Adaptations in Animals

Adaptations in animals are usually dependent on their habitats. Their bodies develop certain features which allows them to survive in a particular environment.Animals are able to overcome difficulties, take advantage of opportunities, and eventually thrive in a variety of habitats around the world thanks to these biological, behavioural, and structural changes. Let us understand more on adaptations in animals in different habitats:

Adaptation Seen In Polar Region

Polar regions are areas which show an extreme cold climate. North and South Pole fall in these regions. Few of the characteristics of animals found in these places are:

• Penguins may tuck their flippers close to their bodies in order to preserve heat.This This technique keeps their flippers and feet frigid while maintaining their core body temperature, allowing them to retain body heat by limiting heat loss through their extremities.
• Polar bears are dependent on a thick covering of insulating fur that provides warmth because they dwell in one of the world’s coldest climates.
• The white colour of the polar bear acts as a camouflage against the snowy environment.
• During the lengthy, brutal winters, certain creatures fall into hibernation or torpor, such as the Arctic ground squirrel and the Polar bear.

Adaptions Seen In Desert Regions

Desert conditions show extremely high temperatures and water scarcity. The following features are seen in organisms living in the desert regions:

• A lot of animals in the desert are nocturnal, since the day temperatures go very high.
• Animals like camel have evolved the ability to store water in their humps.
• Animals in deserts excrete in very minute amounts in the form of uric acid.
• Animals that can dig burrows deep in the sand or soil include kangaroo rats and desert tortoises.

Adaptations Seen In Grassland

Grasslands are areas where grass is the main vegetation found along with shrubs and small trees. Some of the features of animals found there are:

• Animals in these areas have grass as their primary source of food. Hence they have a evolved digestive system that can digest grass.
• Predators like tigers have stripes which allows them to easily blend with the environment.

Adaptations Seen In Tropical Rainforest

Due to their proximity to the equator, tropical rainforests are typically hot and humid. They show a high percentage of rainfall with annual precipitation around 60-160 inches. Some of the features of animals found there are:

• Due to rich diversity in both plant and animal life, a lot of animals escape the predator by camouflaging. E.g Chameleon has the ability to change its colours according to the surroundings.
• Mimicry, is another feature seen in animals to escape the predator. E.g Some butterflies mimic the poisonous butterflies to protect themselves from prey.

Adaptations Seen In Aquatic Habitat

Animals that live in water have special features in their body which allow them to absorb oxygen from water.Following features are seen in animals living in aquatic habitat:

• Mammals such as whale and dolphins have nostrils on top of their head called blowholes, through which they breathe air.
• Dolphins are able to pinpoint the location of neighbouring animals using echolocation.
• Fish have gills which they use for breathing under water.
• Their body is streamlined and they have fins which allow them to freely move under water.

Adaptation refers to a change in an organism’s structure and function as a result of a natural process that makes the organism more suited to endure and proliferate in a given environment. Adaptation occurs in plants and animals, allowing them to adjust well within a given environment. E.g. Dessert plants like cacti have spikes, which allows them to conserve water. Animals like tigers have stripes on their body which help them to blend well with their environment like grasslands in order to catch prey.