External Structures of Animals

What do you have in common with a chimpanzee? Almost every part of your body, that's what! All animals have a head, body covering, limbs, and some form of a tail. Although these body parts may look different on different animals, they are all crucial to helping them live and reproduce.

Head

'If I only had a brain,' said the scarecrow in The Wizard of Oz. Well, luckily animals do have brains, and the head structure protects it. The brain is responsible for animals' thinking and behaviors, like how to hunt for food or hide from predators. Without it, they would have no chance of survival.

The head also contains some sort of mouth for feeding, which is how animals take in nutrients and food necessary for survival. Other sensory organs, such as eyes, ears, and nose, are also on the head, and different organs have become specialized to be extra helpful for different animals. For example, hawks use their sharp eyesight to spot prey for their next meal, and a dog's keen sense of hearing warns them of danger.

Body Coverings

When it's cold outside, you wear a coat; when it's hot out, you wear shorts. Animals, however, are born with the different materials that cover their bodies, called body coverings, which vary according to what their needs are. For example, polar bears live in extremely cold climates, so they are covered in a layer of fat and thick fur.

Other animals, like frogs, use their body coverings to camouflage or blend in with their environment, to either hide from predators or sneak up on prey. Many male animals, such as peacocks, have colorful or bright body coverings to attract females to mate and reproduce with.

Different kinds of animal body coverings include fur, scales, skin, feathers, and shells. Even though they may look and feel different, all these body coverings protect animals' internal organs, bones, and muscles, and help to shield them from their environment.

Tail

In general, tails help animals move. Fish, dolphins, and birds use their tails for steering and movement, and monkeys use theirs to swing through the trees.