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Chapter 3. The Animal Body: Basic Form and Function

a white arctic fox curled up in the snow.
Figure 3.1 An arctic fox is a complex animal, well adapted to its environment. It changes coat color with the seasons, and has longer fur in winter to trap heat. (credit: modification of work by Keith Morehouse, USFWS)

The arctic fox is an example of a complex animal that has adapted to its environment and illustrates the relationships between an animal’s form and function. The structures of animals consist of primary tissues that make up more complex organs and organ systems. Homeostasis allows an animal to maintain a balance between its internal and external environments.

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This chapter is adapted from Chapter 14. The Animal Body: Basic Form and Function in Concepts of Biology – 1st Canadian Edition by Charles Molnar and Jane Gair which is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License.

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Animal Physiology Copyright © 2025 by Avinash Singh is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License, except where otherwise noted.