ANIMALS ADAPTATION

ELEPHANTS – BIG EARS TO

COOL DOWN

Elephants are big animals that mostly live in

hot places. They can’t sweat like humans so
they use their cleverly adapted ears to cool
down. Elephant ears are thin with lots of tiny
blood vessels called capillaries. When an
elephant gets too hot, blood flows to the ears,
where it loses heat, cooling the elephant
down.

Elephant ears can also flap to act like giant

fans.

African elephants usually have bigger ears

than Asian elephants, who live in cooler
climates.
PUFFERFISH – AN AMAZING
ABILITY TO PUFF UP

The pufferfish is not a fish to cross.

Pufferfish have stomachs that have evolved to
be super stretchy, allowing them to inflate
with water to scare predators away.

Pufferfish also contain a deadly toxin making

them highly dangerous if eaten!
CAMEL – EXTRA LONG
EYELASHES

If you were to walk through the desert, you’d

probably have a bit of trouble with sand
getting into your eyes and nose.

Camels have adapted perfectly for this

scenario and have extra long eyelashes to help
prevent sand, dust and other particles from
getting into their eyes.

Camels can also close their nostrils to stop

sand from getting in their nose and, of course,
have one more very special feature, a hump!
GIRAFFE – VERY LONG NECK

The long neck of a giraffe gives them a couple

of unique advantages over other animals.
They can reach food that’s REALLY high up
and can see enemies from far away.

However, the downside of such a long neck is

that it’s VERY hard for giraffes to drink water
from the ground.
HUMMINGBIRD – SUPER FAST
WINGS

Hummingbirds flap their wings so fast it’s a

blur to the human eye. This very clever
adaptation means they are the only bird that
can fly backwards ( handy for avoiding
predators ) and can hover for a long time!
PLATYPUS – ELECTRIC FIELD
DETECTING BILL

The Platypus is a unique species that appears

to be a blend of several animals you’re
probably familiar with. It has webbed feet and
a bill like a duck, a tail like a beaver and a fur
like an otter! Don’t be fooled by its cuteness
though, as males have a venomous spur near
their back leg!

One very interesting adaptation of the

Platypus is that its special bill can detect
electric fields generated by other animals,
which helps it hunt for food.
Chameleons are among the few animals that can
blend into the environment due to their ability to
change skin color to resemble that of their
surroundings. This camouflage makes it difficult
for predators and prey to spot the chameleon. In
addition, it allows it to hide and surprise its prey.

The chameleon has a long, sticky tongue that

helps it surprise and capture insects from a few
inches away.

Its eyeballs that swivel independently over 360

degrees enable it to capture a complete picture of
its surroundings.
As well as their thick fur, they have a layer of fat,
called blubber, that insulates (protects) their
bodies from the frosty air and near-freezing water.
Polar bears also have black skin under their
glistening coat, which helps them soak up the
Sun's rays and keep warm.
The lion has several adaptations that have
propelled it up its food chain to its king of the
jungle status. It has strong muscles, sharp canines,
and protractible claws, allowing it to bring down
prey.

Lions are social animals, allowing them to hunt in

groups and have a higher chance of scoring a
successful hunt.

Their brownish-brown color allows them to blend

into the tall savannah grass, making it challenging
for prey to spot them when hunting.
Penguins are flightless birds that predominantly
live in Antarctica. However, some species live in
warmer regions, predominantly in the southern
hemisphere. Penguins have adapted to the harsh
Antarctica environment in many ways.

They have many feathers that act as heat

insulators, slowing the rate at which they lose
heat to their surroundings.

They have flippers that make them excellent

swimmers and allow them to dive and catch fish.
In addition, their swimming skills help them
escape predators such as sharks.