Nocturnal Animals and Bird Adaptations

Nocturnal Animals

• Nocturnal animals are active at night and sleep during the day.
• Examples include hedgehogs, foxes, owls, bats, and aardvarks.
• Adaptations for nighttime activity include excellent hearing, sight, and smell to avoid predators and find prey.

Bird Adaptations for Flight

• Birds have special adaptations for flight, including light bodies, specific wing shapes, and speed/strength.
• Different takeoff methods exist, including running, leaping, and immediate flapping.
• Flight is achieved when air pressure above the wing is faster than below, overcoming gravity.

Eagles

• Eagles are large birds with sharp beaks and talons, and are carnivores.
• Their diet consists of animals like squirrels, rabbits, and fish.
• Eaglets hatch from eggs about 6 weeks after laying.

Panda Habitat and Diet

• Pandas are black and white bears living in high mountain bamboo forests of central China.
• They almost entirely depend on bamboo for food and water.
• Pandas originally lived in the lowlands but moved to the mountains due to habitat destruction.

Black Panthers

• Black panthers are big cats with solid black fur, most commonly jaguars or leopards.
• The Agouti gene controls melanin (black pigment), resulting in black fur.
• Black fur aids in hunting (not hinders).

Polar Bear Life Cycle

• Polar bear babies are called cubs.
• Litters can contain up to three cubs.
• After leaving their mother, polar bear cubs enter a sub-adult stage.
• Adult polar bears live up to 15-18 years in the wild.

Skeletal Systems

• Two types of skeletal systems exist: exoskeletons (external) and endoskeletons (internal).
• Both protect and support the body, though the structure and materials differ.

Animal Reproduction

• Many animals hatch from eggs, including reptiles, amphibians, and fish.
• Most mammals have live births, but two mammals lay eggs.
• Animal and egg diversity is significant.