Physical and Behavioral

Adaptations
of Animals
 What are Physical and Behavioral
Adaptations?
• Physical adaptations can be a body
structure that an animal has that allows
it to meet its needs in its habitat.

• Behavioral adaptations can be an activity

or action that helps an animal survive in
its habitat.
Hibernation

Objective: Explain how hibernation is a

behavioral adaptation that allows
certain animals to survive in their
habitat during the winter months .
Hibernation is a behavioral
adaptation that allows animals to
survive during the winter months.

Behavioral adaptation is simply an

activity an animal does to stay alive.
 Hibernation
• Hibernation means a long rest, or sleep.
• During hibernation, the animal’s body
processes, like breathing, slow down, and they
survive on stored food or fat.
• Many animals, for example insects, birds,
reptiles and some mammals, eat a lot of food
in the autumn months to store up fat.
• Let’s take a look at some animals that are
eating a lot of food to prepare for hibernation.
 Hibernation
• Animals can burrow into the ground or curl up
under leaves, or hide themselves in dens, safe
from the winter cold and enemies.
• When the temperature rises in the spring, the
animal wakes up and leaves its hiding place.
• Let’s take a look at some animals hibernating.
Hibernation
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 Defense

Objective: Explain how defense can be a physical

or behavioral adaptation that allows
animals to protect themselves in their
habitat.
• Defense is how an animal protects itself.
• Some animals have special adaptations to
protect themselves from being hurt,
killed, or eaten.
• These special defense mechanisms
include physical adaptations such as
quills and claws, and behavioral
adaptations such as taking flight, tricking
(mimicry, playing dead), spraying, or
fighting.
 Let’s take a look at
animals using
physical adaptations to
defend themselves.
 Let’s take a look at
animals using
behavioral adaptations
to defend themselves.
 Viceroy Butterfly-
nonpoisonous.

Monarch Butterfly-
poisonous.
Defense
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 Locomotion

Objective: Explain how locomotion (physical

adaptation) and movement
(behavioral adaptation) allow animals
to survive in their habitat.
• Locomotion is a physical adaptation. In order for
animals to find the resources they need for food,
shelter, or space, they must be able to move
around.

• Animals have special structures for moving

depending on where they live, for example:

-above ground (swinging, climbing and flying)

-on the ground (crawling, walking, hopping)
-in the water (floating, swimming and diving).
 The Duck
Where does the duck live?

What special body parts does

the duck have in order to
move?

How does the duck move?

 The Monkey
Where does the monkey
live?

What special body parts

does the monkey have

in order to
move?

How does the move?

 The Frog
Where does the frog live?

What special body parts

does the frog have

in order to
move?

How does the frog move?

 The Bear
Where does the bear live?

What special body parts does

the bear have in order to
move?

How does the bear move?

 Migration
• Migration is when animals move over the
same route in the same season each year. This
is a behavioral adaptation.

• The animals move because of the weather

and to find food and shelter.

• Let’s take a look at animals that migrate.

 Three Reasons Why
Animals Migrate
1. Find the perfect weather.
2. To find food.
3. To find shelter.

It’s like taking a vacation for a

long period of time.
Locomotion
and
Movement
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 How Do Animals
Obtain Their Food?

Objective: Explain how animals use physical

adaptations to obtain food in their
habitat.
• Animals have special structures used for getting
food, for example the beaks of birds, mouths of
insects, teeth, or claws that are shaped in
different ways depending on the type of food
they eat.

• Let’s take a look at different mouths, teeth, and

claws that animals use in order to get their food.
Who’s Beak Is This?
Who’s Claws are These?
Who’s Mouth Is This?
Who’s “Mouth” is This?
Obtaining Food
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Camouflage
Objective: Explain how animals use
camouflaging to protect themselves
in their habitat.
 Camouflage
• Camouflage is a physical adaptation.

• Camouflage is a color or pattern that allows

an animal to blend into its environment. It
protects animals from being seen by their
enemies, or allows the animals to sneak up
more easily on their food.
Animals using
Camouflage
Can you find the animals?
Camouflage
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