Amazing Animal Adaptations
A desert fox rests in the shade, its enormous ears standing tall. Far away, an octopus settles onto a rocky seafloor and seems to disappear. These animals look very different, but each has features that help it survive in its surroundings.
A helpful feature or behavior is called an adaptation. Adaptations are inherited traits that became common over many generations. Animals do not choose them when they need them. Instead, individuals with useful traits are often more likely to survive and have young that inherit those traits. Over a long time, such traits can become common in a population.
Keeping Cool in the Desert
The fennec fox lives in the Sahara and other dry parts of North Africa. Days there can be extremely hot, and water can be hard to find. One of the fox’s most noticeable features is its pair of oversized ears. Many blood vessels run close to the skin inside them. As blood flows through the ears, heat can escape into the air, helping the fox cool down.
- inherited:
- Passed from parents to their young.
- population:
- A group of the same kind of animal living in an area.
- burrow:
- A hole or tunnel in the ground where an animal shelters.
- predators:
- Animals that hunt other animals for food.
- exposure:
- The state of being uncovered or unprotected from something, such as wind or cold.
- obstacles:
- Things that block the way or make movement difficult.
- habitat:
- The natural place where an animal lives.
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Preview questions from this passageShowHide
- 1How do useful adaptations become common in a population over many generations?
- 2How do a fennec fox's ears help it in two different ways?
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About this informational passage for 4th Grade
“Amazing Animal Adaptations” is a informational reading passage about Animal Adaptations, written for 4th Grade. It takes about 6 minutes to read (829 words) and comes with an interactive quiz and a printable worksheet with comprehension questions and an answer key.