Page 240 - New Medley 4 Semester 1

Adaptations in parasites

Animals that live on or inside the bodies of

other animals to get their food are called
parasites. Mosquito is the most common Leech Mosquito

parasite. It has pointed, tube-like mouthparts
to pierce and suck blood from the body of

the host animal. Ticks, leech, flea, louse,
bug, etc. are parasites that live on the

body of other animals and suck their blood.
The roundworm, tapeworm, liverfluke, etc. live Roundworm Tapeworm

inside the body of humans and other animals. Some parasites

ADAPTATIONS IN ANIMALS FOR PROTECTION

Animals have developed many features for protecting themselves from their
enemies. In some animals, the colour or pattern of the skin is similar to that of

their surroundings. This makes it difficult to spot these animals easily, as they
merge with their surroundings. This merging of an animal with its surroundings

is called camouflage.

The colour of a grasshopper is exactly the colour of the grass or the leaves of
plants. Similarly, a polar bear is all white and cannot be easily spotted in the

snow. Zebras and tigers have stripes while leopards have spots on their skin
which help them camouflage with their surroundings in forests.

A chameleon changes its body colour according to its surroundings. This protects

the chameleon from its enemies and also helps it catch insects without being
noticed. Similarly, a stick insect looks like a twig.

Zebra Chameleon Stick insect
Some camouflaging animals

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