What Is Animal Adaptation?
The Zoological Society of Milwaukee defines animal adaptation as "a body part, body covering, or behavior that helps an animal survive in its environment." In order to survive, animals have developed ways to attract or escape prey, attract mates and live in harsh environments.
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Body Parts
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An animal's habitat determines its adaptations. Birds developed wings and light, aerodynamic bodies for flight. Seals developed extra body fat to survive cold water. The giraffe's long neck helped it find food in high trees, while the mole's sharp claws and powerful legs helped it dig into the earth for its food.
Body Coverings
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Animals have adapted to their environment with their body coverings. Cold climate animals developed thick fur, while hot climate animals have sparse fur. The leopard developed spots to blend in with tree shadows and catch prey, while the king snake looks like a poisonous coral snake to evade hawks.
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Behavior
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Animals exhibit behavioral adaptations to attract prey or mates or discourage predators. A peacock spreads its tail feathers when mating. The possum plays dead to discourage predators that prefer living prey. Wolves developed cooperative behaviors to hunt large game.
Slow Change
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Animals do not develop physical adaptations quickly. Physical adaptations take many generations to form. Predators (e.g., lions, wolves and bears) developed eyes in the front of their heads for hunting, while prey (e.g., rabbits, chickens and mice) developed eyes on the sides of their heads to detect predators easily.
Learning
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Some animals, especially primates and humans, can make quick behavioral changes to adapt to their environment. When a Japanese macaque discovered that putting sweet potatoes in water cleaned them, the other monkeys in her troupe learned from her and passed on the behavior.
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References
- Photo Credit peacock image by PP from Fotolia.com
