Survival of Animal Species

Animals need to protect themselves to maintain the survival of their species. This is important to prevent the extinction of animals and for the balance of the ecosystem. An ecosystem is a community or group of living organisms that live in and interact with each other in a specific environment. The balance of the ecosystem will be affected if there is a significant population change in a habitat.

3.1

Survival of Animal Species

The survival of an animal species is the ability for animals to maintain their species to avoid extinction.
Animals have special characteristics and special behaviors to protect themselves from enemies.

Protection from enemies

Special characteristics of the body of animals can protect them from enemies

Tortoises, turtles, snails have hard shells to protect their soft bodies
Bees, centipedes and wasps have stings that can release venom to hurt or kill the enemies
Horses, rabbits and frogs have strong leg muscles to move fast to escape themselves from the enemies
Bugs, beetles and cockroaches emit a foul odor causing the enemy not to approach it
The butterfly has a pattern that resembles fake eyes on its wings to deceive the enemy
The sharp horns found on deer, buffalo and gaur are used for self-defense
The hard scales found on crocodiles and Arapaima fish protect themselves from injury

Porcupines will run into their burrows when they are attacked. If it fails to escape, the porcupines will raise the sharp thorns on their bodies to scare the enemy. The enemies who try to touch the porcupines's body will be pierced by the sharp thorns.
When feel threatened, the puffer fish will inflate their bodies that have sharp spines three times of their size to scare the enemy. Puffer fish are also poisonous
Lizards and octopuses will detach certain parts of their bodies when attacked. This method will distract the enemy while the lizards and octopuses escape
Squid and octopus will spurt out black ink towards the enemy when attacked. Then, these animals will run away quickly to save themselves
The tortoises will withdraw parts of their bodies into the shells when they feel threatened
Pangolins, millipedes will curl themselves when they feel threatened
Elephants, ants live in groups to protect themselves and reduce the risk of being attacked by enemies

Protection from extreme weather

Some animals live in very hot and cold places
This extreme weather requires animals to have special characteristics and behaviors to protect themselves.

Characteristic	Description
Thick fur	Trap air to reduce heat loss so that the body stays warm Examples: Polar bear Polar wolf
Hibernate	Prolonged inactivity/sleep to reduce movement & prevent from losing a lot of energy Examples: Polar bear Artic fox
Thick layer of fat	Maintains body heat in very cold weather Example: Sea lion Walrus
Short & dense feathers	The short & dense feathers make them waterproof, also serves as a thermal insulator and regulates body temperature Example: Penguin
Migration	Move seasonally to other places to breed and get food Examples: Whale Stork
Wallow in water, mud	Cool the body during hot weather, avoiding insect or parasite bites Examples Buffalo Hippopotamus
Hump	Reduces heat loss from the body due to very cold weather Examples: Sea lion Walrus
Big earlobes	More heat can be released from the body due to hot weather Example: Desert fox Desert rats

Animals protect their eggs

Animals lay eggs and protect them to ensure the survival of their species from enemies & extinction
There are several ways animals lay eggs and protects them from enemies

Ways animal protects their eggs

Hiding the eggs

Lay many eggs

Eggs covered in mucus, smelly

Causes eggs to stick to each other & form large & slippery clumps, making it difficult for other animals to eat them
Examples:
- Frogs
- Fishes

Incubate eggs

Take care of the eggs

Animals ensure the survival of their young

Mammals such as cats, rabbits and goats care and suckle their young until they are able to find their own food.

The joeys suckle and grow fully in the parent pouch to ensure their safety

Crocodiles and talapia fish carry their young in their mouths while moving and looking for food

Animals such as birds will also feed their young after going out looking for food