Cloaked in Mystery Other animals have even weirder adaptations.


Take the vampire squid. It has a scary name. It is a small creature, only about 15 centimeters (six inches) long. It lives in deep, dark ocean waters. A webbing of skin connects its eight arms, each lined with rows of fl eshy spines. Its blue eyes are the size of half dollars. T ey help the squid to see down where the light is dim. New photos taken by robot submarines


show the vampire squid’s awesome ability. When threatened, it can curl its arms around the rest of its body and turn inside out. Scientists call this “pineapple posture.” T is position makes the squid look like a spiny ball. It no longer looks like something good to eat. Predators leave it alone. T ese adaptations may seem weird and


wonderful. Yet they help animals survive. When it’s eat or be eaten, animals use any advantage they can!


WORDWISE


adaptation: behavior or body part that helps an animal survive


camoufl age: ability to blend in with the surroundings


toxin: poison


prey: animal eaten by another animal


This waxy monkey tree frog basks in the sun after protecting its skin with a special wax.


9

Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24