Habitats of the World

What is a habitat?• Every animal has a habitat, which is

where an animal (or plant) lives and grows.

• The habitat an animal lives in provides it with food, water, and shelter.

• Group Discussion: are all habitats the same?– Can a horse and a whale live together?

• Not all habitats are the same, and that’s why a horse (who lives on land) and a whale (who thrives in the water) can never live together.

• Since animals have different needs, they adapt differently to their habitat.

• Some prefer dry, arid habitats; others like it wet!

• Today, we’ll be talking about the dry habitats.

Dry Habitats

Desert Grasslands Woodlands Tundra Urban

Desert Habitat

• A desert is hot and dry• It receives very little rainfall (if any at all) • The soil is often very sandy or rocky.• Desert temperatures can range from over

100°F, but can plummet to 35°F at night.

Characteristics of Desert Animals

• Avoiding Heat– Many desert

animals sleep during the day because it’s too hot. At night, they come out to eat. They are nocturnal.

– Some also burrow under the sand or use dens

• Dissipating Heat• Some animals have

very long ears that release the heat inside their bodies like radiators.

• Many animals are lighter in color, which reflects a lot of the sun off of them (black and dark colored animals absorb the sun)

Characteristics of Desert Animals (continued)

• Acquiring Water– Most animals in

the desert get their water right from the prickly, yet succulent plants they eat, such as cactus.

• Retaining Water- Some animals can store water in their bodies for a long period of time (like a camel)

Woodlands Habitat• A forest (excluding rainforests) is a

habitat made up of trees.• The tree canopies usually overlap

and create a long, continuous shaded “roof” for the animals.

• Many woodland habitats have been cleared for timber and building materials.

Characteristics of Woodland Animals

Eyes and Ears• Many woodland animals

have eyes and ears that face forward to focus on their pray.

• Their eyes are quick to detect movement, but they can’t see things that are still as easily.

HearingMany animals have amazing sense of

hearing. Their ears twitch to detect small

sounds

Characteristics of Woodland Animals (continued)

CamouflaugeSome animals have spotted fur that helps it camouflage into the environment, using the many trees to their advantage.

HibernationSome animals hibernate during the winter months when food is scarce and it gets chilly.

Grasslands Habitat• Grasslands are dominated by grass and

forbs, and have little or no trees.• Grazing animals usually live here, because

they eat the grass.• Seasonal drought, occasional fires, and

animals grazing are what prevent tree growth.

• Grasslands have hot summers (100°F) and Cold winters (-40°F).

• They only have 10-35 inches of precipitation a year.

Characteristics of grassland animals

Digestion of Grass• Many grassland

animals, such as bison, have flat-topped teeth and digestive systems that make eating grasses easier.

Camouflage• Many animals have

fur color that matches the color of the grass and it is hard to spot them when they crouch down.

Characteristics of grassland animals (continued)

Herds• Many animals in the

grasslands have few places to hide from predators (if anywhere).

• Because of this, they travel and live in large groups, called herds (or prides).

Need for Speed• Many animals can run

extremely fast in the grassland environment.

• This is to either catch prey or run away from predators.

Tundra Habitat• The tundra is a treeless, polar desert found

in really high and really low latitudes. – It’s called a desert because precipitation is

under 10 inches per year.

• Vegetation is really scattered and scarce.• The soil (permafrost) rarely thaws for long

enough to support vegetation.• The subsurface of a tundra is usually

frozen (it’s so cold there!)

Characteristics of Tundra Animals

Thick Coat• Many animals in the

tundra have a very thick coat of fur that minimizes how much skin is exposed to the freezing air.

Skin Color• Some animals, like the

polar bear, have black skin which absorbs and traps in heat.

• Their fur is still white to blend in with the snow.

Pop Quiz!

No, you can’t go to the bathroom.

Desert animals may have large ears that

Next Question

Radiate heat away from

their bodies

Hear their predators

coming from far away

Make them feel better when they watch the

movie Dumbo

Allow them to fan

themselves with their

ears

Woodlands have a lot of these, which make it easier for many

animals to hide behind.

TreesOther

AnimalsRivers Giants

Next Question

Trees cannot grow in the grasslands because of

Seasonal Drought

Animal Grazing

Occasional Fires

All of the Above

Next Question

Grassland animals travel

With just one other animal

Alone With luggageIn herds

Next Question

A Tundra receives as much rainfall as

The Rainforest

The Woodlands

The Grasslands

The Desert

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