Animals evolve special adaptations to be successful in their habitat. Many animals have parallel adaptations but are not taxonomically related. If you looked at a picture of a whale, a shark and a camel you might think the whale is more closely related to the shark than the whale. However, scientists have classified the camel and the whale as mammals, and the shark as a fish, two totally different groups.
Penguins are uniquely adapted to the harsh environment they live in and have evolved many unique characteristics. Although birds, they can not fly. Although air breathers, they can swim as well as many fish. When scientists classify animals, they group them with other animals who have similar characteristics. Penguins, seals and sea gulls are three animals adapted to life in the oceans. Below is a table of adaptations these three animals have evolved to be successful in that habitat. Use the Venn diagram to show how these animals are similar and different.
penguin seal gull body covering feathers fur feathers mode of transportaion swim swim fly main food type krill (meat) fish (meat) fish (meat) food source ocean ocean ocean young egg alive egg body form fusiform fusiform bulky mouth beak teeth beak feet webbed webbed webbed bones dense dense light front limbs fused flippers flippers wings
