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Adaptations for Movement
Most animals move in their environment. They need to find food, escape
predators, and find mates in order to survive.
Birds fly. Wings and feathers are structures that allow birds to fly. Wings
and feathers are adaptations.
Fish swim. Fish have broad tails and fins to move them through the water.
Fish have a streamlined shape. Broad tails, fins, and a streamlined shape are
adaptations that allow fish to move easily through their environment.
Snakes slither. Snakes have strong
muscles
that make waves along their
bellies. They have scales that give the snake traction. The waves push the
snake forward. Strong muscles and scales are adaptations that allow snakes
to move through their environment.
Grasshoppers walk, jump, and fly. They have walking legs for moving
slowly through the grass. Grasshoppers have strong legs for jumping long
distances and wings for flying. Walking legs, jumping legs, and wings are
adaptations that allow grasshoppers to move through their environment in
three different ways.
Any structure or behavior of an animal that allows it to move in its
environment is an adaptation for movement. What adaptations do you have
for moving in your environment?
A grasshopper’s
jumping legs
help it jump long
distances.
A fish’s tail
and fins help
it swim.
A snake’s
strong muscles
help it move.
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