Transcript Mule Deer Adaptations large, rounded ears for excellent hearing

Mule Deer Adaptations
large, rounded ears for excellent hearing.
Also, mule deer do not run but instead
leap with all four feet at once called
"stotting". Effective for traveling through
wooded areas and underbrush because
they can clear large areas at once without
getting their legs caught
Eagles have excellent hearing,
even though we can't see their
ears
The beak is strong and thick, and sharply pointed at
downward tip to rip into a fish or a frozen roadkill,
but the mouth is wide enough that the gape (the "corners"
of the mouth, where the upper and lower
beak meet) to handle fairly big chunks.
Although the beak is clearly
designed for ripping apart meat, parent eagles
can also use it to
tenderly feed and groom their babies
Eagle eyes are designed for clear vision
in daylight, from early morning light to
high noon and then on into the evening,
but the pupil isn't big enough for night vision
An eagle's skull is designed
to shade the eyes
from overhead sun,
and to allow the eagle to
see in front and below
Shape: Long, broad wings like an
eagle's take a lot of energy to flap,
but are wonderful for riding
effortlessly on thermals.
Like all birds, eagles must
minimize the energy they need
for flight over long distances.
"Fingers" or slotted primaries:
This provides more
lift with less weight--important
for birds that ride thermals
Size: Eagle wings are big enough
to carry the weight of the eagle
PLUS the weight of a fairly large
fish. And if the fishes too heavy to
pull out of the water, the eagle can
use its long wings to paddle to
shore!
Get a Grip!
In order to grasp and carry live fish, eagles
need strong legs and toes, and a powerful grip.
An ornithologist looking at an eagle's feet
would know that this bird is a hunter that
specializes on underwater prey. How?
Because eagles have talons and no feathers
on their legs.
An eagle foot is made up of
four muscular toes, powerful
enough to hang onto a fairly large
fish as the eagle carries it through
the air. A cat can't carry a mouse
in its claws!
Polar bears are able to swim in the icy
Arctic Ocean without freezing.
They have thick oily fur coats and
a layer of fat under their skin.
When bears comes out of the
water they shake the water off their coats.
Polar Bear skin is black which
absorbs heat. Their fur is
translucent which means the
light can go through it. As the
light goes through the hair and
absorbs in the skin, it heats up
the skin and
the fur traps it inside.
Adaptations of the Polar Bear
1. Long, stiff hair between pads of bear's feet:- Protect
bear's feet from the cold - Provides traction on the ice
- Help the bear swim in cold, icy water - Also helps to
keep bear from slipping on the slippery ice - Hair usually
shakes free any water or ice formed after swimming.
2. Hollow fur –Traps air inside, thus making the bear
Buoyant in water - The layer of air provides insulation
between their warm bodies and the cold Arctic
air and water - Insulation provided is lost when
fur is covered with oil.
3. Small and rounded ears –Prevents water from
entering the bear's ears and
freezing their eardrums, u see, big ears, more water! –
Helps conserve body warmth in sub-zero temperatures
4. Digging of dens several meters deep
- Shelter from winds that sweep over the
ice in strong gusts, unbroken by trees or
vegetation
5. Light color of
bear's fur provides camouflage against the
ice – When hunting, bear covers black
nose with its paws to hide it.
6. Strong swimmers - Polar bears can
travel up to a speed of 10 kph - Have been
known to swim continuously
for 100 km - Enables them to catch prey
7. Thick layer of fat (blubber) under skin –
Up to 11 cm thick - Insulates bear from arctic
cold – Overheating might occur - To prevent
overheating, the bear moves slowly, resting
often- Excess heat is released from the body
through. Areas where fur is absent or where
blood vessels are close to the skin (eg.
muzzle, nose, ears, foot, pads, inner thighs,
shoulders) - Polar bear swims to cool down
on warm days or after physical activity
8. Skin under fur is black – This is to
ensure that the polar bear has a better heat
retention rate.
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Dark on top less visible ttoa predators above it
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Light on bottom less visible
to
predators
below
it
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Scales small or non-existent
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Fish more streamlined and
s fast-moving to catch
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prey
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Tail is a full fan shape for strong
and powerful
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movement
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Body shape:
Head is bullet shape to cut through the water
Body narrow, built for speed