male birds have bright colours to attract females to find a partner Some animals, like a squid, will change their colours to show aggression or fear. Bees and other insects have similar combination of colours to send a warning to possible predators. Note: Camouflage is not a visual type of adaptation, it is rather a defense mechanism
White-tailed deer will raise their tails as they run to warn of danger. Bees will perform a dance to give messages to other bees. A dog will wag its tail to show it s happy. A dog or cat will make itself look bigger to try to scare off an attacker.
Fireflies will produce light to attract a female. Certain fish also produce light to communicate. Navy ships sometimes use this method to send messages to other ships using Morse code.
Dogs go around and pee on things to mark their territory as well as many other animals. A skunk will spray predators to get rid of them. Pheromones (a chemical produces in certain animals) can be used to mark a territory, identify an intruder or attract a mate.
Auditory communication can be broken down into four types Cries, growls and clicks Howls Songs Sounds
Dolphins whistle to communicate with others and also to identify each other. Coyotes and dogs will howl to communicate over large distances Birds will sing to either attract a female or to mark a territory Beavers and other animals will hit the ground or water to send a message to others warning of a predator.
These are adaptations linked to reproduction. Examples of this are flowers. They have bright colours to attract insects. They even have infrared or ultraviolet colours to attract insects which can see those colours. Smells also come into play here too.