Compare Land and Water Animals
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What you will learn
- 1Compare land animals and water animals
- 2Describe body features that match each habitat
- 3Explain how adaptations help animals survive
Mini Lesson
Imagine trying to swim without arms — or walk on land with only fins! Animals have special body features called adaptations that make them perfectly suited for where they live.
Land animals — made for solid ground
- Land animals have legs, paws, hooves, or claws to walk, run, climb, or burrow.
- They breathe air through lungs.
- Many have fur, feathers, or tough skin to stay warm or protected.
- Examples: dog, elephant, rabbit, eagle, snake.
Water animals — made for life in the water
- Most water animals have fins, flippers, or a streamlined body to move smoothly through water.
- Fish and many water animals breathe using gills that pull oxygen from water.
- Examples: goldfish, shark, crab, seahorse, jellyfish, octopus.
Tricky cases — animals that do both
- Dolphins and whales live in water but breathe air with lungs — they are mammals.
- Frogs can live on land AND in water — they are called amphibians.
- Penguins are birds that swim but cannot fly.
Words to know
Habitat
The natural place where an animal lives
e.g. forest, pond, ocean
Adaptation
A special body feature that helps an animal survive in its habitat
e.g. fins for swimming, fur for warmth
Gills
Body parts that pull oxygen from water
e.g. fish, crabs
Lungs
Body parts that breathe air
e.g. dogs, humans, dolphins
Ask yourself: Does it have legs or fins? Does it breathe with lungs or gills? Where does it live most of its life?
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