Unit 3 - Protection
3.1. Protection from Danger
How animals protect themselves from danger ?
i ) Centipedes have venomous stings that can cause pain and death to their enemies.
ii ) Millipedes curl up their bodies to protect themselves from danger.
iii ) Bed bugs are smelly to keep away their enemies.
iv ) Scorpions have stings to protect themselves.
v ) Porcupines have sharp spines around their bodies to keep enemies away from them.
vi ) Moths have two large spots on their wings which look like two eyes.
vii ) Chameleons have the ability to change their body colour similar to the background to confuse their enemies.
viii ) Pangolins have hard scales to protect their bodies from being hurt.
3.2. Living in Extreme Weather
i ) Camels have humps on their backs to store food and water.
They can drink as much as 200 litres of water a day.
ii ) Rhinoceroses keep their body cool by wallowing in mud holes.
iii ) Desert foxes have long ears to lose heat easily.
iv ) Some desert birds make holes in cactus plants
v ) Kangaroo rats keep fat in their tails. When there is no water, the fat can be changed into water.
vi ) Polar bears have thick furs to enable them to live in very cold weather.
vii ) Penguins have thick layers of fat under their skins to keep their bodies warm.
viii ) Arctic foxes sleep during cold weather and cover their bodies with their long tails.
ix ) Animals like seals and walruses have thick layers of fat to keep themselves warm.
Most cold region animals have small ears to prevent from losing heat.
3.3. Survival
Animal have specific characteristics and behaviours to protect them from enemies and extreme weather.
Armadilos find food at night. When they are attack by their enemies, they curl their bodies into a ball. The hard scales protect them against their enemies.
Arctic foxes are able to survive changes in the weather. Their fur is brown in summer but turns white in winter. This help them hide from their enemies.
3.4. Natural Defense in Plants
Plants have specific characteristics and behaviours to protect them from enemies.
Mimosa plants folds their leaflets when touched.
Papaya leaves produce latex to prevent them from being eaten.
Pineapple plants and fruits have many sharp thorns.
There are fine hairs on the stems of bamboo plants.
They can cause itchiness.
3.5. Adaptation to Nature
A desert is a example of dry region.
Cactus
- needle shaped leaves so that less water is lose from plant.
- Thick stem to store water.
- Long roots, deep into the soil to get water.
Coconut tree
- Leaves divided so that they do not break easily.
- Have trunk that can sway with the wind .
- Have strong buttress roots so that would not aprooted by strong wind.
Mangrove
- Long roots, deep into the soil to get water.
- Have strong buttress roots so that would not aprooted by strong wind.
