Habitat & Adaptations of Animals

What is a habitat ? What does adaptation mean?

Habitat - The living place of an animal where it spends most of its time.

Adaptation - The features of an animal which help it to survive in its habitat.

Different Types of Habitats are -

1. Land Habitat/ Terrestrial Habitat 

• Forest - Examples of animals - Tiger, deer, elephants
• Mountain - Examples of animals - Yak, mountain goats , sheep
• Polar Regions - Examples of animals - Polar bear, penguins , seals
• Desert - Examples of animals - Camel, snakes, rats

Adaptations of Forest animals -

• Few animals hunt other animals for food. The animal which hunts / attacks is called predator while the animal which is attacked is called a prey.
• The colour of skin of animals merges with their surroundings to help them escape their predators or attack their preys. This is called camouflage.

Adaptations of Polar animals -

• They have fur on their skin which helps them in staying warm. 
• Penguins have a layer of fat (blubber) under their skin to provide them heat against the cold weather.

Adaptations of Desert animals -

• Camels have thick eye lashes to prevent their eyes from sand.
• The long legs of camels protects their body from the hot sand.
• Camels have hump which stores food which helps them to stay without food for a long period.
• Camels do not sweat. This helps in retaining water.
• Snakes and rats stay underground during the daytime and come out at night. Thus protecting themselves from harsh temperature. This is called hibernation.

2. Water Habitat/ Aquatic Habitat

• Fresh water - Examples of animals - fish, crabs, frogs
• Oceans and seas - Examples of animals - Whales, octopus, seahorses

Adaptations of Aquatic animals -

• Most of the aquatic animals have streamlined body to help them in their movement in water. 
• Whales have blowholes to help them in breathing.
• Aquatic animals breathe in the oxygen dissolved in water.
• The frogs can live both in water and on land. They breathe through skin in water and through lungs on the land. They are called 'amphibians'.

3. Aerial Habitat 

Examples of animals - All birds

Adaptations of birds -

• The birds have streamlined body which helps them in their movement in the air.
• They have hollow bones which make their body lighter.