adaptation - Exploration Nation

Name: ____________________
ADAPTATION
Check your Understanding
Work with a partner to answer these five
questions.
1. Which of the animals on the video were
Herbivores? (Circle)
FACTOID: Capybara
• Live in South America.
• Weigh up to 150 pounds.
Largest rodent in the world.
• Have webbed feet.
• Eyes, ears, and nostrils on top
of their head to see, hear and
smell while swimming.
• Spend most of the time in
water.
• Herbivore: Eats grass.
• Capybara means “Master of
the Grasses.”
Okapi | African Penguin | Capybara
2. Which of the animals on the video like to
swim in water? (Circle)
Okapi | African Penguin | Capybara
3. Describe one adaptation of the Okapi that
helps it to survive in its habitat.
4. Describe one adaptation of the African Penguin
that helps it to survive in its habitat.
_________________________
_________________________
_________________________
_________________________
____________________
5. Describe one adaptation of the Capybara that
helps it to survive in its habitat.
_________________________
_________________________
_________________________
________________________ _________________________
________________________ ____________________
________________________
________________________
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ADAPTATION
FACTOID:
African Penguin
Activity 1: Freaky Animal Adaptations
The animals in the video had some similar adaptations, and some that were different. Use the
chart below to describe each animal’s adaptations. Then, draw lines to show which adaptations are
similar. An example has been done for you.
• Live in Africa.
• Have flippers instead of
wings.
• White tummy makes it
difficult for underwater
predators to see them.
• Spreads oil on feathers
to make themselves
waterproof.
• Carnivorous: Eats sardines,
anchovies, squid.
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ADAPTATION
Activity 2: Investigating
Other Animal Adaptations
All animals have adaptations that help
them survive. Choose a different animal to
research. Use books, magazines, and the
Internet to learn more about your animal’s
adaptations.
1. Name of my animal:
FACTOID: OKAPI
_______________________
• Live in Africa.
2. Where my animal lives:
• Okapis are diurnal, which means
they are active during the day.
That’s the opposite of nocturnal.
• Closest relative is the giraffe.
• Babies don’t pee or poop for 8
weeks to keep predators from
sniffing them out.
_______________________
3. Describe the body of your animal (or draw
a picture on a separate piece of paper) _______________________
_______________________
_______________________
• Herbivores. That means they eat
plants.
© 2013 Enzoology Education. All rights reserved.
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4. Describe the special adaptations that
your animal has to help it survive. Include
at least one survival adaptation and one
adaptation that helps the animal change its
environment.
a. Survival Adaptations:
_______________________
_______________________
b. Adaptations that Change the Animal’s
Environment:
_______________________
_______________________
c. What would happen if your animal didn’t
have these adaptations? Would it be in
trouble? Why?
_______________________
_______________________
5. Share your work with your classmates.
Are there any other animals with adaptations
like your animal’s? Name them.
___________________________
3
ADAPTATION
From Dinosaur to Dinner Plate
Adaptation takes millions of years. Can you spot and
match the similarities between the extinct velociraptor
and the modern day turkey?
VELOCIRAPTOR
MODERN TURKEY
Circle the skeletal parts that are similar and connect with a line.
List the similarities
1. Tail Bones
2. ____________________________________
3. ____________________________________
4. ____________________________________
5. ____________________________________
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4
ADAPTATION
Homework: Create Your Own Animal Adaptation
This is your chance to be creative and show what you have learned about animal adaptations!
Step 1. Design and draw an animal of your own creation.
Step 2. Design and draw a habitat for it to live in.
Step 3. Describe how your animal’s adaptations help it to survive and reproduce in its habitat.
Picture:
Description of your animal’s adaptations:
_________________________________________________
_________________________________________________
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