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Adaptations for Protection
Both plants and animals need to protect themselves from predators
and weather. Every successful plant and animal has adaptations for
defending itself.
Spiny puffer fish are small and
swim slowly. They would make an
easy meal for a larger fish. But this
kind of puffer fish is covered with
structures called spines. When it is
threatened, the fish puffs up. Spines
and the ability to puff are adaptations
that protect this spiny puffer fish.
These structures and puffing behavior
allow the fish to survive in its
environment.
Butterflies don’t have spines. They
can’t fly fast. But some of them have
colors and patterns that help them
blend in with their environment.
Blending in is called
camouflage
.
Camouflage is an adaptation that
protects this butterfly from predators
in its environment.
Spines help
protect this spiny
puffer fish.
This butterfly is camouflaged to
look like a dead leaf.
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