Adapted to Survive
Animals have special features called ADAPTATIONS that help them survive in their habitat.
COLD weather adaptations:
- Thick fur or blubber (polar bears have a 4-inch layer of fat!)
- White coloring for camouflage in snow (arctic fox, snowy owl)
- Huddling together for warmth (emperor penguins)
- Hibernating through winter (bears sleep for months!)
HOT weather adaptations:
- Big ears that release heat (elephants fan their ears to cool down)
- Light-colored skin or fur that reflects sunlight
- Being active at NIGHT when it is cooler (many desert animals)
- Storing water (camels can go weeks without drinking!)
WET/JUNGLE adaptations:
- Bright colors to attract mates (macaws, poison dart frogs)
- Gripping hands and feet for climbing trees (monkeys, sloths)
- Long tongues to reach insects (chameleons, anteaters)
Each adaptation is like a tool in the animal's survival toolkit!