Shape Shifting Animals

A study published in the journal Trends in Ecology and Evolution, has found that some animals are “shape-shifting” and have developed bigger tails, beaks and ears to regulate their body temperatures due to the warming of the planet.

From Australian parrots to European rabbits, researchers found evidence that a host of warm-blooded animals have evolved bigger body parts, which could allow them to lose body heat more effectively. Rabbits and bats have grown larger ears and birds have longer wingspans to help them to use body heat more effectively.

This research links to Year 4 Living Things and their Habitats – Recognise that environments can change and that this can sometimes pose dangers to living things.

And Evolution & Inheritance in Year 6 – Identify how animals and plants are adapted to suit their environment in different ways and that adaptation may lead to evolution.

To view the abstract of the study click the link - https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S016953472100197X