Alaskan Animal Adaptations - Bering Land Bridge National Preserve (U.S. National Park Service) An arctic fox listens closely for rodents beneath the snow. What is an adaptation? An adaptation is a change that develops over time that helps an organism become better suited to live in its environment. Every living thing has adaptations! There are two types: physical adaptations and behavioral adaptations. Physical adaptations changes the way something looks, while a behavioral adaptation changes the way a species acts. Adaptations may help a plant or animal survive the cold, the heat, find food, use tools, hide from predators, and much more.