This adaptation allows horses to be swift and strong runners. Raptors such as bald eagles have long talons on the end of each toe to assist them in grasping their prey. Careful observation of an animal's adaptations can give an observer insight into where an animal might live. A thick wooly coat may indicate a cold climate. The brightly-colored feathers of a parrot help it blend into the tropical rainforests.
Adaptations also help the observer determine an animal's diet.
The flat molars of a Barbados sheep indicate an animal that grazes on plants. The hooked beak of a bald eagle is ideally suited to its diet of fish, waterfowl, and small mammals. The long pointed snout of the Madagascar tenrec is useful for rooting through the underbrush in search of insects and other small invertebrates. Adaptations and Human Culture Animal adaptations have had a long influence on human culture. A myth is an invented story that often describes a tradition or cultural experience.