Animal Adaptations

Physical, Chemical, Behavioral

 Animal Adaptations
(Chemical)
• Chemical: molecular signals; can be internal or external
• 1) Hormones such as melatonin: secreted by the pineal
gland in response to amount/length of day and night.
Concentrations peak at night and decrease during the day.
• Sleep/wake cycles are part of Circadian rhythms: 24 hour
cycles that are present in sleeping and feeding patterns, as
well as to regulate body temperature, hormone
production, and cell regeneration.
• Jet lag occurs when the pineal gland cannot readjust
melatonin secretion instantly.
 Animal Adaptations
(Chemical)
• 2) Pheromones: chemical signals that are
secreted by animals such as mammals and
insects. Can be odors.
• They are often related to reproductive
behaviors (females attracting males) or
communicating food sources (such as in ants
following a pheromone trail.)
 Animal Adaptations
(Chemical)
• Chemical adaptations can also be used in
predator/prey interactions.
• Examples:
• Venom—which can be injected into prey
• Poison—harms prey if the animal is eaten
• Noxious odors—such as a skunk
 Animal Adaptations
(Physical)
• Physical adaptations include:
• Thick fur in cold climates
• Shorter extremities (limbs, ears, tails) in cold
climates to reduce heat loss from the body
• In hot, dry environments some animals have
kidney adaptations to help conserve water.
• Also, animals in hot climates typically have
large, long extremities to dissipate heat
 Animal Adaptations
(Physical)
• Physical adaptations also include structures for
predator/prey interactions:
• Porcupines’ sharp quills
• Turtles’ shells
• Armadillos’ armor-like skin
• Camouflage or mimicry (mimic poisonous or less tasty species)
• Warning coloration: poisonous frogs in the Amazon are
brightly colored; venomous insects have black and yellow
striped abdomens
• Claws, teeth, horns, webbed feet
 Animal Adaptations
(Behavioral)
• Ethology is the study of animal behavior.
• Animals have behaviors for survival and
reproduction.
• Behavior is broadly divided into innate
behavior and learned behavior.
• Behavior is influenced by hormones and the
nervous system.
 Animal Behaviors
• Innate behaviors: are under genetic control and are inherited;
are animals’ instincts and are performed without any learning.
• Include:
• 1) Territoriality: ensures space and resources
• 2) Courting behavior: ensures beneficial genes are passed on
• 3) Hibernation: dormancy during cold months (example:
chipmunks, rattlesnakes)
• 4) Estivation: dormancy during hot months (example:
lungfish, some frogs)
• 5) Migration: move in response to weather changes to stay
close to food sources (ex. geese, wildebeest)
 Animal Behaviors
• Learned behaviors: are a result of an animal’s
experiences.
• Learned behaviors are related to life span and
parental care.
• Animals with short life spans and little to no
parental care have fewer learned behaviors.
Learned Behaviors