Into the Wild 60 Habitat Fun Facts
Name 3 ways animals have adapted to survive in the desert
1. Large ears to help keep them cool 2. Thin bodies that are easier to sustain 3. Camouflage for protection from predators 4. Nocturnal
Name 3 ways that plants have adapted to survive in the desert
1. Spines and thorns for protection 2. Waxy skin which makes it hard for animals to chew them 3. Leaves and stems are thick so they can store water
Name 3 ways that plants have adapted to survive polar habitats
1. They grow close together for protection 2 . They are small and have shallow roots (because only the top layer of soil actually ever thaws out) 3. They have dark colors to absorb more heat from the sun
Name 6 ways that animals have adapted to survive the harsh polar climate
1. wide, furry feet for walking on snow 2. claws to grip the ice 3. thick coats to stay warm 4. blubber to stay warm and store food 5. they migrate to warmer climates 6. camouflage for protection from predators
How much rain do grasslands receive annually?
10 to 30 inches per year
How much rain do temperate forests receive annually?
30 to 50 inches per year
How much rain do tropical rain forests receive annually?
80 to 180 inches per year
Where are polar habitats found?
Antartica, the arctic tundra, the north and south poles
Why do fires start easily in grasslands?
Because they are dry
Why are lots of arctic animals white?
Camouflage to protect them from predators
What do you call trees that lose their leaves during winter?
DECIDUOUS (they decide to lose their leaves)
Which habitat receives the least rain?
Desert
What do you call the really tall trees that grow taller than the canopy?
Emergents
Name the 4 layers of the tropical rain forest
Emergents, canopy, understory, forest floor
How many seasons are there in forests like ours?
Four seasons: Winter, Spring, Summer & Fall
What keeps a jackrabbit's feet from burning on the hot desert sand?
Fur! Her feet are covered with fur
What kinds of plants are found in grasslands?
Grasses (for example buffalo grass), baobab trees, coneflowers
Name two ways that plants have adapted to survive in the grasslands
Grasses have deep roots which help the plants regrow. Trees have thick trunks to store water and resist fire.
In which habitat do animals typically burrow into the ground?
Grasslands
How does a camel prevent sand from getting in his airway?
He closes his nostrils.
How does the meerkat protect his eyes from the sun?
He has dark circles around his eyes
How does a scorpion keep from blowing away in the wind?
He has sticky legs
Why does a desert tortoise love his shell?
It keeps him cool and protects him from desert predators
How much sunlight to polar habitats receive?
It varies. At the north and south poles, they receive almost no sunlight in winter and in summer, they receive sunlight all day long.
How much rain does a desert receive annually?
Less than 10 inches!
Where are tropical rain forests found?
Near the equator
Name two ways that plants have adapted to survive in the tropical rain forest
Plants have really big leaves and the trees have really large roots so they can grow really tall. Really.
Do polar habitats include land, water, or both?
Polar habits include both land and water.
Name two examples of physical adaptations of animals in our forests
Porcupines have quills, skunks have scent glands to defend themselves from predators
What kind of soil do you find in the desert?
Sandy
Which habitat has trees that lose their leaves to conserve energy for winter?
Temperate forests like ours in South Carolina!
How would you describe the climate in our forests?
Temperatures vary with the seasons depending on the where the forest is located.
What is the top layer of the tropical rain forest called?
The canopy
What is the fastest animal on earth and where does it live?
The cheetah, which is only slightly faster than the antelope. They both live in the grasslands.
Which plants in the tropical rainforest receive the most sunlight?
The emergents and the trees in the canopy.
How much sunlight does the forest floor get in a tropical rain forest?
The forest floor gets very little sun in a tropical rain forest.
Why are lots of animals in the grasslands great runners?
Their speed helps them catch their food and protects them from predators
Name two ways that animals have adapted to survive in the grasslands
They have flat teeth (for chewing up grasses) and they tend to be fast so they can try to outrun predators.
Name 2 ways that animals have adapted to survive in our forests
They hibernate to conserve energy and they use their physical defenses to deter predators
Name one way that plants adapt to survive in a temperate forest
They lose their leaves to conserve energy during the winter
Name two ways that animals have adapted to survive in the tropical rain forest
They mimic one another (mimicry) to confuse predators and they have warning colors that mean, "Leave me alone or I'll kill you"
Which plants in the tropical rainforest receive the least amount of light?
Those in the understory and the forest floor.
Why do plants in the grasslands have such deep roots?
To collect more water and to enable them to regrow after fires or grazing
Why does a fennec fox have big ears?
To keep her cool in the desert
Why do trees in the grasslands have such thick trunks?
To store water and help resist fires in the dry grassland.
Which habitat receives the most rain?
Tropical Rain Forest
How many seasons do grasslands typically have?
Two: summer and winter
How would you describe the climate in a polar habitat?
VERY COLD! Temperatures can drop to 60 below zero!
How would you describe the climate of the desert?
Warm days and cool nights, dry all the time
Name 3 plants you would find in the desert
cactus, mesquite tree, yucca
Name 5 animals you would find in a desert
coyote, jackrabbit, rattlesnake, meerkats, kangaroo rats, roadrunners
Name 5 plants you would find in our temperate forest
evergreen trees, deciduous trees (maple, oak), shrubs, grasses, ferns
How would you describe the climate of a tropical rain forest?
hot and wet!
What kinds of plants are found in tropical rain forests?
kapok trees, orchids, pitcher plants, bromeliads
Name 5 animals you would find in a tropical rain forest
monkeys, jaguars, parrots, macaws, three toed sloth, poison dart frog, iguana
Name 5 animals you would find in our forest
owls, squirrels, black bears, opossum, skunks, porcupines
Name 5 plants found in polar habitats
purple saxifrage, lichen, arctic forget-me-not, dwarf fireweed, arctic poppy, arctic mosses
Name 5 animals you would find in a polar habitat
reindeer, seals, polar bears, arctic foxes, penguins, musk oxen, lynx
How fast can an ostrich run?
up to 43 miles per hour
Name 5 animals you would find in grasslands
zebras, antelopes, prairie dogs, cheetahs, grasshoppers, bison
