What are adaptations?

Adaptations are features used by organisms to help them survive. An example could be the spines of a cactus. The cactus use these spines to prevent herbivores from eating them. A cactus also has thick, waxy leaves to hold water. This adaptation helps with the problem of getting very little water in the desert.

 

Structural and Behavioral Adaptations

There are two types of adaptations.

Structural adaptations are physical abilities that the organism has. An example could be the cactus adaptation explained above. The spines are physical parts of the cactus, and so are the leaves.

Behavioral adaptations are not adaptations that organisms physically have. These adaptations are things that organisms do that help them survive. An example could be a bear hibernating throughout the winter, in no need for food. Another behavioral adaptation could be migrations. Birds migrate south to escape the cold in the north.

 

Examples of Adaptations

Organisms have different adaptations according to what they eat and where they live. For example, owls and tarsiers are nocturnal, so they need big eyes to see in the night.

Animals need adaptations to catch prey or escape from predators. Gazelles use their speed to run away from predators like cheetahs or lions. Cheetahs also use speed to catch their prey. Octopuses use camouflage to escape from predators and catch their prey.

Another adaptation is mimicry. Mimicry is when a harmless animal acts like or looks like a dangerous one so that predators would not eat it. The harmless king snake uses mimicry. The king snake looks very much like a poisonous coral snake, so that predators would not eat it.