This is a picture of the exotic "Southern Ground Hornbill." This hornbill is an example of introduced species. An introduced species, like its name suggests, is a species that has been transported away from its native environment to a foreign one by any means. Here, this hornbill is introduced at a zoo in New York and was not originally from this environment, rather it is a native of Africa.
This is a striking "Philippine Sailfin Lizard." This lizard is an admirable example of an ectotherm. An ectotherm, or cold-blooded animal, is an animal that is incapable of supplying body heat on its own and relies on its environment instead; this could be rock heat, sunlight or other external sources. This lizard relies on warm climates for his body temperature regulation, and its glass home is set to a sufficiently warm temperature for this reason. Had it been in the wild, the lizard would be most likely survive in rainforests or other biomes of the sort.
This an image of a common meerkat. This meerkat contains the example of an adaptation of an animal. An adaptation of an animal is a change in an animal's physiology (genetically) to cope more efficiently with its habitat. Particularly, the meerkat's eyes have developed a black mask around them to protect its eyes from the constant glare of the sun in its South African, arid drylands. In addition, the eyes have a protective membrane on the outside to serve as protection from the dirt that is blown onto its surface during burrowing, an essential part of a meerkat's nature and life.
This a picture of an epiphyte tree. This tree is an example of commensalism. Commensalism describes a relationship between two species in which one species utilizes the other for its benefits without affecting the second species in any way. The epiphyte tree has a plant that is growing on it and using it for physical support, but this is not harming or nourishing the tree in any way.
This is a picture of a "Flemish Giant Rabbit." This rabbit contains an example of heterotrophy. Heterotrophy is a classification in which an organism attains their nutritional values from complex and organic matter. The rabbit is consuming a mixture of complex and organic substances such as carrots and leaves to fulfill its nutrition, hence, it is exhibiting heterotrophy.
This picture contains "African Rift Lake fish" or, "African Cichlids." African Cichlids are examples of genetic variation within a population. Genetic variation within a population described natural mutations or variations in genes of individual carriers of the same species resulting in a diverse population. These African Cichlids can be physically evidenced of the genetic variations within their species just by their colors and shapes; the population is a mix of unique fish with the same roots.
This is a picture of a glorious male emu. An emu is an example of an animal that contains vestigial structures. A vestigial structure is a structure found in an organism that has lost most or all of its function over hundreds of years of evolution. In this case, the emu's vestigial structures are its little tiny wings. The wings on this emu had the primary function of flight a long time ago when its ancestors existed. Over time, the second- largest bird evolved and spend its time on land, thus, having no reason for flight; it is why the wings can no longer sustain flight.
