P6 Science
Interactions -
Adaptations
Name: ________ ( )
Class: _________
Adaptations
- Organisms have special characteristics that ensures survival in their habitats.
- These adaptations allow them to adapt to their environment
There are 2 main types of adaptations, Structural and Behavioural.
Adaptations.
Structural adaptations
-Are the physical characteristics of an organism that help it survive in
its natural habitat.
Examples: The shape of a dolphin’s body helps it to move quickly
through water.
Behavioural adaptations
-Special ways an organism behaves to survive in its natural habitat.
Examples: Animals stay underground in the shade during the day and
come out at night when it is cooler it hunts for food.
Adaptations for coping with extreme temperatures
*Refer to last pages to see more adaptations for coping with different conditions
-An example of a hot environment is a dessert. Animals have adapted
to survive in these environments.
Adaptations for keeping cool
-The desert fox has large ears to lose excess body heat.
-Other animals stay underground in the shade during the day and
come out at night when it is cooler it hunts for food.
Adaptations for obtaining and conserving water
-Some animals obtain water from plant parts that they eat (leaves,
fruits) or feed on the nectar or saps of plants
-Other animals (Camel) sweat and urinate very little to conserve as
much water as possible.
-Plants have needle-like leaves (spines ) which reduce surface area of
leaves and therefore reduces water loss.
-Cacti have thick fleshy stems that store water, which can be used
during dry weather.
-Roots of some plants are spread out over a wide area to absorb as
much water as possible.
Living in a cold environment and adapting to keep warm
-In cold environments, food and water are not easily available when
ground freezes so organisms living there must adapt to the
conditions.
-For example, Birds have closely packed feathers to stay warm
Thick layer of fur/feather traps air (poor conductor of heat) to
reduce heat loss (from its body) to the cooler surrounding
CONGRATULATIONS
More Examples of Adaptations
Adaptations for breathing underwater
Air tubes – Aquatic insects (young of mosquito) breathe
through the air tubes. This air tube extends from their
bodies and stick above the water surface.
Moist Skin – Animals like frogs can stay underwater for a
long time as it uses its skin to take in oxygen underwater
and must be kept moist all the time.
Gills – Most aquatic animals such as fish has gills. O2 is
taken in while CO2 is given out as water passes over the
gills.
More other adaptations: Air bubbles, Special
Nostrils ,Blowhole
Adaptations for moving
-Needed for animals to move efficiently to hunt and
escape danger.
Moving in water- Bodies of aquatic animals are streamlined.
Streamlined body shapes are narrow at both ends and broad in the
middle which enables animals to move quickly in the water.
Special Body Parts- Fins, webbed feet and flippers are special
body parts that help aquatic animals move in water.
Moving in the air- A streamlined body shape, well – developed
wings and feathers of a bird allow it to fly easily. Birds must be small
and light to fly. Feathers of a bird help keep them warm and help them
to fly.
Adaptations for living in dark environment
Night vision, lighting up are adaptations used by owls and deep-sea
creatures. Since sunlight is unable to reach deep into the sea, there
is total darkness, so some deep-sea animals have body parts that
can light up. They use the light to see, find mates, attract prey, and
confuse predators.
Aquatic Plants
A water lily has waxy leaves so water will run off the leaves and not
weigh the leaves down. Air Spaces in swollen leaf stalk can help the plant
to float.
Adaptations for obtaining sunlight
Land plants have strong and wooden stems to hold branches and
leaves to get sufficient sunlight. Other plants have weak stems and
cannot grow upright. These plants have adaptations to obtain sunlight.
Climbing on supports – Some plants climb onto walls, fences and
other plants to obtain sunlight
Creeping on the ground - Grass grow horizontally on the ground and
their stems spread out so the leaves can get sunlight.
