| Adaptation | Example |
| Allen's rule | Mammals from colder climates generally have shorter ears and limbs (extremities) to minimize heat loss. Example: Polar seal |
| Physiological adaptation | Kangaroo rat is capable of meeting all of its water requirements through its internal fat oxidation where water is released as a by-product. It can also concentrate its urine so that a minimal volume of water is used to remove excretory products. Thus, it is an example of physiological adaptation. |
| Behavioural adaptation | Desert lizards lack the physiological ability to cope with extreme temperatures but manage the body temperature by behavioural means. |
| Biochemical adaptation | A large variety of marine invertebrates and fishes are adapted biochemically to survive great depths in the ocean where the pressure (called crushing pressure) could be >100 times the normal atmospheric pressure. |