Picture trying to survive in cool coastal waters in oceans around the world. For many animals, a habitat like this would be impossible. Yet the great white shark, a fish up to 6 meters long, thrives there, thanks to features that scientists call adaptations: traits that help a living thing survive in its environment.
Consider rows of sharp, jagged teeth that are replaced when they fall out: this adaptation let it grab and tear its prey. The word prey refers to an animal that is hunted for food. Equally important is special sense organs on its snout, which detect the tiny electric signals of moving animals. Without these traits, the great white shark would struggle to last a single season.
As a carnivore, the great white shark is an animal that eats other animals; it depends on seals, sea lions and fish. Its behavior matters as much as its body: it sometimes launches its whole body out of the water when it attacks from below. Behaviors like this are adaptations too, even though you cannot see them in a photograph.
The next generation faces the same challenges. Young great white sharks, called pups, depend on their surroundings and on adult care. Pups are born ready to swim and hunt on their own.
Perhaps most remarkable of all: a great white shark may go through thousands of teeth in its lifetime. Facts like this remind us that every animal's body tells a story about the place it lives.