Answer :
To differentiate between lotus and cactus, duck and peacock, and fish and frog based on their adaptations, we need to consider the environments they inhabit and how they've evolved to thrive in those environments.
### 6a. Lotus and Cactus
**Lotus:**
- **Habitat:** Aquatic environments, such as ponds and lakes.
- **Adaptations:**
- **Leaves:** Broad, flat leaves that float on the water surface to capture sunlight for photosynthesis. They have a waxy coating to repel water and keep them dry.
- **Roots:** Anchored in the mud at the bottom of water bodies, absorbing nutrients and oxygen from the soil.
- **Stems:** Hollow and buoyant, allowing the plant to stay afloat and reach above the water surface.
- **Flowers:** Large and vibrant to attract pollinators in aquatic environments.
**Cactus:**
- **Habitat:** Arid and desert environments.
- **Adaptations:**
- **Leaves:** Modified into spines to reduce water loss and protect against herbivores.
- **Stems:** Thick, fleshy, and capable of storing water. Green for photosynthesis, replacing the function of leaves.
- **Roots:** Extensive shallow root systems to quickly absorb any available moisture from the soil.
- **Water Storage:** Specialized cells in the stems store water for long periods of drought.
### 6b. Duck and Peacock
**Duck:**
- **Habitat:** Aquatic and semi-aquatic environments, such as lakes, rivers, and wetlands.
- **Adaptations:**
- **Feet:** Webbed feet for efficient swimming.
- **Feathers:** Waterproof feathers due to a special oil gland near the base of the tail, which keeps them dry and buoyant.
- **Beak:** Broad and flat beak suited for dabbling and filtering food from water.
- **Body:** Streamlined body for efficient swimming.
**Peacock:**
- **Habitat:** Forests and grasslands.
- **Adaptations:**
- **Feathers:** Elaborate and colorful tail feathers used in mating displays to attract females.
- **Legs:** Strong legs for walking and running, as they are primarily ground-dwelling birds.
- **Beak:** Sharp beak for foraging insects, small reptiles, and seeds.
- **Behavioral Adaptation:** Use of their tail feathers in courtship displays to attract mates.
### 6c. Fish and Frog
**Fish:**
- **Habitat:** Aquatic environments, such as oceans, rivers, and lakes.
- **Adaptations:**
- **Gills:** Specialized organs to extract oxygen from water.
- **Fins:** Various fins (dorsal, pectoral, pelvic, etc.) for swimming, balance, and direction.
- **Body Shape:** Streamlined body to reduce water resistance and enhance swimming efficiency.
- **Scales:** Protective scales to reduce friction and protect from injuries and parasites.
**Frog:**
- **Habitat:** Amphibious environments, typically near water bodies.
- **Adaptations:**
- **Skin:** Moist and permeable skin for cutaneous respiration (absorbing oxygen and releasing carbon dioxide through the skin) in addition to lungs.
- **Legs:** Strong and long hind legs adapted for jumping and swimming.
- **Lifecycle:** Metamorphosis from aquatic tadpole (with gills) to adult frog (with lungs), allowing them to exploit both aquatic and terrestrial environments.
- **Eyes and Nostrils:** Positioned on top of the head to see and breathe while mostly submerged in water.
These adaptations illustrate how each organism has evolved specific traits to thrive in their respective environments, showcasing the diversity of life and the ingenuity of natural selection.
