Helpful Adaptations Camouflage and Mimicry Adaptation Natural selection

Helpful Adaptations Camouflage and Mimicry

�Adaptation �Natural selection �Selective pressure �Camouflage �Mimicry Key Terms

�In nature, survival is a struggle for all species �Any advantage an organism has over another can allow it to survive �Many traits can give an organism an upper hand in the fight for survival �Two examples are camouflage and mimicry Natural Selection

� Animals that are not top predators must always be wary � If they are not careful, they will end up as dinner for an animal higher up on the food chain � To survive, an animal must have a way of escaping predators � Some animals are fast and can run away but others can avoid being seen in the first place Camouflage

�Camouflage can also be used by predators in order to hide so they can pounce on prey without warning Camouflage

� Another useful adaptation is mimicry � Mimicry is the similarity of an organism to another, possibly more dangerous, one � Plants and animals use mimicry to trick potential predators into believing that they are dangerous Mimicry

�Plants or animals may resemble bigger, more aggressive or venomous creatures that cause predators to stay away �One snake �Would you Mimicry is poisonous, one is harmless try to find out? Which was which?

Pages 312 -313; Read over the pages Choose any two animals shown on page 313 and complete the inquiry. You will have to do some internet research. Get to Work!!