Animal Adaptations

GRASSLANDS OR PLAINS           TROPICAL RAINFORESTS       TEMPERATE OR DECIDUOUS FORESTS

  DESERTS                              TAIGA OR CONNIFEROUS FORESTS                     TUNDRA (ARCTIC AND ANTARCTIC)

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GRASSLANDS or PLAINS

AFRICA

African Hedgehog
http://www.oaklandzoo.org/atoz/azhgehog.html 

1. Besides having stiff spines that stick out from their bodies and help protect them, these animals also have loose skin under those spines and powerful back muscles. Why?

1. Why are giraffes able to go for long periods of time without water?
2. How are their long necks adapted to their lifestyle?

http://www.oaklandzoo.org/atoz/azlfvult.html

1. How are the heads of vultures adapted to what they eat?

http://www.lpzoo.org/animals/FACTS/mammals/af_lion.html

1. What is the purpose of the mane on a male lion?
2. Why are the eyes of a lion set in the front of its head rather than on the sides?
3. A lion has heavily muscled forelimbs and shoulders. Why?
4. Why do they haveforepaws equipped with long, retractile claws?
5. Why do they have a rough tongue?
6. Why do they have loose belly skin?

http://www.oaklandzoo.org/atoz/azmonitor.html

1. How long are they?
2. What do they eat?
3. How are their mouths adapted to what they eat?

EUROPE and ASIA

Leopard Gecko
http://www.eriezoo.org/leopard_gecko.htm

NORTH AMERICA

North American Bison
http://www.saskschools.ca/~gregory/animals/bison.html

Mule Deer
http://www.saskschools.ca/~gregory/animals/muled.html

 SOUTH AMERICA

Maned Wolf
http://www.panda.org/news_facts/education/
middle_school/species/omnivores/wolf_maned_intro/index.cfm

 Jaguar
http://whozoo.org/Intro2001/amansaut/Amanda_Jaguar.html 

AUSTRALIA

Tammar Wallaby
http://www.oaklandzoo.org/atoz/azwalaby.html

1. How is this animal adapted to the arid conditions of it's habitat?

http://www.oaklandzoo.org/atoz/azwalaro.html

1. What do they eat?
2. How are their feet adapted to rock climbing?

http://www.pbs.org/kratts/world/index.html

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TROPICAL RAINFORESTS

 CENTRAL AND SOUTH AMERICA

Giant Tortoise
http://www.pbs.org/safarchive/5_cool/galapagos
/g23c_biology.html

1. How do these turtles differ depending on which part of the islands they inhabit?

http://www.lpzoo.org/animals/FACTS/mammals/sloth.html

1.  Why is being slow good?

2. What is on their fur? Why?

3. What else can they do that other animals do not?

1. 
   

Walking Stick
http://www.insects.org/entophiles/phasmida/phas_002.html

      1. Name three adaptations that enable the Ecuadorian walking stick to protect itself.

Tamandua
http://www.pbs.org/kratts/world/index.html

1. From this page, click on "South America" and then click on "Tamandua".

2. What helps this animal reach termites and ants in their nests?

3. How is this animal adapted to move from tree to tree?

4. How does this animal protect itself from predators?

Capybara
http://www.mbgnet.net/sets/rforest/index.htm 

Click on the arrow at the bottom of the page until you find this animal.

    1.  How is this animal adapted for swimming?

ASIA

 Sun Bear
http://www.oaklandzoo.org/atoz/azsunber.html

Bengal Tiger
http://www.oaklandzoo.org/atoz/azbentig.html

 Common Tree Shrew
http://www.mbgnet.net/sets/rforest/index.htm 

Click on the arrow at the bottom of the page until you find this animal.

     1.  How is this animal adapted to the high trees in the forest?

 Indian Cobra
http://www.mbgnet.net/sets/rforest/index.htm 

 Click on the arrow at the bottom of the page until you find this animal.

     1.  How does this animal defend itself?

AFRICA

South African Burrowing Bullfrog
http://www.oaklandzoo.org/atoz/azsablfg.html

1. What do they eat?

Hippopotamus
http://www.fresnochaffeezoo.com/animals/hippo.html

     1.  How is this animal adapted to spend most of its time in the water?

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DESERTS 

NORTH AMERICA

Gila Monster
http://www.gila-monster.org/gila-monsters-links.htm

1. What do gila monsters do to avoid the heat of the day?
2. What do gila monsters do in winter months to keep warm?
   
3. How do they survive during winter months with little food?

Sidewinder
http://www.mbgnet.net/sets/desert/index.htm

Click on the arrow at the bottom of the page until you find this animal.

      1. What do Sidewinders do to avoid the heat of the day?
     2. How does its body move in the sand and keep cool on the hot sand?
 

AFRICA

Addax
http://www.mbgnet.net/sets/desert/index.htm

Click on the arrow at the bottom of the page until you find this animal. 

    1. What is the shape of their hoofs and why?

   2. How do they survive in the dry desert?

 
Fat Sand Rat
http://www.mbgnet.net/sets/desert/index.htm

Click on the arrow at the bottom of the page until you find this animal.

   1. How does this animal deal with seasonal  food shortages in the desert?

ASIA

 Bactrial Camel
http://www.lpzoo.org/animalsFACTS/mammals/bact_camel.html

    1. What is the shape of their hoofs and why?

   2. How do they survive in the dry desert?

DesertLark

This bird also lives in the North of Africa
http://www.mbgnet.net/sets/desert/index.htm

 Click on the arrow at the bottom of the page until you find this animal.

    1. What is their main adaptation?

 Arabian Camel
mammals/bactrian_camel.html http://www.arab.net/camels/

Click on the arrow at the bottom of the page.

1. Camels have many adaptations that allow them to live successfully in desert conditions. List these adaptations and how they benefit the camel

Great Jerboa

http://www.mbgnet.net/sets/desert/index.htm

 Click on the arrow at the bottom of the page until you find this animal.

       1. How does this rodent feed?

AUSTRALIA 

Bearded Dragon
http://www.oaklandzoo.org/atoz/azdragon.html

 1. How is this lizard different to other lizards? Why?

Dingo
http://www.mbgnet.net/sets/desert/index.htm 

Click on the arrow at the bottom of the page. 

   1.  How have they adapted to the declining number of kangaroos? 

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TEMPERATE OR DECIDUOUS FOREST

Black Bear
http://www.saskschools.ca/~gregory/animals/bears.html

1. From this page, click on "North America" and then click on "American alligator".
2. How are these alligator's eyes adapted for seeing in water?

Beaver

http://www.adfg.state.ak.us/pubs/notebook/furbear/beaver.php

1. How are beavers built for underwater work?
2. This site has additional information.
   
   
   
   

 Koala
http://www.seaworld.org/animal-info/animal-bytes/
animalia/eumetazoa/coelomates/deuterostomes/
chordata/craniata/mammalia/diprotodontia/koala.htm

1. How are the hands of a koala adapted for their life?

ASIA

Giant Panda
http://nationalzoo.si.edu/Animals/GiantPandas/PandaFacts/default.cfm

White Cheeked Gibbon
http://www.lpzoo.org/animals/FACTS/mammals/gibbon.html

1. Why do many monkeys and apes have long arms?
2. Describe special adaptations on the hands of gibbons.

Red Panda
http://www.enchantedlearning.com/subjects/mammals/redpanda/Redpandaprintout.shtml

1. How are red pandas adapted to eating bamboo?

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THE TAIGA or CONNIFEROUS FORESTS

NORTH AMERICA

 Caribou

http://www.saskschools.ca/~gregory/arctic/caribou.html

           1.     How does this animal adapt to the harsh conditions of its habitat?

Bald Eagle
http://www.learner.org/jnorth/tm/eagle/Adaptations.html

 1.  This bird has many adaptations that allow it to survive in its habitat, name some.

Canadian Lynx

 http://www.saskschools.ca/~gregory/animals/lynx.html

    1.  How does this animal adapt to the cold?

 California King Snake
http://www.oaklandzoo.org/atoz/azkgsnke.html

1. Why can king snakes eat rattle snakes?
   

ASIA 

Gray Wolf 

http://animal.discovery.com/fansites/jeffcorwin/carnival/lilmammal/wolf.html

This animal also lives in North America. 

 EUROPE

Snow Leopard
http://www.pbs.org/kratts/world/index.html

1. From this page, click on "Eurasia" and then click on "Snow Leopard".
2. How are the feet of snow leopards adapted for traveling and hunting on snowy and icy ground?

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THE TUNDRA  (ARTIC or ANTARTIC)

 In physical geography, tundra is an area where the tree growth is hindered by low temperatures and short growing seasons. The term "tundra" comes from Kildin Sami t?ndâr 'uplands, tundra, treeless mountain tract'. There are three types of tundra: Arctic tundra, Antarctic tundra, and alpine tundra

 ANTARCTICA

http://octopus.gma.org/surfing/antarctica/penguin.html

     1. How are penguins well-adapted to cold water and icy environments?

    2. In which part of the world do penguins live?

    3. Why are their wings so short?

ARCTIC

 Polar Bear
http://www.mnh.si.edu/arctic/html/polar_bear.html

1. Why do polar bears have such big feet?
2. How do they adapt to the cold?

Arctic Fox

http://www.saskschools.ca/~gregory/arctic/Afox.html

       1.  How does its color help this animal?

      2. How does it survive in extreme cold?
 

Arctic Hare

http://www.saskschools.ca/~gregory/arctic/Ahare.html

      1.  How does its color help this animal?

     2. How does it survive in extreme cold

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