‘He’s a Nocturnal Animal!’ The above might be a phrase you have uttered plenty of times, when referring to a person that loves to stay up at night. Be it burning the midnight oil or simply binge-watching the latest Netflix show, Nocturnal Animals abound in today’s day and age.
The term ‘Nocturnal Animal’ does make for a fine moniker for human beings who love staying up at night, into the wee hours of the morning. However, for the purposes of this article, let us not stray from its literal meaning.
One that implies, ‘Animals that are pretty much active in the night.’
In this blog post you will learn everything you have ever wanted to know about Nocturnal Animals. From classic Nocturnal Animals Examples to a cool Nocturnal Animals List, we have it pretty much covered.
But first, let’s get ‘Out of the Dark’, by ‘Going Into the Dark’ and answering the question, ‘What are Nocturnal Animals?’
Nocturnal Animals: A Brief Explanation
What are Nocturnal Animals? In layman’s terms, ‘Nocturnal Animals are Animals that are Active at night, and that Sleep during the day.’ You might be wondering, ‘How do these animals even ‘function’ in the dark?’ The answer is simple, really. A nocturnal animal has a heightened sense of Smell, Hearing and even Sight. It is on account of this fact, that they are able to exist at all. If they have to live up to the ‘Survival of the Fittest’ adage, they must be ‘fit’ in the first place!
Nocturnal Animals: The Advantages There’s a reason that God has given a unique spin to each and every one of his creations. So, why did he create Nocturnal Animals? There are advantages of being a Nocturnal Animal, like the following:
- A reduced level of competition for hunting
- The prey can’t see well at night
Take the classic example of two birds, the Owl and the Hawk. Now, while they might have the same prey, there arises no conflict at all between these species, for food. That is simply because the Owl hunts at night and the Hawk, during the day.
Take the example of a Diurnal Zebra being chased by the Nocturnal Lion at night. The poor Zebra cannot see as well in the night as its attacker, which gives the Lion a huge edge in the battle. All the poor ‘prey’ here can do, is ‘Pray’!
Nocturnal Animals Names: Nocturnal Animals List
Your children will be dying to know all about those ‘Animals that sleep during the day and come out at Night’, right?
In this section we have curated for you a list of Nocturnal Animals, that has all the Nocturnal Animals Names, along with an interesting fact about each.
Are you ready to get started, and explore the wonderful world of Nocturnal Animals? Let’s begin!
- The Owl
- Hedgehogs
- Bats
- Foxes
- Mice:
- Moths
- Leopard
- Fireflies
This bird certainly merits being at the top of the list of Nocturnal Animals Examples. Cool Fact:Did you know that the large eyes that owls have are actually the result of their evolving over the years, to become successful night hunters?
These ‘spiny’ creatures are native to the regions of Europe, Asia and Africa. Cool Fact: Hedgehogs find their favourite ‘berries’, thanks to their ‘long snout’, that helps them forage more easily.
These mysterious creatures that come out at night, are both a source of mystery and fear for little kids. Cool Fact: If you didn’t know already, bats sleep hanging ‘upside down’!
The term ‘sly fox’ is best attributed to human beings, not these nocturnal creatures themselves. Cool Fact: It is actually their incredible sense of Hearing, that helps them find their prey.
The singular term for this species of Nocturnal Animals, is ‘Mouse.’ Again, a creature we know all too well. One that instils plenty of fear in us human beings, even though we are many times its size! Cool Fact: Did you know that the whiskers of a mouse are used to detect changes in the temperature?
These creatures are often mistaken by many to be their flying counterparts, the ‘Butterflies.’ Cool Fact: These seemingly ‘harmless’ creatures are actually known to cause severe damage to fruit crops.
This majestic wild cat stands out from all the other ‘Big Cats’, on account of its beautiful camouflage. Cool Fact: It’s this very ‘camouflage that helps them go unnoticed during the day, as they sleep in caves.
‘And God said, Let there be light, and there was light.’ Cool Fact: It’s surprising to know that these mysterious little creatures that glow in the dark, are actually a type of ’Beetle’!
Nocturnal Animals: Activities for Kids
While the above list of Nocturnal Animals gives one a pretty good idea of what the Nocturnal Animals out there might be, it is by no means a comprehensive list.
The following activities are a cool way to get children to sharpen their knowledge of these wonderful Night Creatures.
- Using Flashcards
- Guess the Sound
- The ‘What Animal…’ Game
- Colour the Nocturnal Animals
- The Alphabet Game
Show your child pictures of different Nocturnal animals on flashcards, and ask them to call out their names.
Play the sounds of different Nocturnal Animals to them. Then, play an individual sound and ask them which Nocturnal Animal is behind that sound!
Talk to your child about the characteristics of the different Nocturnal Animals. Then, ask them a question like ‘What Nocturnal Animal sleeps upside down?’, and see if they can answer it correctly.
On a printout of a mix of both Nocturnal and Diurnal Animals, children must colour ‘Only the Nocturnal Animals.’
They have to name a Nocturnal Animal using each letter of the Alphabet, starting from A. Example: A for African Elephant, B for Bat, etc.
At EuroKids, we believe that you won’t have much difficulty teaching your little ones more about Nocturnal Animals. After all, they will be delighted to learn all about those animals that, unlike them, have no sort of Night Curfew at all!
