Adaptations (5.10A)

The student is expected to compare the structures and functions of different species that help them live and survive, such as hooves on prairie animals or webbed feet in aquatic animals.

NOTE: As of Spring Break, we have not yet covered this objective in class. We will cover it in late March/early April.

Scholastic StudyJams video:

• Animal Adaptations 

 Other Links to Check Out: 

• Here's a great slideshow about behavioral and physical adaptations. 

Structure and Function

With this unit, we are going to discuss structure and function. Structure is how something is made. Function is what it does.

Example: A human hand.
Structure: We have a thumb and four fingers that have joints and can move. Our hand is connected to our arm at the wrist, which can turn and move. We can also make a fist with our fingers.
Function: Our thumb and fingers help us grab things. Our wrist moves and enables us to wave or carry things easier.

Camouflage vs. Mimicry

In class, we talked about camouflage and mimicry. These are both adaptations that animals use to survive. However, sometimes it can be confusing to remember which is which. Let's review:

Camouflage is when an organism has colors or characteristics that help it blend it with its surroundings.
Mimicry is when an organism looks or sounds like another organism. 

For example, this frog is camouflaged to blend in with its surroundings. This makes it harder for predators to find. 

Remember that we talked about the snake-necked turtle in class. This animal has a big long neck that makes it look like a snake. This is an example of mimicry.

Vocabulary:

Species: A group of organisms with similar characteristics that allow them to reproduce

Reproduction: The act of making something new

Adaptation: A characteristic that helps a plant or animal survive

Survive: Stay alive or stay with

Niche: A role an organism plays in its environment

Camouflage: Characteristics that blend in with the surrounding environment that increase chances of survival

Mimicry: The resemblance of an organism to another organism or to its surroundings that gives it a better chance of survival

Migration: The seasonal movement of animals from one place to another

Hibernation: When an animal becomes still in an enclosed space and reduces bodily functions to save energy

Predator: An animal that hunts and feeds on another organism

Prey: An animal that is hunted as food

Habitat: A place or environment in which an organism naturally lives