Aquatic Adaptations of Aquatic Adaptations of Birds and MammalsBirds and Mammals

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PRACHEE RAJPUT PRACHEE RAJPUT (M.SC 4(M.SC 4thth Sem) Sem)

Department of ZoologyDepartment of Zoologyand Applied Aquaculture,and Applied Aquaculture,

Barkatullah Barkatullah UniversityUniversity, Bhopal, Bhopal(2015)(2015)

SYNOPSISSYNOPSIS Chapter 1. INTRODUCTIONChapter 1. INTRODUCTION Chapter 2. ADAPTATIONS IN AVES Chapter 2. ADAPTATIONS IN AVES (morphological,anatomical,physiologic(morphological,anatomical,physiologic

al al Chapter 3. ADAPTATIONS IN MAMMALSChapter 3. ADAPTATIONS IN MAMMALS (morphological,anatomical,physiologic(morphological,anatomical,physiologic

alal Chapter 4. CONCLUSIONChapter 4. CONCLUSION

IntroductionIntroduction Aquatic Aquatic environments environments provide provide

critical habitat to a wide variety of critical habitat to a wide variety of species species . .

All 5 phyla of vertebrates possess All 5 phyla of vertebrates possess species adapted to aquatic life; species adapted to aquatic life; fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds, fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals.and mammals.

Morphological AdaptationsMorphological Adaptations

Behavioural AdaptationsBehavioural Adaptations

Adaptations of BirdsAdaptations of Birds Morphological Adaptations:Morphological Adaptations:

Dense, waterproof feathers.Dense, waterproof feathers.Wings used like flippers when in water.Wings used like flippers when in water.Feet modifications(long, webbed)Feet modifications(long, webbed)Anatomical Adaptations:Anatomical Adaptations:NICTITATING membrane.NICTITATING membrane.Nasal flaps.Nasal flaps.Air pockets in the skeleton.Air pockets in the skeleton.Physiological Adaptations:Physiological Adaptations:Salt glandsSalt glandsExcess oil productionExcess oil production

Behavioural AdaptationsBehavioural Adaptations

Great Blue Heron =Great Blue Heron =

Wading birds occupy shallow-Wading birds occupy shallow-water water habitats habitats in both fresh-water and in both fresh-water and saltwater environments. They have saltwater environments. They have long, thin legs that allow them to walk long, thin legs that allow them to walk through water easily while keeping the through water easily while keeping the rest of their bodies dry. Well-known rest of their bodies dry. Well-known wading species include flamingos, wading species include flamingos, cranes, herons, storks, and egrets.cranes, herons, storks, and egrets.

Webbed feet (duck)=Webbed feet (duck)= Well-known diving birds include ducks, Well-known diving birds include ducks,

geese, swans, pelicans, and penguins. geese, swans, pelicans, and penguins. Morphological adaptation=webbed feet for Morphological adaptation=webbed feet for swimming and waterproof feathers. Salt-swimming and waterproof feathers. Salt-water species also possess special salt water species also possess special salt glands that help excrete the excess salt glands that help excrete the excess salt that results from drinking sea water.that results from drinking sea water.

Diving birds associated with marine Diving birds associated with marine habitats also are called seabirds. habitats also are called seabirds.

Behavioural AdaptationsBehavioural Adaptations

Anatomical Adaptations= valvular nostrils and Anatomical Adaptations= valvular nostrils and an intranarial larynx exclude water while an intranarial larynx exclude water while breathing and swallowing.breathing and swallowing.

Physiological Adaptation= high lactic acid Physiological Adaptation= high lactic acid tolerance, shunting. tolerance, shunting.

Morphological Adaptation=Morphological Adaptation=Dorsoventral Dorsoventral FlatteningFlatteningAllows the organism to stay close to the Allows the organism to stay close to the

substrate where there is a layer of still substrate where there is a layer of still water. water.

Formation of blubber.Formation of blubber.Nictitating membrane.Nictitating membrane.

Platypus:Platypus:Webbed feet, short fur, Lacks external ears.Webbed feet, short fur, Lacks external ears.Feeds on bethic invertebrates.Feeds on bethic invertebrates.Bill covered with soft skin possessing many Bill covered with soft skin possessing many

electrosensors.electrosensors.Broad flat tail used as rudder when diving & Broad flat tail used as rudder when diving &

surfacingsurfacing

ConclusionConclusionNature will always amaze us with its ever-Nature will always amaze us with its ever-

changing alterations and this can be changing alterations and this can be well established with the fact that even well established with the fact that even though some species are made to fly in though some species are made to fly in the sky and some are made to walk on the sky and some are made to walk on land but nature can compel both of land but nature can compel both of them to dive into water and taste it and them to dive into water and taste it and all this is because of only one reason- all this is because of only one reason- the struggle for existence!the struggle for existence!

REFERENCESREFERENCESAlcock, J. Animal Behaviour: An Alcock, J. Animal Behaviour: An

evolutionary approach. Sr. Assoc. evolutionary approach. Sr. Assoc. Sunderland, Masacheussets, USA.Sunderland, Masacheussets, USA.Hinde, R.A. Animal Behaviour: A Hinde, R.A. Animal Behaviour: A

synthesis of ethology and comparative synthesis of ethology and comparative psycology. McGraw Hill, NY.psycology. McGraw Hill, NY.

Aquatic Mammals by Alfred Brazier Aquatic Mammals by Alfred Brazier HowellHowell

Vertebrate Zoology and Evolution by Vertebrate Zoology and Evolution by Yadav and B N & D KumarYadav and B N & D Kumar

Internet sourcesInternet sources