Adaptations of Savanna Organisms

Speed

• The wide, open plains of the savanna allow animals free range to run unhampered by trees and other obstacles found in forested areas. Many animals, such as gazelles, take advantage of this fact and have developed extremely strong running muscles that allow them to run for long periods of time. This way they can hopefully outrun any potential predators. Other animals, such as the cheetah, have adapted to these conditions by developing the ability to run very fast in a straight line over short distances to catch these long-distance runners.

Grass

• Because many savanna animals survive by grazing on grasses, the grasses themselves have developed several adaptations to protect themselves against grazers. Some grasses have stiff bristles that make chewing uncomfortable for grazers, so they avoid that grass. Many grasses also have no important components high in their stalks and can lose the stalk without dying. This way if a grazer eats the stalk of a plant, it will still survive and simply grow a new one.

Camouflage

• Many animals have adapted to brown, yellow and drab colors of the savanna grasses and have camouflage fur. The cheetah, for example, has blond fur with black irregular spots to mimic the light and shadows of savanna grass. Gazelles have a similar color scheme of brown with darker stripes. These colors allow the animals to remain hidden from both predators and prey.

Necks

• Because of the low amounts of vegetation on the savanna, competition for edible plants and grasses can be fierce. The giraffe has adapted to this situation by developing a long neck. This allows the giraffe to reach leaves that are out of reach of most other grazers. This gives giraffes a much less competitive source of food, providing they can find enough trees.