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Animal adaptations
Grade 3 Science Worksheet
Animals have different physical traits that help them survive in

their environments. We call these structural adaptations.
Walruses have a thick layer of blubber to keep them warm.
A prickly pear cactus has spines
to discourage animals from eating it.
Owls have feathers that let them fly
silently so they can catch prey to eat.
Draw lines to match each animal with its adaptation.
Stripes for camouflage

Polar bear • • to hide from predators
Rattlesnake • • Huge ears to keep cool
Clear fur to let warm

Parrot • •
sunlight in
Strong beak to crack

Zebra • •
open nuts
Elephant • • Sharp teeth to rip food
Tiger • • Venom to paralyze

prey
Reading and Math for K-5 © www.k5learning.com

Answers
Polar bear • • Huge ears to keep cool
Stripes for camouflage

Rattlesnake • • to hide from predators
Clear fur to let warm

Parrot • •
sunlight in
Strong beak to crack

Zebra • •
open nuts
Elephant • • Sharp teeth to rip food
Tiger • • Venom to paralyze

prey

Animal adaptations
Animals have structural adaptations to help them survive by defending

themselves, getting food, and controlling their body temperature.
Examples:
• An owl's talons help it catch prey to eat and also help it defend
itself against predators.
• A beaver's fur keeps it warm and dry when it swims.
• An octopus' skin can change colors to camouflage it so it can
surprise prey and to keep it safe from predators.
✓
Make check marks ( ) in the chart to show how body parts
might be used by an animal.
Stay Warm /
Trait Defense Get Food
Cool
beaks
claws
fur
scales
horns
legs
wings

Answers
✓
Make check marks ( ) in the chart to show how body parts
might be used by an animal.
Stay Warm /
Trait Defense Get Food
Cool
beaks
✓ ✓
claws
✓ ✓
fur
✓ ✓
scales ✓ ✓
horns ✓ ✓
legs
✓ ✓
wings ✓ ✓

Polar bear adaptations
How has this polar bear adapted to help it survive?
• two layers of fur :
• strong sense of smell :
• huge, bumpy paw pads :
• thick layer of fat under the fur :
• big, strong, curved claws :

Answers
How have these adaptations helped polar bears to survive?
• two layers of fur :

keep bears warm and dry
• strong sense of smell :
helps bears find prey
• huge, bumpy paw pads :
keep bears from slipping on the ice
• thick layer of fat under the fur :

keep bears warm
• big, strong, curved claws :
help bears catch prey

Beaver adaptations
Fill in the chart about structural adaptations of beavers.
Trait How It Helps Survive
Thick, waterproof fur
Webbed back feet
Strong, long front teeth
Flat tail
Nostrils that can close
Clear third eyelid

Answers
Fill in the chart about structural adaptations of beavers.
Trait How It Helps Survive
Thick, waterproof fur keeps beavers warm and dry
Webbed back feet help beavers swim
help beavers cut down trees and

Strong, long front teeth
eat bark
Flat tail they can slap the water as a warning
Nostrils that can close keep water out when they swim
keeps water out of their eyes when

Clear third eyelid
they swim but they can still see

Vertebrate classification
Animals with a backbone are called vertebrates.
Match the following animals to the class that they belong to.
Birds
feathers, lay eggs,
lungs, warm-blooded
chimpanzee fire belly newt
Mammals
skin/hair/fur, live
young that drink milk,
lungs, warm-blooded
bullfrog salmon
Reptiles
scales, lay eggs,
lungs, cold-blooded
rainbow trout vampire bat
Amphibians
skin, lay eggs, lungs or
gills, cold-blooded
barn owl rattlesnake
Fish
scales, lay eggs, gills,
cold-blooded
iguana emperor penguin

Answers
Match the following animals to the class that they belong to.
Birds
feathers, lay eggs,
lungs, warm-blooded
chimpanzee fire belly newt
Mammals
skin/hair/fur, live
young that drink milk,
lungs, warm-blooded
bullfrog salmon
Reptiles
scales, lay eggs,
lungs, cold-blooded
rainbow trout vampire bat
Amphibians
skin, lay eggs, lungs or
gills, cold-blooded
barn owl rattlesnake
Fish
scales, lay eggs, gills,
cold-blooded
iguana emperor penguin

Vertebrate classification
Animals with a backbone are called vertebrates.
Answer the questions about the vertebrate groups.
Birds Fish Mammals Reptiles Amphibians
Covering
What kind of body
covering do they
have?
Body heat
Does their body heat
come from inside or
outside?
Breathing
What body parts do
they have to take in
oxygen?
Birthing
Do they lay eggs or
have live young?
Milk
Do the young drink
milk from the mother?
Examples
What are some
animals in this group?

Answers
Birds Fish Mammals Reptiles Amphibians
Covering feathers scales hair or scales smooth

What kind of body fur skin
covering do they
have?
Body heat inside outside inside outside outside

Does their body heat
come from inside or
outside?
Breathing lungs gills lungs lungs lungs,

What body parts do skin
they have to take in
oxygen?
Birthing eggs eggs live eggs eggs

Do they lay eggs or
have live young?
Milk no no yes no no
Do the young drink
milk from the mother?
Examples parrot, trout, dog, iguana, frog,

What are some penguin salmon zebra snake newt
animals in this group?

Invertebrate classification
Animals with no backbone are called invertebrates.
Match each invertebrate to its classification.
Mollusks
soft body with a shell
sea sponge
Arthropods
exoskelton and jointed legs
jellyfish
Annelids (worms)
long, segmented body
snail
Cnidaria
live in water,
have stinging cells
cricket
Echinoderms
live in water,
radial symmetry, have
spines or spiny skin
earthworm
Porifera
spongy, live in water
sea star

Answers
Mollusks
soft body with a shell
sea sponge
Arthropods
exoskelton and jointed legs
jellyfish
Annelids (worms)
long, segmented body
snail
Cnidaria
live in water,
have stinging cells
cricket
Echinoderms
live in water,
radial symmetry, have
spines or spiny skin
earthworm
Porifera
spongy, live in water
sea star

Arthropod classification
Arthropods are animals with a hard exoskeleton.

They do not have a backbone.
Insects have three body parts, three pairs of legs,
and two antenna. Many have wings.
Arachnids have two body parts and four pairs legs.
Crustaceans have two body parts and five pairs of legs.
Myriapods have many body parts and pairs of legs.
Match each arthropod to its classification.
•
spider • crustacean
• • myriapod
moth
• insect
•
lobster
• arachnid
•
centipede

Answers
Match each arthropod to its classification.
•
spider • crustacean
• • myriapod
moth
• insect
•
lobster
• arachnid
•
centipede

Animal group names
Some animals live in groups. They help each other survive.
Match each animal to the name of its group.
Elephants • • colony
Wolves • • pod
Lions • • herd
Ants • • hive
Dolphins • • pack
Bees • • pride

Answers
Match each animal to the name of its group.
Elephants • • colony
Wolves • • pod
Lions • • herd
Ants • • hive
Dolphins • • pack
Bees • • pride

Animals that live in groups
Fill in the missing words.
bees queens wolves prey herds

predators chimpanzees cooperate
Both ants and ____________ have queens and

workers. The ____________ lay eggs.
____________ and lions hunt in groups. They

help each other catch ____________ to eat.
Zebras and water buffalo live in

____________. Traveling together
helps them stay safe from ____________.
Gorillas and _________________ live in large family

groups. They ____________ to raise their young.

Answers
bees queens wolves prey herds

predators chimpanzees cooperate
bees
Both ants and ____________ have queens and
queens lay eggs.
workers. The ____________
Wolves
____________ and lions hunt in groups. They
prey
help each other catch ____________ to eat.
Zebras and water buffalo live in

herds
____________. Traveling together
predators
helps them stay safe from ____________.
chimpanzees
Gorillas and _________________ live in large family
cooperate to raise their young.
groups. They ____________

Animals in groups or alone
Some animals live in groups. Other animals live mostly alone.
Write group or alone for each animal.
sharks penguins giraffes beavers
_______________ _______________ _______________ _______________
male polar bears honey badgers meerkats tigers
_______________ _______________ _______________ _______________
Look for a pattern. What kinds of animals live alone? What kind
live in groups? (Hint: Think about what they eat!)

Answers
Write group or alone for each animal.
sharks penguins giraffes beavers
alone
_______________ group
_______________ group
_______________ group
_______________
male polar bears honey badgers meerkats tigers
alone
_______________ alone
_______________ group
_______________ alone
_______________
Look for a pattern. What kinds of animals live alone? What kind
live in groups? (Hint: Think about what they eat!)
Meat-eating animals often live alone. Plant-eating animals
who are prey for meat-eaters often live in groups.

Frog lifecycle
Label the frog lifecycle.

Answers
frog
eggs
froglet
tadpoles
tadpole with
hind legs

Frog lifecycle
fish frog tails legs front gills

land cycle immature froglet lungs
tadpoles nutrients adult
An adult, female lays fertilized eggs in the water.
hatch from the eggs. They look and swim kind of like
. They breathe under the water through .
They eat plants in the water.
The tadpoles grow back first. A tadpole with legs is

called a .
The froglets start to grow legs. Their get

smaller. They consume the in their tails so they don't need
to eat! Their develop so they can breathe out of water.
When they have just a little stub of a tail left, they are
frogs. They can hop out of the water and onto the
and start to eat insects.
They grow into frogs. They will lay their own eggs and
the will begin again.

Answers
fish frog tails legs front gills

land cycle immature froglet lungs
tadpoles nutrients adult
An adult, female frog lays fertilized eggs in the water.
Tadpoles hatch from the eggs. They look and swim kind of like
fish . They breathe under the water through gills .
They eat plants in the water.
The tadpoles grow back legs first. A tadpole with legs is

called a froglet .
The froglets start to grow front legs. Their tails get

smaller. They consume the nutrients in their tails so they don't need
to eat! Their lungs develop so they can breathe out of water.
When they have just a little stub of a tail left, they are immature
frogs. They can hop out of the water and onto the land
and start to eat insects.
They grow into adult frogs. They will lay their own eggs and
the cycle will begin again.

Jellyfish lifecycle
Label each stage of the jellyfish lifecycle.
Adult jellyfish, called medusa,

release eggs and sperm.
The ephyra develops into

a mature medusa. A fertilized egg develops into
a free-swimming planula.
The polyp develops buds. The buds

turn into ephyra, or immature
The planula attaches itself to a firm
jellyfish and float away.
surface. It develops into a flower-like
polyp with a mouth and tentacles.

Answers
medusa
Adult jellyfish, called medusa,

release eggs and sperm.
mature medusa
planula
The ephyra develops into
a mature medusa. A fertilized egg develops into
a free-swimming planula.
ephyra
The polyp develops buds. The buds polyp
turn into ephyra, or immature
The planula attaches itself to a firm
jellyfish and float away.
surface. It develops into a flower-like
polyp with a mouth and tentacles.

Basic needs of plants
Draw a line to match each plant need to the parts of the plant
that helps it meet that need.
• leaf
water •
• flowers
air •
minerals •
• stem
sunlight •
• root
reproduction •
How do roots help a plant survive?
Why do plants need sunlight?

Answers
Draw a line to match each plant need to the parts of the plant
that helps it meet that need.
• leaf
water •
• flowers
air •
minerals •
• stem
sunlight •
• root
reproduction •
How do roots help a plant survive? A plant's roots take in water

and nutrients. They also help hold the plant in place.
Why do plants need sunlight? It gives a plant the light energy

used for making food, a process called photosynthesis.

Needs of plants
air food needs place roots seeds

reproduce stem sunlight support water
Different parts of plants help them

meet their to live,
grow, and reproduce.
A plant's take in water

and nutrients. They also help hold
the plant in .
The or trunk helps carry

and nutrients to the
rest of the plant. It also helps
the plant.
Plants take in and

through their leaves.
They turn it into .
Flowers produce . They

allow the plant to .

Answers
air food needs place roots seeds

reproduce stem sunlight support water
Different parts of plants help them

meet their needs to live,
grow, and reproduce.
A plant's roots take in water

and nutrients. They also help hold
the plant in place .
The stem or trunk helps carry

water and nutrients to the
rest of the plant. It also helps
support the plant.
Plants take in air and

sunlight through their leaves.
They turn it into food .
Flowers produce seeds . They

allow the plant to reproduce .

Needs of animals
air water food plants space

shelter habitat survive animals
Animals find what they need to in their

.
All animals need to breathe. They need

to drink
All animals need to eat. Some animals eat

. Some animals eat other .
All animals need to keep them warm and safe.
They need to live and move around.

Answers
air water food plants space

shelter habitat survive animals
Animals find what they need to survive in their

habitat .
All animals need air to breathe. They need

water to drink
All animals need food to eat. Some animals eat

plants . Some animals eat other animals .
All animals need shelter to keep them warm and safe.
They need space to live and move around.

Research: needs of animals
Research how each animal meets its needs.
Animal Food Water Shelter
wolf
dog
tiger
cat
eagle
pet parrot

Basic needs of living things
In the Venn diagram, write the things that plants and animals
need to live and grow.
sunlight air water food soil shelter space
Plants Animals
What do plants need that most animals do not?
What do animals need that most plants do not?

Answers
In the Venn diagram, write the things that plants and animals
need to live and grow.
sunlight air water food soil shelter space
Plants Animals
sunlight
air
soil shelter
water
food
space
What do plants need that most animals do not? soil
What do animals need that most plants do not? shelter

Behavioral and structural adaptations
Some animal adaptations are structural, which means

that they are part of the animal's body.
Other adaptations are behavioral, which means they
are things the animal does.
Put an X in the chart to show whether each animal adaptation is

structural or behavioral.
Trait Structural Behavioral

Beavers build dams to create
ponds.
Male elk bugle, or make loud

sounds, to attract mates.
Penguins have webbed feet that

help them swim.
Hawks have long, sharp talons to

grab prey.
Spiders spin webs to catch prey.
Opossums ""play dead"" so

predators will leave them alone.
Some moths look just like tree bark.
Lizards bask in the sun to get warm.

Answers
Trait Structural Behavioral
X
Beavers build dams to create
ponds.
Male elk bugle, or make loud

sounds, to attract mates. X
Penguins have webbed feet that
help them swim. X
Hawks have long, sharp talons to
grab prey. X
Spiders spin webs to catch prey.
X
Opossums ""play dead"" so
predators will leave them alone. X
Some moths look just like tree bark. X
Lizards bask in the sun to get warm. X

Behavioral and structural adaptations
Write structural or behavioral for each animal adaptation.
Mantises hold very still Poison arrow frogs have Sea turtles come onto
until prey comes near, bright colors to warn the beach and dig holes
then grab it quickly with predators that they are in the sand to lay their
their front legs. poisonous. eggs.
Ducks' feathers are Male peacocks have Meerkats get up on

waterproof to keep them brightly colored feathers their hind legs to look
dry and warm when to attract mates. for danger.
they swim.
Bald eagles steal fish Orcas hunt together Humpback whales

from each other. in packs. migrate to find food.

Answers
Mantises hold very still Poison arrow frogs have Sea turtles come onto
until prey comes near, bright colors to warn the beach and dig holes
then grab it quickly with predators that they are in the sand to lay their
their front legs. poisonous. eggs.
behavioral structural behavioral
Ducks' feathers are Male peacocks have Meerkats get up on

waterproof to keep them brightly colored feathers their hind legs to look
dry and warm when to attract mates. for danger.
they swim.
structural structural behavioral
Bald eagles steal fish Orcas hunt together Humpback whales

from each other. in packs. migrate to find food.
behavioral behavioral behavioral

Biomes
A biome is a large area of the Earth where certain plants and animals
live. Biomes are determined largely by the area's climate.
Match each biome to its description.
• Very little rain falls, so plants

aquatic • and animals here don't need
much water
grassland • • Biome with the most trees and

the largest diversity of species
• Gets enough rain for grasses

desert • to grow, but not enough for a
lot of trees
tundra • • The coldest biome where the

land is frozen most of the time
forest •
• Includes both freshwater and
saltwater ecosystems
Choose one biome and describe its climate. Draw a picture

showing some of the living things in the biome.

Answers
Match each biome to its description.
• Very little rain falls, so plants

aquatic • and animals here don't need
much water
grassland • • Biome with the most trees and

the largest diversity of species
• Gets enough rain for grasses

desert • to grow, but not enough for a
lot of trees
tundra • • The coldest biome where the

land is frozen most of the time
forest •
• Includes both freshwater and
saltwater ecosystems

Biomes
Match each organism to its biome.

aquatic forest grassland desert tundra
Saguaro
arctic hare
cactus
Kelp
woodpecker buffalo grass
rattlesnake
pine tree
dolphin Caribou
prairie dog moss
Choose a biome and draw one plant and one animal that live there.

Answers
Match each organism to its biome.

aquatic forest grassland desert tundra
Saguaro
arctic hare
cactus
Kelp
buffalo grass
woodpecker
rattlesnake
pine tree
Caribou
dolphin moss
prairie dog

Biomes
Research the biomes and fill in the chart.
biome climate animals plants
forest
desert
grassland
tundra
aquatic

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Animal adaptations

Grade 3 Science Worksheet

Animals have different physical traits that help them survive in

Draw lines to match each animal with its adaptation.

Stripes for camouflage

Rattlesnake • • Huge ears to keep cool

Clear fur to let warm

Strong beak to crack

Elephant • • Sharp teeth to rip food

Tiger • • Venom to paralyze

Reading and Math for K-5 © www.k5learning.com

Polar bear • • Huge ears to keep cool

Stripes for camouflage

Clear fur to let warm

Strong beak to crack

Elephant • • Sharp teeth to rip food

Tiger • • Venom to paralyze

Reading and Math for K-5 © www.k5learning.com

Animals have structural adaptations to help them survive by defending

Reading and Math for K-5 © www.k5learning.com

Reading and Math for K-5 © www.k5learning.com

How has this polar bear adapted to help it survive?

• two layers of fur :

• strong sense of smell :

• huge, bumpy paw pads :

• thick layer of fat under the fur :

• big, strong, curved claws :

Reading and Math for K-5 © www.k5learning.com

How have these adaptations helped polar bears to survive?

• two layers of fur :

• thick layer of fat under the fur :

Reading and Math for K-5 © www.k5learning.com

Fill in the chart about structural adaptations of beavers.

Trait How It Helps Survive

Thick, waterproof fur

Webbed back feet

Strong, long front teeth

Nostrils that can close

Clear third eyelid

Reading and Math for K-5 © www.k5learning.com

Fill in the chart about structural adaptations of beavers.

Trait How It Helps Survive

Thick, waterproof fur keeps beavers warm and dry

Webbed back feet help beavers swim

help beavers cut down trees and

Flat tail they can slap the water as a warning

keeps water out of their eyes when

Reading and Math for K-5 © www.k5learning.com

Animals with a backbone are called vertebrates.

chimpanzee fire belly newt

rainbow trout vampire bat

barn owl rattlesnake

iguana emperor penguin

Reading and Math for K-5 © www.k5learning.com

chimpanzee fire belly newt

rainbow trout vampire bat

barn owl rattlesnake

iguana emperor penguin

Reading and Math for K-5 © www.k5learning.com

Animals with a backbone are called vertebrates.

Answer the questions about the vertebrate groups.

Birds Fish Mammals Reptiles Amphibians

Reading and Math for K-5 © www.k5learning.com

_______ _ _ _______

_______ _ _ _______