1. Habitat
1. Habitat
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Define “habitat” and explain how any habitat fulfils the needs of any animal that lives in the habitat
Define “habitat” and explain how any habitat fulfils the needs of any animal that lives in the habitat
Hey there, nature explorers! Have you ever wondered why some animals live in the forest, while others prefer the ocean or the desert? Well, it's because of something called "habitats." Just like you have your own cosy room with all your favourite things, animals and plants have their special places to live and thrive. These special places are called habitats!
The coolest part about habitats is that they are full of surprises and incredible creatures. So, as you explore the world around you, pay attention to the different places where animals and plants live. You'll discover that nature has a whole bunch of wonderful and wild homes just waiting for you to explore!
So, are you ready to dive into the amazing world of habitats and meet some incredible inhabitants?
A plant, animal, or other organism's natural home or surroundings is known as its habitat. Habitats come in all shapes and sizes, just like our homes can be big houses, small apartments, or even cosy treehouses.
For animals, a suitable habitat provides them space, food, water, and shelter so they can survive. Food is what an animal eats to live, grow, and stay healthy. A water source is where an animal finds water to drink. Shelter is a safe place where animals stay protected from their surroundings, and space is the area where animals move around.
A suitable habitat for a plant must have proper amounts of light, air, water, and soil.
A habitat consists of living and nonliving things1.
Living things are the plants, animals, and microorganisms that live in the habitat. For example, trees, birds, insects, and even tiny creatures like bacteria are all living parts of a habitat.
Non-living things are the parts of the habitat that are not alive, but are still very important. These include things like sunlight, air, water, rocks, and soil. Non-living things help living things survive. For example, animals need water to drink, and plants need sunlight to grow.
From the hottest desert to the coldest tundra, almost every location on Earth serves as a habitat to a variety of plants and animals. In addition to water, oxygen, soil or sand, and rocks, most environments are home to a variety of animals and plants2.
Let us look at some interesting animals and their habitats;
Fennec foxes have enormous ears that can grow up to 6 inches long!
Fennec foxes are native to the Sahara Desert and other parts of North Africa. The desert's vast open spaces and sandy terrain provide them with plenty of areas to burrow, which they use to create underground dens where they can escape the extreme heat of the desert during the day.
The desert might seem barren, but it's teeming with life at night. Fennec foxes hunt insects like beetles
and locusts, which are abundant in the sand. They also catch small prey like mice and lizards,
which hide in burrows during the day and come out at night.7
Arctic Fox are white in the winter to blend in with snow and brownish-grey in the summer to match the tundra's rocky landscape.4
The tundra is a great habitat for the Arctic fox because it provides the specific conditions that help it survive.
Even though the tundra is a cold, barren place, the Arctic fox finds plenty to eat. During the summer, the tundra is home to many small animals like lemmings, birds, and fish. The Arctic fox hunts these animals for food. In the winter, when food is harder to find, the Arctic fox follows larger animals like polar bears and scavenges leftover food from their kills.
Arctic foxes don't need to drink water directly; they get most of their water from the food they eat, but they can also eat snow to stay hydrated.
The Arctic fox makes its home in dens that it digs in the ground.
These dens are dug into the side of small hills or mounds, providing the
fox with protection from the cold winds and predators.8
The red-eyed tree frog has bright red eyes, which help scare off predators by making it look much bigger when threatened.
Red-eyed tree frogs live in the humid, tropical rainforests of Central America, where the dense vegetation and tree canopy provide plenty of places to hide from predators. The rainforest is warm and moist, which is ideal for their delicate, thin skin that needs constant moisture.
The abundance of insects in the rainforest provides them with plenty of food.5
Watch this video6 to recall our learning:
Vid 1.1 Habitats for Kids
Summary
A habitat is a place where an organism makes its home.
A habitat meets all the environmental conditions an organism needs to survive.
Plants need the right amount of air, water, sunlight, and soil . Animals need food, air, water and shelter to survive.
Examples of Animals and Their Habitats:
1. Fennec Fox – Desert Habitat
👉 Big ears help cool off; lives in burrows to escape heat; hunts insects at night.
2. Arctic Fox – Polar Habitat (Tundra)
👉 Changes color with seasons; lives in dens; eats small animals and scavenges in winter.
3. Red-Eyed Tree Frog – Rainforest Habitat
👉 Bright eyes scare predators; sticky feet for climbing trees; lives in warm, wet forests.
References
1 What is a Habitat? Australian Museum, 2018, link
2 Habitat. Britannica Kids, n.d, link
3 Rainforest Habitat. National Geographic Kids, n.d, link
4 Polar Habitat. National Geographic Kids, n.d, link
5 Red Eyed Tree Frog. San Fransisco Zoo & Gardens, n.d, link
6 Habitat. National Geographic, n.d, link
7 Animals. Smithsonian National Zoo and Conservation biology Institute .(n.d), link
8 Arctic Fox. Britannica, (2025), link
Arctic Fox. Animalia, (n.d), link
Extension
To know more fun facts about our furry friend the Arctic fox read: link
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