BIOLOGY [5 Mark Question Answer]

Animals living in the mountain regions are also adapted. Such adaptations are basically to protect them from cold and snow. For example, yak has thick skin covered with fur to protect it from cold. Mountain goat has thick fur on its body including feet and toes. These animals have strong hooves for running up rocky slopes of the mountains.

1. The oxygen content in the mountain air is thin. So the blood of most of these animals contains more red blood cells. This helps them to breathe in sufficient oxygen even when air pressure is low.
2. Some animals hibernate or go for a long winter sleep when the temperatures are very low. In this way they conserve their energy and survive the winter without food. Frogs, and hedgehogs are some animals which hibernate.

The bird’s body is perfectly adapted for aerial life. Various aerial adaptations found in birds are:

1. Body shape: The body of birds is streamlined. Necks stretched forward with the head pointed in front and a narrowed tail at the end provide them a sleek shape. The body surface is smooth to minimize resistance against air.
2. Wings: The forelimbs are modified into wings. The fingers are very much reduced. The whole length of the forelimb carries long flight feathers.
3. Steering and brakes: The feathers on the tail help to slow down the speed and also help in steering (changing direction).
4. Wing muscles: These are the much strong, active and enlarged breast muscles.
5. Cutting down the body weight: Except for the most necessary bulky heavy wing muscles, the rest of the bird’s body tends to be light to facilitate flight.
   - Bones have air cavities.
   - Much less water is required in the body.
   - The birds excrete solid urine (formed of uric acid instead of urea which otherwise requires much water to be excreted out).
   - Right ovaiy and oviduct are greatly reduced.