NATURAL SELECTION ANIMAL RESEARCH PLANNER
Name: Arezo
Selected Animal: Blue duck
- ANIMAL OVERVIEW
Common Name: Blue duck
Māori Name: whio
Scientific name: Hymenolaimus malacorhynchos
Specific Habitat: Clean, fast-flowing mountain rivers and streams of blue duck.
- ADAPTATION MAPPING
Trait 1: Large, heavily webbed feet that fold up like an umbrella.
How it helps it survive: The large webbed feet provide incredible power to swim and navigate against strong, fast-flowing river rapids, while the ability to fold them reduces drag when moving through turbulent water.
Trait 2: Large, oversized webbed feet with well-developed claws.
How it helps it survive: They act like flippers and can fold up like an umbrella to reduce drag. This gives the whio the immense power needed to swim against strong white-water rapids, dive for food, and safely navigate or climb over slippery, rushing river rocks.
Trait 3: Blue-grey plumage with a speckled chestnut breast.
How it helps it survive:It blends perfectly into the surrounding environment of dark volcanic rocks, churning rapids, and shadows from overhanging riverside trees. This acts as a natural camouflage to hide from avian predators like hawks
What did the ancestor of my animal look like?
similar to basic, compact swimming and dabbling ducks.
- WRITE THE SELECTION STORY FOR Each TRAIT:
For example: Long ago, ancestors of my animal had variations in [enter the trait you are writing about]. Animals born with [what was the adaptation that made them survive better?] survived better because they could reach higher leaves on tall trees during droughts when lower foliage was completely eaten. . Over generations, this trait became common because they were more likely to survive, reproduce, and pass the beneficial genes on to their offspring. .
- NEW THREAT: – Why doesn’t this ancient adaptation work against introduced pests?
protects itself from native avian predators by camouflaging against river stones and freezing in place when it senses danger.