Decoding the word ‘Habitat’
We all have our ‘Home Sweet Homes’ that we return to at the end of the day. What about animals? Have you ever wondered how a camel can survive in the burning desert?
There’s one word that comes to mind more than any other when discussing animal homes: habitat. Do we even know what the word really implies?
In a nutshell, a habitat is a natural home where a plant or animal lives. It is vital for us to protect these ‘habitats’, because so many living organisms depend on them for their survival.
Let’s take a look at the different types of habitats that house a dazzling array of spectacular animal and plant species.
Types of Animal Habitats
Here’s a sneak peek into the homes of animals the world over.
Forest Habitats
When talking about forests, there’s one name of animal homes that comes to mind more than any other: Rainforests.
What to expect here: High temperatures and a wet climate. Since they receive ample rainfall and sunlight, they are home to a variety of flora and fauna.
Location: Forests in Africa, Asia, Australia, Central and South America.
Forest Animals: Bengal tigers, vampire bats, anacondas and orangutans
Mountain Habitats
Animal habitats in the mountains? You will be surprised at how many animals you will find at these heights.
Location: Mountains all over the world
What to expect: Cold temperatures, scarce oxygen and harsh sun. As the climate changes, you will see the plant and animal life between elevations also changing. While many animal species live in the lower altitudes, only the hardiest of species can live all year long above the treeline, where the air is extremely thin.
Mountain Animals: African Buffalo, Asian Black Bear, Chameleon, Clouded Leopard
Polar Habitat
Learning about animal habitats for children becomes especially interesting when introducing them to the thought of animals living in the blistering cold.
Location: North Pole, South Pole
What to expect: The North Pole and South Pole are the polar habitats that see land completely covered in thick layers of ice. Note: This ice can be as thick as three miles in some places. During summer, the sun shines all day long and during winter it is dark throughout the day. Temperatures are extremely cold, of course. For instance, in the Arctic, the average recorded temperature is 22 degrees Fahrenheit.
Polar Animals: Reindeer, Arctic Hare, Bearded Seal, Musk Oxen
Urban Areas
These are animal habitats that we are more familiar with, simply because they are closer to home.
Location: Cities and towns, farms
What to expect: These are essentially the homes of animals that are able to thrive in human populated areas and include even invertebrates like bugs. Needless to say, the homes of people living in cities and suburban areas offer shelter and warmth to not only our pets, but even unwanted visitors like cockroaches and spiders!
Urban Animals: Ant, Dog, Donkey, Sheep
Desert Habitat
When researching animals and their habitats, it’s impossible not to take notice of this one.
Location: Africa, Asia and Australia house some of the most popular deserts in the world.
What to expect: Deserts might go without rain for months or even years. While it can become extremely hot in the day, it will, conversely, get extremely cold at night.
Desert Animals: Kangaroo rats, camels, iguanas, geckos.
Ocean Habitat
More than land, there is water on earth. No wonder, then, that water makes for one of the most magnificent animal habitats.
Location: All the world’s oceans
What to expect: It is well known that animal life can be found at all depths of the ocean. This includes the surface of the ocean and goes on to include the deepest trenches that are more than seven miles below the surface. While some of the ocean animals spend most of their time in the waters near land, others live out most of their lives in the deep, open sea.
Ocean Animals: Crab, Marine Angelfish, Sea Lion, Octopus
Coral reefs
When exploring animal habitats for children, this one’s no less important. Well within the larger ‘Ocean Habitat’, but distinct enough to stand on its own.
Location: Coral reefs in oceans, mostly in the tropics
What to Expect: Reefs have to be warm and have bright sunlight all year round. Since they need light to grow, they only occur in shallow waters. Various colourful animal species make their home around corals.
Coral Animals: Sponges, mollusks, sea anemones and the coral itself!
Teaching kids about animal habitats is a whole lot of fun. At EuroKids we believe that respecting animals is as important as respecting human beings. Gaining a window into their homes is a great way to get children to walk along that path of treating animals with the sense of respect they deserve.