12 of 26 results for "animal adaptations"
Student Article
Animals Evolve Larger Limbs to Adapt to Rising Temperatures
The article "Animals evolve larger limbs to adapt to rising temperatures" from BBC Science Focus discusses how climate change is prompting warm-blooded animals to develop larger appendages, such as ears, beaks, and limbs, to better regulate body heat.
Student Article
Here Are 11 Arctic Animals That Not Only Survive, But Also Thrive in the Freezing Polar Landscape
The article "Here Are 11 Arctic Animals That Not Only Survive, But Also Thrive in the Freezing Polar Landscape" from BBC's Discover Wildlife explores how various animals have adapted to endure the Arctic's extreme conditions. From the mighty polar bear and tusked walrus to the resilient Arctic fox and long-lived Greenland shark, the piece highlights their unique physical traits and survival behaviors.
Video
City Survival: Raccoons and Monkeys in the Urban Jungle
In City Survival: Raccoons and Monkeys in the Urban Jungle, narrator Sir David Attenborough explores how female raccoons raise their young in the busy urban environment of Toronto and how rhesus macaques adapt to city life by raiding markets in Jaipur. Learn how these clever animals use their intelligence and adaptability to survive and thrive in the urban jungle. This video is excerpted from BBC’s Planet Earth II, a breathtaking documentary series that highlights the natural wonders of our planet.
Video
Jungle Survival: Finding a Niche in a Crowded Ecosystem
In Jungle Survival: Finding a Niche in a Crowded Ecosystem, narrator Sir David Attenborough discovers how animals like the indri — a large lemur native to Madagascar — adapt to survive in one of the most competitive environments on Earth. In the dense jungle, the indri has developed unique strategies to find its place in this crowded ecosystem. This video is excerpted from BBC’s Planet Earth II, a breathtaking documentary series that highlights the natural wonders of our planet.
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Desert Survival: Cacti, Hawks, and the Butcherbird
In Desert Survival: Cacti, Hawks, and the Butcherbird, narrator Sir David Attenborough shows how animals in the American deserts use cacti as a vital resource for survival. Learn how the butcherbird stores its prey on cactus spikes and how hawks and other creatures adapt to the harsh desert environment. This video is excerpted from BBC’s Planet Earth II, a breathtaking documentary series that highlights the natural wonders of our planet.
Video
Desert Survivors: Life in the Extreme Heat

In Desert Survivors: Life in the Extreme Heat, narrator Sir David Attenborough describes how animals like the golden mole, desert long-eared bat, and darkling beetle have adapted to survive life in the desert. From clever ways to gather water to unique hunting techniques, these creatures demonstrate the incredible resilience of life in the Namib and Negev deserts. This video is excerpted from BBC’s Planet Earth II, a breathtaking documentary series that highlights the natural wonders of our planet.

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The Surprising Life of Galapagos Penguins
In The Surprising Life of Galapagos Penguins, narrator Gordon Buchanan explains how penguins have adapted to life by sticking to cool waters and underground lava tubes. Meanwhile, a Sally Lightfoot crab feels its way through the dark to hunt penguin chicks but is dissuaded by their size and beaks. This video is excerpted from BBC's Animal Babies, a heartwarming show that follows the first breaths, first steps, and first feeds of some adorable baby animals, revealing the challenges they face to survive in some of the toughest but most beautiful places on the planet.
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Thirsty Chicks: Life in the Kalahari

In Thirsty Chicks: Life in the Kalahari, narrator Sir David Attenborough describes how ostrich parents tirelessly search for water in the Kalahari Desert. After a long day, they find a watering hole teeming with giraffes, elephants, and zebras. However, danger looms as predators are nearby. When these predators chase away the larger animals, the ostrich family takes the opportunity to drink, demonstrating how survival requires adapting to challenges and opportunities. This video is excerpted from BBC’s Africa, a study of the landscape and wildlife of the world’s wildest continent, Africa.

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Desert Journeys: Surviving the Kalahari's Seasons
In Desert Journeys: Surviving the Kalahari's Seasons, narrator Sir David Attenborough shows how animals like zebras and elephants navigate the harsh environment of the Kalahari Desert. Using instinct and memory, they undertake incredible migrations to find scarce water supplies during the dry season, demonstrating remarkable adaptation and resilience. This video is excerpted from BBC’s Planet Earth II, a breathtaking documentary series that highlights the natural wonders of our planet.
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The Voyage of Humpback Whales
In The Voyage of Humpback Whales, narrator Sir David Attenborough explores why these animals split their time between the seas in Alaska and Hawaii. This video is an excerpt from BBC’s Nature's Great Events, a documentary series that showcases some of the most dramatic wildlife spectacles on Earth, exploring how life adapts to natural events that can transform entire landscapes.
Video
A Harsh Winter for Sea Lions
In A Harsh Winter for Sea Lions, narrator Sir David Attenborough shows how these animals endure freezing temperatures and protect their young in an unforgiving environment. This video is an excerpt from BBC’s Nature's Great Events, a documentary series that showcases some of the most dramatic wildlife spectacles on Earth, exploring how life adapts to natural events that can transform entire landscapes.
Playlist (13 resources)
Lizards, Snakes, and Crocodiles: The Robust Reptile Playlist

Get ready to meet the cold-blooded superstars of the animal kingdom! This BBC playlist slinks, scuttles, and snaps through the fascinating lives of cobras, turtles, lizards, and alligators. Whether it's the mesmerizing hood dance of a cobra or the alligator's toothy grin, these clips are perfect for sparking curiosity (and maybe a little squeamishness) in your classroom. Warning: May cause students to say "Whoa!" and "Ew!" in equal measure.