ADAPTATIONS OF PREY AND

PREADATOR

ADAPTATION OF PREDATORS

SPIDERS
1. Silk properties:
Spider silk can have varying levels of stickiness and elasticity depending on the
web type, allowing for efficient prey capture.
2. Sensory perception:
Spiders have sensitive hair on their legs that detect vibrations on the web,
enabling them to quickly locate trapped prey.
3. Venom injection:
Most spiders use venom to paralyze their prey once captured, allowing for easy
consumption.
4. Camouflage:
Some spiders, like crab spiders, can change color to blend with flowers,
allowing them to ambush unsuspecting prey.

CHAMELEON
1. Shoot it’s tongue out so far and so fast that the prey Beetle
doesn’t stand a chance.
2. It camouflages with the surface color to avoid being noticed
by the prey.
SNAKES
 Jaws
Snakes can move their jaws independently, allowing them to grab and pull
prey into their mouths. Their jaws are also loosely connected to their
skulls, so they can stretch around their prey.
 Venom
Some snakes have venom glands in the back of their heads that they use
to inject venom into their prey. This immobilizes and kills the prey. Cobra
spits its venom on to its prey to kill it.
 Infrared vision
Some snakes, like vipers, pythons, and boas, have pits in their faces that
detect body heat.
 Strong muscles
Snakes have strong muscles that help them swallow and digest their
food.
 Extra ligaments
Snakes have extra ligaments and muscles that allow them to stretch their
mouths wide to eat prey larger than their heads.
 Breathing tube
Snakes have a small tube at the back of their mouths that allows them to
breathe when their mouths are full of food.

Snakes use two main strategies to catch their prey: venom and constriction.

SCORPION

Also poison their prey with venom.

EAGLE

1. Have very good eyesight. They can spot their prey when it is
3km away.
2. They also have sharp talons for gripping their prey.
Beak
 Eagles have a long beak with a sharp tip that they use to tear food.
 Eagles have a tooth-like triangle called a tomila inside their beak that
helps them kill their prey.
Muscles
 Eagles have well-developed muscles in their legs and beak that help
them destroy their prey.
Crop
 Eagles have a crop, which is a bulge below their throat that stores food
before digestion.

WILD HUNTING DOGS

1. Hunt in a group or pack.

2. Work in a team to surround their prey.
3. Dogs and Bears also have a very good sense of smell.
They can smell their prey long before they can see it.
 Endurance running: Built for long-distance running with efficient muscle and
skeletal structure, enabling them to chase prey until exhaustion sets in.
 Communication: Complex vocalizations and body language to coordinate
hunting strategies within the pack.
 Sharp senses: Excellent vision and sense of smell to locate prey from afar.
  Large ears: Not only for hearing but also to dissipate heat in hot climates.
 Mottled coat: Camouflage pattern that helps them blend into their environment
while approaching prey.
CROCODILE

 Powerful jaws and teeth:

Crocodiles possess incredibly strong jaws with sharp, pointed teeth designed to
grasp and tear flesh, allowing them to hold onto large prey with immense force.
 Sensory pits:
Tiny pits on the crocodile's snout contain pressure receptors that detect even
the slightest movements in the water, helping them locate prey in murky
conditions.
 Camouflage:
Their scaly skin blends seamlessly with the water, providing excellent
camouflage while stalking prey.
 Aquatic prowess:
Webbed feet and a streamlined body make crocodiles adept swimmers,
allowing them to maneuver quickly and silently underwater.
 Eyes and nostrils placement:
The position of their eyes and nostrils on the top of their head enables them to
see and breathe while remaining mostly submerged.
 "Sit and wait" strategy:
Crocodiles often lie in wait, partially submerged, and then launch a sudden
attack when prey comes close enough.
 Breath-holding ability:
They can hold their breath for extended periods, allowing them to stay
underwater for a long time until the opportune moment to strike.

SHARK

Senses
 Electroreception
Sharks have special organs called ampullae of Lorenzini that detect the
electric fields of living things. This allows them to hunt in the dark or find
prey hidden in the sand.
 Smell
Sharks have a strong sense of smell that helps them track prey from a
distance. For example, a Great White Shark can smell blood in the water
from miles away.
 Lateral line
Sharks have a network of sensory cells along their body that detect water
movements, vibrations, and pressure changes.
Teeth
 Shape: Sharks have different types of teeth depending on their diet. For
example, some sharks have sharp, jagged teeth for ripping fish, while
others have flat teeth for crushing shells.
 Replacement: Shark teeth are constantly replaced, and they grow in
rows.
Coloring
 Countershading: Sharks have coloring that helps them blend in with
their environment. For example, they are often darker on top and lighter
on their belly.

FALCON

 Hooked beak
The curved beak of a falcon acts like a lever to rip and tear flesh from prey.
 Strong feet with talons
Falcons have large, hooked talons that they use to grip prey. The hind toe is
usually longer and heavier-taloned than the other toes.
 Tomial teeth
Some falcons have tooth-like projections on the upper mandible of their
beak. These teeth work with the talons to sever the prey's spinal cord.
 Nostrils adapted for diving
Peregrine falcons have special adaptations in their nostrils that allow them to
breathe while diving at high speeds.
 Speed
Falcons are some of the fastest animals on Earth, with the peregrine falcon
reaching speeds of over 200 miles per hour during its hunting dive.
  Highly developed hearing
Falcons have highly developed hearing.

DOLPHIN

Echolocation
 Dolphins make clicking sounds that bounce off objects and return to
them.
 The clicks are amplified in the melon, a structure in the dolphin's
forehead.
 The clicks travel back to the dolphin's inner ear and brain through the
lower jaw.
 The dolphin can determine the size, shape, and material of objects.
Streamlined bodies
 Dolphins' streamlined bodies help them move quickly through the water.
Ability to move quickly
 Once a dolphin finds prey, it moves quickly through the water to catch it.
Other adaptations
 Dolphins have a flexible thorax that helps them avoid breaking when
under high water pressure.
 Dolphins have a higher concentration of hemoglobin and myoglobin in
their blood and muscles, which allows them to dive aerobically for
longer periods of time.

POLAR BEAR

Sense of smell
Polar bears have a strong sense of smell that helps them find prey from
a distance.
Camouflage
  Polar bears' white fur helps them blend in with the snow, making it
difficult for prey to see them.
Large paws
 Polar bears' large paws help them grab prey and pull it onto land.
Sharp teeth
 Polar bears have large heads with sharp teeth, including big canines
and sharp back molars. The canines help them bite, and the molars
help them shear off blubber and fat.
Powerful jaws
 Polar bears' powerful jaws help them tear apart their prey.
Thick claws
 Polar bears' thick, sharp claws help them pull seals out of the water.
Metabolism
 Polar bears' metabolism is suited to large, infrequent meals, allowing
them to store energy for lean times.
Hunting strategy
 Polar bears hunt seals by waiting for them to surface to breathe, then
biting or grabbing them and pulling them onto land.

ALLIGATOR

Strong jaws
 Alligators have strong jaws with a bite force of over 2,000 pounds per
square inch.
 This allows them to crush bones and grip prey tightly.
Sharp teeth
 Alligators have sharp, conical teeth that are designed for grasping rather
than chewing.
 This allows them to hold onto slippery prey like fish and amphibians.
 They can lose and regrow thousands of teeth throughout their lives.
Broad snout
 Alligators have a broad, rounded snout with a U-shape.
  This shape is well-suited for exerting strong bite force and breaking
open tough prey like turtles.
Long tail
 Alligators have long tails that can make up nearly half of their total
length.
 This allows them to swim swiftly when hunting or escaping threats.

LION

Teeth
 Canines: Long and sharp, used to grasp and kill prey
 Carnassials: Located in the back of the mouth, used to pull large
chunks of meat
 Incisors: Located in the front of the mouth, used to tear small pieces of
meat
Claws
 Long, sharp, and strong: Located in the front legs, used to grip and
tear flesh
 Retractable: Can be pulled back into the paw when not in use to avoid
wearing out
Eyes
 Located at the front of the head: Helps lions estimate the position of
prey from a distance
 Highly developed night vision: Allows lions to sneak up on prey at
night
Whiskers
 Act as pulse sensors: Help lions locate the prey's pulse during an
attack
Other adaptations
 Soft foot pads: Allow lions to move quietly when approaching prey
 Strong forebody: Allows lions to bring down and hold prey
 Light brown coat: Helps lions camouflage in dry grasslands
 Rough tongue: Helps lions peel off the prey's skin