Our planet is home to animals which live in different types of surroundings like  forests, rivers, ponds, mountains, gardens, deserts, and even in our homes. Animals form a diverse group of living organisms. They play a very important role in our life.  Every animal has unique characteristics and features. The surroundings where each animal grows is called the environment. 

Habitat 

Different types of animals grow and survive in different natural surroundings. The surroundings in which an animal lives and survives is called its habitat. Animals are found in a variety of habitats ranging from dry desert to lush green forests. The body features of animals are made in such a way which enables them to survive in their particular habitat. 

There are five main habitats in our planet Earth: 

1. Polar regions and mountains

2. Deserts 

3. Forests

4. Freshwater(ponds, lakes etc.)

5. Oceans

Different body covering 

Body covering of different animals varies according to their natural habitat. Different animals have different types of body covering for their protection. The outer layer which is used for protection is called as body coverings. It acts as the animal’s first line of defense from any danger. The different types of body covering are:

Shells: –

• It is a hard protective outer covering in animals like snails, tortoises and turtles. 
• It protects their soft bodies from injuries and attacks . 
• The animals withdraw their head inside the shell whenever they sense some danger. 

Scales:

• It is a hard body covering that protects the animals from the predator and the weather.
• It is present in both reptiles and fishes.
• Fishes have thin scales while reptiles(crocodile, lizard etc) have hard leathery scales. 

Feathers:

• This body covering is found in birds which help them keep warm and helps them to fly. 
• They also help them during rain. 

Hair/fur:

• Mammals have  a body covering of hair which helps them keep warm and stay safe from enemies.
• Some animals like polar bears have special body covering of thick hair called fur. 

Different eating habits in animals 

• Like all other living organisms , animals also need food in order to grow, get energy and stay healthy.
• Food provides the energy to perform all activities.
• Different animals eat different types of food to stay alive. 
• The mouthparts of animals are suited according to the type of food they eat. 

Organs of feeding

Birds:

• Birds have beaks/claws with the help of which they catch and hold their food .
• Birds have different shapes and sizes of beaks depending on the type of food they eat.
• Some flesh eating birds like Eagles have strong, sharp and hooked beaks and claws to catch their prey. 

Rodents :

• Rodents like rabbits, mice and squirrels have small sharp front teeth to gnaw nuts, seeds and fruits. 

Herbivores:

• They have sharp flat  front teeth to bite their food.
• Their strong broad grinding  teeth at the back helps them in grinding the grass and leaves. Example: cow, goats etc

Carnivores:

• They have long, sharp and pointed front teeth for tearing flesh .
• Their strong grinding teeth at the back helps them in chewing the bones and flesh. Example; Lion, Tiger and cat. 

Based on the feeding habits of animals , they are grouped into three different types: 

1. Animals that eat plants: Herbivores 

2. Animals that eat other animals : Carnivores

3. Animals that eat both plants and animals: omnivores

 

Animals that eat plants

• Animals that eat only plants and plant products are called plant eating animals or herbivores. 
• They have teeth which are adapted to chewing . 
• They have  strong broad grinding  teeth at the back that help them in grinding the grass and leaves.
• They feed on grass, leaves, flowers, vegetables etc. 
• Example: cow, zebra, Giraffe, Elephant etc .

Animals that eat other animals 

• Animals that eat flesh of other animals are called flesh-eating animals or carnivores. 
• Carnivores have long, sharp and pointed front teeth for tearing flesh. 
• They have  strong grinding teeth at the back that help them in chewing the bones and flesh. 
• Example : Lion, Wolf, Snake, Lizard. 

Animals that eat both plants and animals

• Animals that eat both plants and other animals are called omnivores.
• They have strong and flat grinding teeth like herbivores and strong back teeth like carnivores. 
• Example: Fowls eat both grains and worms, Human beings eat both vegetables and meat.

Different methods of breathing 

In order to live animals breathe continuously. Oxygen is taken in and carbon dioxide is given out during breathing. Land animals breathe in oxygen from the air while aquatic animals take oxygen from water. Different types of animals have different organs for the purpose of breathing. Let us learn more about them: 

LUNGS: –

• Mammals, birds and reptiles have special respiratory organs called lungs.
•  Lungs are air-filled-sac like structures present in the chest cavity. 
•  The two lungs are connected by a breathing tube to the nostrils.
• Air enters through the nostrils and fills the lungs. 
•  Lungs take in oxygen and give out carbon dioxide.

MOIST SKIN: –

• Tapeworms, earthworms, and leeches breathes through its moist skin. 
• The skin of an earthworm is very thin and filled with blood vessels called capillaries.
• The exchange of the gases takes place through the capillaries. 
•  Frogs also breathe through their skin when in water. 

SPIRACLES:

• Insects have tiny air holes on both sides of the body for breathing called spiracles. 
• The air from spiracles reaches all parts of the body through small tubes called  breathing tubes. 
•  Example:  Cockroaches, Grasshopper

GILLS: –

• Gills are the special organs through which most of the aquatic animals breathe. 
• Gills are projections of the skin that help in using oxygen dissolved in water.
• These projections help in exchanging gases.
• They take in water through their mouth which passes through the gills.
• During this process the oxygen dissolved in water is absorbed, and carbon dioxide is given out. 

BODY SURFACES:

 

• In microscopic animals, such as amoeba, exchange of gases takes place* through the cell surface.

Different methods of moving 

Animals move in different ways from very slowly to very fast, from small areas to very long distances. Some animals crawl, some hop, some fly, and some run to move from one place to another .

But why do animals move? 

• To search for food. 
• To find shelter from heat, cold. 
• Protect themselves from enemies.
• Build resting and breeding places. 

Animals that move on land

• Land animals have four limbs which help them to move. 
• The front limbs are called the forelimbs.
• The two limbs at the back are called the hind limbs. 
• Example: Lions, Tigers, Elephants etc.
• Cheetahs, horses, and foxes are fast running animals. They have strong hind and fore limbs. 
• Rabbits, kangaroos and frogs hop instead of walking. They have stronger and longer hind limbs and tails.
• Human beings also use their hind limbs for walking and forelimbs to hold many things and do work. 

Insects

• These creatures have six legs for movement.
• They use their legs and wings for the purpose of movement. 
• Wings of insects do not have feathers, bones or strong muscles. 
• They move with the help of chest muscles. 
• Insects like ants and beetles use their legs to crawl.
• Insects like grasshoppers use their long hind legs for hoping. 
• Insects living in water like water boatmen use their limbs for swimming. 

Reptiles

• They have dry scaly skin and lay soft shell eggs on land. 
• Reptiles crawl with the help of their limbs. For example: Crocodiles, Lizards, Tortoises.
• Reptiles like snakes do not have limbs, instead they have scales or plates on the underside of the body.
• Snakes move by curving and straightening the cylindrical body.

Humans 

• Humans are the most developed animals.
• They also have four limbs. 
• They use only lower limbs to support themselves while walking, and standing. This contributes to their erect posture. 

Animals that fly

• Birds fly to move from one place to another. 
• Their forelimbs are present in the form of wings which help them to fly. 
• Birds use their hind limbs to land on branches of trees and also to walk, hop on the ground. 
• They also catch prey, scratch ground, and attack enemies with the help of hind limbs. 
• Some birds like Emu, Ostrich cannot fly because of their heavy bodies and poor wings. 
• Flying insects like houseflies, butterflies, moths and bees can fly because of light, small bodies and light wings. 

Animals that Swim

• Water animals like fish have fins which helps them to swim. 
• The two paired fins are used to move forward while the unpaired fins maintain balance and the tail fin changes the direction of the movement. 
• frogs have webbed hind legs to kick the water and swim
• Prawns and tadpoles swim with their legs.
• Turtles have four paddle-like limbs or flippers  to push back water and swim. 

Some animals travel long distances

There are certain animals that move large distances at certain times of the year. Some animals move from cold places to warm places during winter alone or in large groups. The mass movement of animals from one place to another is called migration.  

Why do animals migrate? 

• To protect themselves from harsh weather. 

• To search for food.

• To reach their breeding grounds. 

1. Water animals like Eels migrate from river to sea for the purpose of laying eggs. When the eggs hatch, the parent eels die while the young ones travel back to the river to start their new life. 
2. Migratory insects like  monarch butterflies migrate from Canada to Mexico. 
3. Migratory birds like arctic tern travel every year from the arctic winter to Antarctic. When its winter in Antarctica they travel back again to the arctic covering a distance of 17,000km. 
4. The Siberian cranes migrate to India from Siberia during winter .