π Built for Survival
An adaptation is a special feature or behaviour that helps an animal survive in its environment. Over many generations, animals have evolved amazing adaptations to find food, avoid predators, and cope with their habitat!
π Three Types of Adaptations
π¦·
Structural (Physical)
Body parts that help survival:
- πͺ Camel's hump stores fat
- π¦ Duck's webbed feet for swimming
- π¦ Gecko's sticky toe pads
- π¦ Hedgehog's spines for protection
π¦
Behavioural
Actions that help survival:
- π» Bears hibernate in winter
- π¦ Birds migrate to warmer places
- πΊ Wolves hunt in packs
- π¦ Lizards bask in sun to warm up
π§¬
Physiological
Internal body processes:
- π Snakes produce venom
- π§ Penguins have special blood flow
- π« Camels can go days without water
- π¦ Geckos can regrow their tails
π³πΏ Aotearoa Animals
- π₯ Kiwi β long beak with nostrils at tip for smelling food underground; nocturnal to avoid daytime predators (before humans arrived)
- π¦ KΔkΔpΕ β flightless (no mammals to escape); freezes when threatened
- π¦ Tuatara β third "eye" senses light; survives cold temperatures
- π¦ Kea β highly intelligent; uses tools; can survive alpine conditions
Problem: Many NZ birds evolved without mammal predators β they're vulnerable to introduced species!
βοΈ Activities
Activity: Animal Investigation
Choose an animal and research its adaptations:
- Animal: ___________
- Habitat: ___________
- Structural adaptation: ___________
- Behavioural adaptation: ___________
- How does it help survive? ___________
Explain one adaptation in detail:
π©βπ« Teacher Notes
Curriculum Links
- Science: Living World β evolution, ecology
- Te Ao MΔori: Relationship with native species