High Altitude Heroes Slides
High Altitude
Heroes
Llama Biological Adaptations
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❓ What is an Adaptation?
An adaptation is a special feature or behavior that helps a living thing survive in its environment.
"It's like having the perfect gear for an adventure!"
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Habitat
Where it lives
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Survival
Staying alive
The High Andes
Llamas live in the South American mountains.
- Freezing cold temperatures
- Rocky, steep cliffs
- Thin air (Less oxygen)
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Altitude: 13,000 feet
1. The Woolly Coat
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"Nature's Parka"
Thick Fleece
Llama wool is made of two layers. A coarse outer layer for wind and rain, and a soft inner layer to trap heat.
Why? To survive temperatures that drop below freezing at night!
2. Rock-Climber Feet
Padded Soles
Llamas have two toes with leathery pads on the bottom. These act like hiking boots, gripping the rocky cliffs.
Gentle on the land! They don't damage the mountain soil.
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Two-toed footprint
3. Super Blood
Oval-Shaped Cells
Internal Adaptation
Llamas have more hemoglobin than most animals. This helps them "grab" more oxygen from the thin mountain air.
Oxygen is what gives our bodies energy to move!
4. Efficient Eaters
3-Chambered Stomach
Food is scarce in the mountains. Their stomach has three sections to digest tough, dry mountain grasses very slowly.
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Nothing goes to waste!
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The Nutrient Squeezer
Llama Check!
Which part helps them breathe in thin air?
BLOOD 🩸
Which part helps them walk on rocks?
PADDED FEET 🦶
Get ready for the Llama Lab! ➡️
