Fascinating & Unique Animal Adaptations Written & Illustrated by Ella Cumming
About the Author Ella Cumming, a student at Weymouth High School in Massachusetts has dedicated her senior capstone project towards animal awareness, the importance of nature conservation, and educating young children, students and adults to inspire and teach the seriousness of environmental biology and how it plays a role in our future. As a creative writer and artist, she has chose to write and illustrate this book to teach others unique adaptations in animals to inspire interest and awareness. Works Cited Kelly, Ella. “Amazing Adaptations: The Master of Disguise.” Remember the Wild, REMEMBER THE WILD, 5 Feb. 2019, www.rememberthewild.org.au/amazing-adaptations-the-master-ofdisguise/. Accessed 14 Nov. 2023. Lippsett, Lonny . “Anglerfish Harness Both Light and Darkness — Biological Strategy — AskNature.” Asknature.org, asknature, Winter 3AD, asknature.org/ strategy/anglerfish-harness-both-light-and-darkness/. Accessed 14 Nov. 2023.Adobe Stock Images. The Alligator Snapping Turtle (Macrochelys Temminckii) Is the Largest Freshwater Turtle in the World., stock.adobe.com/search?k=alligator+snapping+turtles&search_type=usertyped&asset_id=450770379. Accessed 12 Nov. 2023.Adobe Stock Images. Wüstenfuchs, stock. adobe.com/search?k=fennek+fox&search_type=usertyped&asset_id=233800874. Denverzoo.org. “Southern Gerenuk.” Denver Zoo, Denverzoo.org, denverzoo.org/animals/southerngerenuk/#:~:text=Long%20legs%2C%20long%20necks%20and. Accessed 18 Oct. 2023. Featherstone, Nicky. “How Does a Chameleon Adapt to Its Environment?” Forest Wildlife, 16 Apr. 2022, www.forestwildlife.org/how-does-a-chameleon-adapt-to-its-environment/. Accessed 7 Nov. 2023. iStock. Plumed Basilisk Stock Photo, 19 Aug. 2019, www.istockphoto.com/photo/ plumed-basilisk-gm1168825114-322870093?utm_campaign=srp_photos_top&utm_content=https%3A%2F%2Funsplash.com%2Fs%2Fphotos%2Fbasilisk&utm_medium=affiliate&utm source=unsplash&utm_term=basilisk%3A%3A%3A. Accessed 12 Nov. 2023. Lipscombe-Southwell, Alice . “Everything You Wanted to Know about Cuttlefish.” Www.sciencefocus.com, BBC, 5 Aug. 2022, www.sciencefocus.com/nature/everything-you-wanted-to-know-about-cuttlefish. Accessed 27 Nov. 2023. Myers, P., R. Espinosa, C. S. Parr, T. Jones, G. S. Hammond, and T. A. Dewey. 2023. The Animal Diversity Web (online). Accessed at https://animaldiversity.org. Accessed on 10/29/23 National Geographic . “Pelicans | National Geographic.” Animals, National Geographic, 11 Nov. 2010, www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/birds/facts/pelicans. Accessed 27 Nov. 2023. National Wildlife federation. “Flying Fish | National Wildlife Federation.” National Wildlife Federation, 2019, www.nwf.org/Educational-Resources/Wildlife-Guide/Fish/Flying-Fish. Accessed 26 Oct. 2023. New Zealand Birds Online. “Kakapo | New Zealand Birds Online.” Nzbirdsonline.org.nz, New Zealand Birds Online, nzbirdsonline.org.nz/species/kakapo. Accessed 10 Nov. 2023. Real WIld. “The World’s Strangest and Heaviest Parrot | Modern Dinosaurs | Real Wild.” Www.youtube.com, Littledotstudios, 9 Jan. 2023, youtu.be/byumR1BaZ0I?si=BNm4uiID1SD2G0f1. Accessed 30 Oct. 2023. Smithsonian’s National Zoo & Conservation Biology Institute. “Smithsonian’s National Zoo.” Smithsonian’s National Zoo, 2019, nationalzoo.si.edu/. Accessed 29 Oct. 2023.The MarineBio Conservation Society. “Marine Iguanas ~ MarineBio Conservation Society.” Marinebio.org, MarineBio, 2017, www.marinebio.org/species/marine-iguanas/amblyrhynchus-cristatus/. Accessed 27 Nov
These fish think they’re birds. They're specially adapted fin-wings allow them to glide through the air after jumping out of the water at max speed. Super cool 10/10 Flying Fish
Paragraphy copy placement add here. Paragraphy copy placement add here. Paragraphy copy placement add here. Paragraphy copy placement add here. Parrot Fish THE JESUS LIZARD!! This speedy reptile has been nicknamed after Jesus because well, it can run on water. These lizards have specially adapted feet that give this creature an extra route to escape predators. Basilisk
Paragraphy copy placement add here. Paragraphy copy placement add here. Paragraphy copy placement add here. Paragraphy copy placement add here. Emerald Green slugs These animals are some of the cutest creatures in the desert. Their ears are HUGE! They use these adapted ears to regulate their temperature in the hot desert sun. Fennec Fox
Paragraphy copy placement add here. Paragraphy copy placement add here. Paragraphy copy placement add here. Paragraphy copy placement add here. I’m not even going to try to explain all the wonders of the platypus. They are just, insane. These animals are mammals but they lay eggs! Males produce venom during mating season. Females “sweat” milk. Each use their bills for navigating underwater and finding food. I love them. Platypus
Everyone knows the chameleon, funky little dudes with strange little eyes. These creatures can change their color depending on their mood, and they use their specially adapted sticky tongue to snatch their unsuspecting prey from across long distances. Crazy. Chameleon
Cuttlefish are sneaky. They have the ability to completely transform their looks in the blink of an eye. They can change color to match the rocks they’re currently hiding in. These fascinating creatures are super intelligent too. I bet they would make a great friend if they could talk. Cuttlefish
Lovely lovely animals. They are the only mammals covered in scales. Are they trying to cosplay reptiles or something? They use these specially adapted scales to protect themselves against predators by curling up into a ball. They remind me of rolley polleys. Pangolin
I would say this is the most unusual bird, but there are quite a few of those. The pelican has a unique bill that acts as a bucket, letting the bird swoop down and scoop up fish out of the water. Those fish never see it coming. Pelican
SEA SLUGGGSSSSS!!! Don’t be fooled these buggers are not plants, but they act like them. These creatures are fascinating, they have evolved the ability to PHOTOSYNTHESIZE!! by eating algae these slugs do some science magic and steal the algae’s chloroplast cells, letting them capture energy with the sun. Emerald Green Sea Slugs
I am scared of the Gerenuk...kidding, but they are freaky. These antelope have evolved the ability to stand on their hind legs, and, it doesn’t look very normal. But these animals are not going to be staring at you at the end of your bedside in the middle of the night. Hopefully… Gerenuk
Paragraphy copy placement add here. Paragraphy copy placement add here. Paragraphy copy placement add here. Paragraphy copy placement add here. Marine Iguana The Galápagos Islands resident iguana looks quite different from the usual green iguana we all know and love. These ocean loving reptiles eat the algae that grow under the waves. The environment and diet they have has made them very unique. Who doesn't love a lizard?
Paragraphy copy placement add here. Paragraphy copy placement add here. Paragraphy copy placement add here. Paragraphy copy placement add here. Alligator Snapping Turtle These giant turtles are the largest freshwater turtle species in the world. They are massive! They have spiked shells and a specially adapted worm-like lure appendage on their tongues that allows the turtle to sit at the bottoms of rivers and wait for an unsuspecting fish to take the bait. Perfect for their ambush style of hunting.
The kākāpō is a flightless parrot. Crazy right? These birds adapted to survive in the isolated islands of New Zealand. They evolved quite unusually, losing their ability to fly in favor of balance in the trees. This species of bird is critically endangered due to humans introducing invasive species into their habitat, but the population is slowing building back up thanks to conservation efforts. Wishing them a well recovery. Kākāpō
Probably the most famous deep-sea dweller, this fish has adapted an illuminated lure that bioluminescent bacteria light up. This terrifying fish attracts its prey with this light. Then ambushes them to hunt. Scary and wicked. Anglerfish
Capstone Project Ella Cumming | Copyright 2024