As students learn about animal adaptation, they are challenged to find and describe one way an animal of their choice is adapted to its environment. This is known as animal adaptation. Some adaptations are purely physical. For example, sharks have fins to help them swim and gills that allow them to breathe underwater. Without these two special traits, they would have difficulty surviving in a marine environment.
Animals also adapt to their environments through certain behaviors or actions.
When threatened, a porcupine extends its quills, making it difficult for a fox to eat the porcupine. Having the ability to adapt to changes in the environment is critical for an animal's survival. Adaptation also allows animals to exploit environments that other animals cannot occupy. Flippers and fins, for example, allow fish to live comfortably underwater. Because they can live in different environments, animals reduce the competition for resources and possess a better chance to survive.