Read It! Read about hermit crabs and animal adaptations. When you have finished reading, click =CONTINUE=>.

Hermit crabs are survivors.

Hermit crabs may not look very pretty or seem very smart, but they seem to be very good at surviving. Hermit crabs must protect their soft bodies so they cannot be easily squished or become a tasty treat for other sea creatures. Hermit crabs make their homes inside empty shells of past critters. And, just like humans, when a hermit crab outgrows its home, it moves into a larger home. The hermit crab shell house is an example of an adaptation.

Adaptations help living things to survive. Many animals have special functions or body parts. These are physical adaptations. For example, birds like eagles and owls have sharp curved beaks for eating meat. Song birds have small flat beaks for eating seeds and berries. Camels have humps for a reason. Their humps help them survive in the desert with little water. Blow fish are called blow fish because they can puff up their bodies when threatened to look bigger and scarier than they really are!

Some animals use learned behaviors to help them survive. Animals like penguins, elephants and fish may live in families, herds or schools. In these larger groups, these animals can more easily distract their enemies.

Adaptations are amazing. Now that you know about adaptations - it's your turn - try to name other animals that use adaptations.

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