All animals live in habitats. Habitats provide food, water and shelter that animals need to survive, but there is more to survival than just the habitat. Animals also depend on their physical features to help them obtain food, be safe, build homes, withstand weather and attract mates. These features, such as the color of the animal’s fur, the thickness or thinness of the fur, and the shape of the nose or ears, are called physical adaptations (Mosbacker).

Many animals have developed remarkable defenses to keep from being eaten. Grazing animals often feed in herds. When a predator attacks, the animals scatter and run in different directions, which confuses the predator and allows the animals to escape. Some animals never venture too far from their home in underground dens or thick vegetation and can quickly hide when danger approaches. Many animals have keen senses of sight, smell and hearing so that they can detect danger and escape. Some animals have horns or antlers to fight off predators. Some animals are active only at night when it is harder for predators to find them.

Many animals rely on camouflage or the ability to blend in with their surroundings to hide from predators. A few animals are even poisonous or unpleasant-tasting, and predators soon learn to leave such animals alone. These poisonous kinds of animals are often brightly colored, as well, which acts as a warning to predators. Some animals use chemicals that they spray from various parts of their bodies to deter predators. A few animals rely on trickery and copy the defenses of other animals to protect themselves (Mosbacker).