Science : Adaptation to the environment

Today we are beginning to look in more detail at the way a number of different creatures are adapted to their particular environments.

The desert rat
Has large ears to keep cool
has thin fur
has long tail and big toes to help moving about in sand
is active at night so has good hearing and eyesight.

The Seal
has a streamloned body
has small ears to reduce heat loss
has layers of fat
has webbed feet
has oily fur

The fish
has sensitive areas to 'smell' food
has a streamlined body
has fins
picks up vibrations from the water
breathes water

The frog
has protruding eyes and nostrils
has a wide mouth and sticky tongue
has areas sensitive to vibration
has lungs for fast breathing but also absorbs oxygen through its skin
has webbed feet for swimming
has powerful back legs for swimming and leaping


The worm
has soil coloured skin
absorbs oxygen through its skin
has bristles on its undersise for grip
has a pointed head
has no need for eyes

The woodlouse
has a flat body to crewl under stones
has antennae to detect vibrations
has protective 'armour' to stop it drying out
can curl into a ball