Inhertited Adaptations (and why these are necessary)
Its shell is bumpy and brown to blend in with the river bottom. It needs this adaptation so it can hide from predators.
When threatened, it secrets a large amount of foul-tasting slime so that its predator spits it out instead of eating it. This adaptation keeps it from being consumed by its predators.
It has tentacles to poison its prey, which are very tiny minnows. This adaptation helps it catch its prey and eat.
The Poisonous Rio Grande Oyster produces large pearls on the inside of its body. The pearls are rare and collected by people around the world, which threatens the organism's existence.
Outside the Poisonous Rio Grande Oyster's body
Learned Adaptations (and why these are necessary)
In dry times, it buries in the mud to hide. This helps it escape from predators.
It lures its prey (tiny minnows) by showing them a shiny pearl. Fish like shiny things, so the minnows swim to the Poisonous Rio Oyster, who can then poison them with its tentacles.
Inside the Poisonous Rio Grande Oyster's body
Classification of the Physical Adaptations of the Poisonous Rio Grande Oyster
Bumpy and brown shell: protective coloration (camouflage)
Slime: structural adaptation
Tentacles: structural adaptation
Pearls: structural adaptation
Prey
The Poisonous Rio Grande Oyster preys on tiny minnows.
Predators
This organism's predators include starfish, sea otters, and stingrays.
