Organism Inspiration!

Organism Inspiration!

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Tertiary Consumer

Secondary Consumer

Primary Consumer

Producer

Decomposer

Decomposer Inspiration

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Producer Inspiration

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Primary Consumer Inspiration

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Secondary Consumer Inspiration

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Tertiary Consumer Inspiration

Click on the producer's picture to learn more about its adaptations.

Green Anaconda

Green anacondas are perfectly suited to the swampy rainforest rivers and flooded forests where they reside. They have eyes and nostrils on top of its head for peeking above water while the rest of itself stays hidden - a body built for stealthy ambushes in muddy water.

Cushion Plants

Cushion plants grow in tight, round "cushions" that trap heat and moisture inside. This adaptation helps them thrive in cold and windy tundra where soil is thin and rocky.

Horned Lizard

Horned lizards have tough, scaly skin that reflects sunlight, as well as special grooves on its body that funnel dew toward its mouth - they can drink water straight from the morning air! These are perfect traits to have for living in a hot, dry desert!

Reindeer Moss

Reindeer Moss thrives in snowy and frozen landscapes by storing water like a sponge and growing at a very slow pace. It is the favorite snack of reindeer in the winter when few plants are able to survive.

Jaguar

Jaguars are able to eat nearly any animal in the rainforest! They have massive jaw muscles and rounded skulls that give them the strongest bite of any big cat, able to crush skulls or turtle shells.

Giant Amphipods

Giant amphipods have a flexible, jelly-like body so it doesn’t get crushed by the intense pressure of the deep-sea trenches where they're found..

Dumbo Octopus

Named after the big-eared flying elephant, the dumbo octopus has webbed fin-like tentacles that let it glide through dense deep-sea water, and a jelly-like body that can handle being squeezed at the high water pressures of the deep.

Tibetan Sand Fox

The Tibetan Sand Fox has a distinctive broad, boxy skull that gives it the strength to bite through frozen prey. That and its dense fur coat make it suited for environments where the air is thin and temperatures are freezing.

Creosote Bush

The Mojave desert is not an easy plants for plants to live - burning hot by day, freezing cold by night, and bone-dry. The Creosote Bush is well-adapted to these harsh conditions, thanks to tiny, waxy leaves that protect the plant and retain water, as well as roots that spread far and wide to catch any rare desert rainfall.

Reindeer

Living in the freezing Arctic tundra is not easy for reindeer. Fortunately, they sport thick double-fur coats and large, sponge-like hooves that spread weight and grip ice.

Reindeer Moss

Reindeer Moss thrives in snowy and frozen landscapes by storing water like a sponge and growing at a very slow pace. It is the favorite snack of reindeer in the winter when few plants are able to survive.

Black Dragonfish

Black Dragonfish have a secret advantage in the pitch-black ocean depths: they can produce red bioluminescent light, which most other fish in that environment can't see. They use this "secret flashlight" to spot prey that can't see them coming!

Marinobacter

This ocean bacteria helps break down dead fish, seaweed, and even oil in water. Some types are used to help clean up oil spills in the ocean!

Rock-Dwelling Lichens

Rock-Dwelling Lichens make their home inside cracks in rocks, using the rock as shelter from wind and radiation. This allows them to live in high desert areas that are cold and dry with almost no soil - not ideal conditions for most plants!

Psychromonas

These deep-sea bacteria can be found in the deepest parts of the ocean. They break down dead sea creatures and organic material in a freezing, high-pressure environment with no sunlight!.

Spectacled Owl

In the understory of Central and South American rainforests, light is dim and sounds echo. Fortunately for spectacled owls, they have extra-large eyes to spot their prey in darkness, and soft-edged feathers that allow them to fly silently without alerting their prey.

Trapdoor Spider

Trapdoor spiders love to live in harsh, dry deserts with extreme temperatures. Why? It has a waxy outer shell that conserves water by keeping it from evaporating, and strong jaws for digging these "trapdoor-like" burrows in hard soil.

Viscacha

These mountain bunnies are well-suited for cold, low-oxygen environments. They have thick, insulating fur and large lungs that absorb extra oxygen from thin air.

Actinobacteria

Actinobacteria, found in soil and ocean sediments, break down tough stuff like tree bark, shells, and dead sea life. They're responsible for the "fresh soil smell" after rain!

Kalahari Lion

Lions found in the scorching-hot Kalahari Desert have needed to adapt to sprinting after prey across desert sands on days well over 100 degrees F. Fortunately, their long legs and heat-resistant paw pads full of sweat glands that cool the lions as they move have allowed them to thrive at the top of the desert food chain.

Green Basilisk Lizard

Running on water is a reality for the green basilisk lizard, who has special scales on its toes and a lightweight body perfectly designed for such a task. In the wet Central American rainforests marked with rivers and heavy rains, this allows the basilisk to chase prey and escape predators no matter the conditions.

Antarctic Toothfish

The Antarctic Toothfish has special antifreeze proteins in its blood that stop its body fluids from freezing solid. That sure comes in handy in the near-freezing waters by Antarctica!

Earthworms

An important part of home gardens everywhere, earthworms eat dead leaves and turn them into healthy soil. Their waste (called “castings”) makes gardens super healthy!

Icefish

Icefish have clear blood (and see-through skin!) with special antifreeze proteins that let them live in icy seawater where most other fish would freeze.

Bacillus Subtilis

Bacillis subtilis breaks down dead plants and animals into nutrients for soil all around the world. This bacteria is also used to make fermented foods like natto (a sticky soybean dish).

Arctic Wolf

Arctic wolf bodies are made to thrive in freezing temperatures: a compact snout and small ears reduce heat loss, while thick layers of fur and blubber keep heat in while repelling water and ice.

Deep-Sea Corals

Unlike traditional corals that use photosynthesis for food, deep-sea corals live in regions of the ocean where sunlight does not reach. Instead, these corals have developed the ability to filter tiny food particles drifting by as their only form of sustenance.

South Polar Skua

Habitating cold, windy coasts and icy cliffs, the South Polar Skua needs to survive storms and chase its prey through icy skies. Fortunately, it has dense, wind-proof feathers and powerful wings to allow it to glide long distances in frigid, stormy conditions.

Rafflesia

Living on the floor of dense, dark Southeast Asian rainforests, Rafflesia plants don't bother with photosynthesis - there's not enough light! Instead, they connect to nearby vines' roots and steal food and water from them instead of making it on their own.

Slime Mold

Living on land in damp forests, and in some wet ocean areas, slime molds crawl over logs, leaves, and sometimes underwater debris, eating bacteria and dead stuff along the way. Fun fact: they can solve simple mazes and remember where they’ve been — like a brainless explorer.

Proboscis Monkey

Proboscis monkeys' large stomachs are full of special bacteria that can digest tough, fibrous leaves and seeds. In the Borneo rainforest with lots of other animals competing for resources, this gives these monkeys an advantage: they can eat plants that other animals can’t handle.

Goblin Shark

While the nose of a goblin shark draws most of the attention, it's their jaw that is most useful. Their jaw is extendable, acting like a spring-loaded trap, perfect for snatching prey that unknowingly swims by in the pitch black darkness of the deep ocean.

Riftia Tube Worms

Riftia Tube Worms don't have a mouth, or even a stomach. Instead, they are born with internal bacteria that make food from chemicals in the hydrothermal vents in the deep ocean waters where they live.

Snowy Owl

Unlike most owl species, the snowy owl has feathers that cover its entire body, even its legs and toes. Those extra feathers act as a down comforter, allowing the snowy owl to perch on icy ground while hunting for prey.

Bioluminescent algae

Living in the pitch-black darkness of deep sea environments, bioluminescent algae have the ability to glow in the dark in order to scare predators.

Fangtooth Fish

Although they're not the most majestic creatures in the deepest depth of the ocean, fangtooth fish are well-suited to their environment. They have huge needle-like teeth that let it grab anything that swims near it in the dark, and a tough, flexible skull that allows it to withstand the high-pressure depths of the ocean.

Blue Morpho Butterfly

Living in the dimly lit rainforest understory filled with animals that would love to eat them, these butterflies feature brilliant blue wings that flash and disappear in the jungle scenery when it flies, confusing predators.

Kauri Trees

These massive trees of the New Zealand rainforest develop a resin-like coating that protects them from insects and fungus. This adaptation to the damp rainforest climate allows some Kauri trees to live for thousands of years!