Adaptations (2)

• How do plants and animals survive?

• How do they adapt to survive in their chosen habitats?

Adaptations : Black Widow Spider

• Venom is about 15 times as toxic as the venom of a diamondback rattlesnake

• Prey includes a variety of insects and other arthropods.

• It makes small punctures in the victim's body and sucks out the liquids.

• Resistant to many insecticidesThe female eats the male after mating!

Adaptations : Collared Peccary

• Tough snout to overturn dead vegetation to look for roots and shoots.

• Can eat prickly pear cactus, including the spines.

• Can go for days without drinking water

• Powerful musk can aid communication between individuals

Adaptations : Coati

• Strong curved front claws to move rocks and dig for food

• Powerful smell to detect prey• Long bushy tail used for

balance • Can easily climb trees to

forage for fruit, berries and birds eggs.

Adaptations : Roadrunner

• Can adapt the surface area of wings and plumage to absorb or emit heat.

• Usually nests twice in a year, during the seasonal rains.

• Vibrates its throat lining to move air past moist respiratory tissues during very high temperatures. This increases evaporation from within the bird.

Adaptations : Roadrunner

• Able to run at up to 15 miles an hour, to outrun predators.

• Its speed also helps it to catch prey, such as scorpions, lizards, and other small animals.

• Can also kill and eat rattlesnakes. It uses its wide rings to deflect any striking fangs.

Adaptations : Diamondback Snake

• Has a pair of pits between eyed to detect heat from mammals, even at night.

• Brown/grey colour to blend in with its surroundings.

• Uses a rattle in its tail for a warning when alarmed.

Adaptations : Gila Monster

• Very toxic venom, used against predators.

• Its pink or orange colour provides perfect camouflage in its natural habitat.

• Lives in cool burrows during hot days.

• Thick tails provide food and water reservoirs.

Adaptations : Round-tailed Ground Squirrel

• Its tawny coat blends well with its surroundings

• Lives in its cool burrow during the hottest times of the day.

• Stands on its hind legs to look out for predators

• Makes its home near creosote bushes, where the roots bind the soil together.

Adaptations : The Jojoba Plant

• A waxy coating reduces water loss by evaporation.

• Seeds are toxic to many animals if eaten…except Bailey’s pocket mouse!

• Leaves face the early and late sun, but not the midday sun. This helps to conserve water.

• Bailey’s pocket mouse collects and stores the seeds : so many seeds can germinate.

Adaptations : The Ocotillo

• Loses its small leaves during dry spells.

• New leaves can grow within five days after receiving water.

• Wide and shallow root system to collect ground water.

• Stems are capable of photosynthesis during dry spells

Adaptations : Teddy Bear Cholla

• Covered with sharp spines to stop animals from eating the tissue.

• The spines cool the cholla’s tissue in hot weather

• Stem consist of segments . The segments provide water storage, and allow photosynthesis to happen.