Examples of Adaptation:
- Polar Bear’s White Fur: The white fur of a polar bear is an adaptation that helps it blend in with its snowy environment, making it easier to hunt and avoid predators.
- Cactus Spines: Cacti have spines instead of leaves, which reduces water loss in their hot, dry desert environment. This adaptation helps them survive with minimal water.
- Giraffe’s Long Neck: A giraffe’s long neck is an adaptation that allows it to reach and feed on leaves high up in trees, giving it access to food sources that other herbivores can’t reach.
Non-Examples of Adaptation:
- Human’s Ability to Speak: While the ability to speak is an important human trait, it is not an adaptation to a specific environment. It is a complex feature of human culture and society, rather than a direct evolutionary response to environmental pressures.
- Pet Dog’s Coat Color: A dog’s coat color (e.g., brown or black) is not always an adaptation to the environment; it may be the result of selective breeding rather than a survival mechanism.
- Car Engine: A car engine is not an adaptation. It is a human-made object designed for specific purposes, rather than an evolved characteristic of an organism that helps it survive in its environment.
In summary, adaptations are features that have evolved in response to environmental pressures to help an organism survive or reproduce, while non-examples are traits or objects that are not the result of such evolutionary changes.
