Some animals, like bears and vultures, are scavengers. They are often seen eating dead animals that another animal has killed. It is also common to see scavengers feeding off roadkill.
Being an omnivore is advantageous because they can survive on plants and fruits if there are no prey animals in the area. A strict carnivore would starve in this same situation. Do you know why different animals taste food differently? Find out in this article I wrote. Water is essential for all life, both plants and animals. This includes the production of new red blood cells, skin cells, production and excretion of waste, digestion, and regulation of body temperature.
Dehydration is a fatal condition for wild animals. The longer an animal goes without water, the more serious its health will become. Their digestion will slow down, waste will not be filtered and excreted efficiently, and they would be unable to maintain a stable body temperature. Eventually, their organs would begin to shut down, and the animal would die. This is true even for animals in desert habitats that can survive longer without water.
At some point, they too need to find a water source. Droughts in desert areas can cause the deaths of thousands of animals. Do whales drink seawater?
Shelter is important for several reasons. A shelter could be a small hollow in the ground, a tree, or a complex den. Animals use shelters for:. Most hibernating animals will dig a den or burrow underground.
Some build a nest in a tree hollow. In residential areas, small animals will build nests in birdhouses or garden sheds. A den or nest offers good protection from predators, especially for animals raising young. Birds often become aggressive during the breeding season, fiercely guarding their nest against perceived danger. Bears dig dens in late summer or early fall, ready for hibernation.
The den is usually just big enough for the mother and her cub to fit. It keeps a stable temperature due to its small size and can easily hide from potential predators who may see a bear cub as easy prey.
Animals living in harsh conditions will use their shelter to guard against the elements. In desert environments, a well-placed burrow will maintain a cool temperature for an animal to avoid the daytime heat, as well as a safe place to sleep.
In cold climates such as the Arctic, a den or even a shallow dug patch of snow offers protection from strong winds. Seals will often build shallow nests on ice floes during the breeding season to shelter their pups from severe weather. Mammals live in many different habitats. Find out more here. Learn about the places animals live—from the grassland to the desert and the burrow to the hive. They use the information to draw the habitats of these animals and investigate links between habitat, ecosystem, and animal livelihood or extinction.
Join our community of educators and receive the latest information on National Geographic's resources for you and your students. Skip to content. Twitter Facebook Pinterest Google Classroom. Animal: salt water crocodile Habitat: coastal marshes, estuaries, and shallow marine waters This animal's basic survival needs include: food—carnivorous eats meat , including fish, birds, reptiles, and mammals shelter from weather and predators—have camouflage and can submerge for long periods of time water—provided by diet and from freshwater sources a place to raise young—female prepares and guards a nest until the young hatch and are released 4.
For each animal you think of, answer the following questions: What is the animal? What is its habitat? What does it need to survive? Draw a picture of an animal in its habitat, with the things it needs to survive. What four basic things do all animals need to survive? Animals need food, shelter from weather and predators, water, and a place to raise young. Resources Provided The resources are also available at the top of the page.
Background Information A habitat is the place or environment where a plant or animal naturally or normally lives and grows. Vocabulary habitat. Media Credits The audio, illustrations, photos, and videos are credited beneath the media asset, except for promotional images, which generally link to another page that contains the media credit.
Media If a media asset is downloadable, a download button appears in the corner of the media viewer. Text Text on this page is printable and can be used according to our Terms of Service. Interactives Any interactives on this page can only be played while you are visiting our website. Related Resources. Habitats and Microhabitats. View Collection. Carrying Capacity.
View Article. Animal Homes and Habitats. Threatened Animals and Their Habitats. View Activity. Keywords: habitat, carnivores, herbivores, omnivores, Venn diagram; Grade Level: fourth grade; Total Time for Lesson: minutes; Setting: classroom Concepts to Be Covered Animals need food, water, shelter, and space to survive.
Herbivores can live only where plant food is available. Carnivores can live only where they can catch their food. Omnivores can live in many places because they eat both plants and animals. Habitat is the physical area where an animal lives. Goals for the Lesson Students will name the four factors necessary for animals to survive. Students will define herbivore, carnivore, and omnivore.
Students will comprehend the concept of an animals habitat. To survive animals need food, water, and a safe home. Place Venn diagram on overhead with just the three main words herbivore, omnivore, carnivore listed. Have students refer to article to define each word. Write the definition for each word onto the overhead showing that herbivores eat plant parts, carnivores eat other animals, and omnivores eat both plants and animals.
Ask students to use this knowledge to determine how what an animal eats determines where they need to live. Have students name examples of each group. List on overhead.
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