Predators and prey are two different animals. Predators eat other animals which are called prey. Prey look upon predators as their enemy. Together predator and prey combine to make up an important part of a food chain. Two or more food chains make a food web.

    Here are some examples of predator-prey relationships. A snake is a predator. A mouse is prey. The predator snake depends on the mouse for energy. The mouse will eat the grass for energy. When the snake eats the mouse, it will get energy from the grass.

     When you see a snowy owl and a fox, you might think the snowy owl is the prey and the fox is the predator. Well, you're in for a surprise. The snowy owl is the predator. The fox is the prey.

     Some animals that are prey can also be a predator themselves. For example, a snake is predator in the example above, but it becomes prey when an owl attacks to eat it.

     To keep from being eaten by predators, prey will often have camouflaged coloring to match their environment. Also, to catch unsuspecting prey, predators will have camouflaged coloring so they can be hidden.

     To know more about predators and prey, click on the links below:     .

Predator-Prey Quiz

Predator Versus Prey Adaptations

Bibliography:

(Animated pictures) www.animationfactory.com

(Picture of snake) http://www.math.duke.edu/education/ccp/materials/diffeq/predprey/index.html

Badder, W., Carnine, D., et. al. (2009) Georgia science. Boston, MA: Houghton Mifflin.

Reed, Kate. (2007). Retrieved February 28, 2009 from Beacon School Web Site: http://www.beaconschool.org/~edugan/tundrafoodweb.html