[5 Mark Question Answer]

Question

Describe the aerial adaptations in birds

Vidyadip · Accepted Answer

The bird’s body is perfectly adapted for aerial life. Various aerial adaptations found in birds are:

Body shape: The body of birds is streamlined. Necks stretched forward with the head pointed in front and a narrowed tail at the end provide them a sleek shape. The body surface is smooth to minimize resistance against air.
Wings: The forelimbs are modified into wings. The fingers are very much reduced. The whole length of the forelimb carries long flight feathers.
Steering and brakes: The feathers on the tail help to slow down the speed and also help in steering (changing direction).
Wing muscles: These are the much strong, active and enlarged breast muscles.
Cutting down the body weight: Except for the most necessary bulky heavy wing muscles, the rest of the bird’s body tends to be light to facilitate flight.
- Bones have air cavities.
- Much less water is required in the body.
- The birds excrete solid urine (formed of uric acid instead of urea which otherwise requires much water to be excreted out).
- Right ovaiy and oviduct are greatly reduced.

Definition	Terms
1. Parts of the flower that produces pollen grains	a. petiole
2. Green leaf-like structure protecting the inner parts of flower	b. anther
3. Root system where side roots develop from a main primary root	c. ovules
4. Fusion of the male reproductive cell with the egg cell	d. calyx
5. Parts of a flower that develops into seeds	e. tap root
6. Points on the stem at which leaves arise	f. internodes
7. Ripened ovules	g. fertilization
	h. seeds
	i. nodes

Answer