Animal Habitats: Types, Characteristics & Examples

What is a Habitat?

Habitat is defined as the region which is made up of biotic, abiotic and other factors that support the reproduction and survival of particular species. These are the natural environments where organisms make their home. The basic feature of the habitat is discussed below:

• Organisms develop special traits to survive under habitat conditions. This entire process happens during evolution.

• Habitat loss of an organism is due to human activities which threaten species survival. This also needs the extinction of the organism.

• Habitats are classified into two classes which are terrestrial and aquatic. These classes also have different sub-classes divided into them.

• The evolution of an organism due to its habitat develops different conditions like fish using gills to breathe in water.

Types of Animal Habitats

There are mainly two types of habitats. These are terrestrial habitats and aquatic habitats.

• Aquatic habitats again are of two types: freshwater habitat and marine water habitat.

• Terrestrial habitats include forests, deserts, grasslands, wetlands, ice caps etc whereas aquatic habitats include rivers, lakes, streams etc.

Terrestrial Habitats

Terrestrial habitats are habitats that are found on land throughout the world. Terrestrial habitats include all types of land habitats. This includes both natural as well as man-made habitats. Some of the terrestrial habitats are described below:

*Wetlands are transitional areas between aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems and can support both aquatic and terrestrial species.

Aquatic Habitat

Habitats that thrive in water are classified as aquatic habitats. There are two important kinds of aquatic habitats: freshwater habitat and marine water habitat.

Freshwater habitat

Freshwater habitats include rivers, streams, lakes, ponds, etc. Freshwater comprises only 3% of the world's water.

• Rivers and streams: Animals such as dolphins, river turtles and American crocodiles live in this type of freshwater habitat. These animals require a special type of adaptive feature to cope with the water flowing continuously in the same direction.

• Lakes: Salmon, trout, common toads, and greater flamingos are some of the species of animals living here. Lakes are the most favourable places for a wide range of animal species.

Marine water habitat

As we all know more than 70% of the space on Earth is covered by Oceans. These habitats are divided into 2 types. These are discussed below:

• Deep ocean: It is the bottom or deepest region of the ocean where sunlight does not enter. This region does not support a normal food chain or food web. Examples: ray-finned fish, angler fish, and lobe-finned fish.

• Open ocean: It includes the uppermost layer of the ocean. It is also known as the marine desert. Because like a desert here also lacks important nutrients to support life. Blue whales, harbour porpoises, and narwhals are some of the animals that live here.

Threats to Habitats

Habitats are essential for providing animals and plants with food, shelter, and breeding grounds. Any disturbance or destruction of habitats leads to loss of biodiversity and disrupts ecological balance.

1. Climate change: Global warming and altered rainfall patterns affect habitats by changing temperature, water availability, and seasonal cycles. This forces species to migrate, adapt, or face extinction if they cannot cope with rapid changes.

2. Habitat loss: Deforestation, urbanization, and agricultural expansion destroy or fragment natural habitats. This reduces the living space for animals and plants, threatening biodiversity and ecosystem balance.

3. Invasive species: Non-native species introduced into a habitat can outcompete, prey on, or spread diseases to native species. This disrupts food chains and often leads to the decline of local biodiversity.

4. Pollution: Air, water, and soil pollution degrade ecosystems by introducing harmful chemicals, plastics, and toxins. Pollution affects species health, contaminates food chains, and can make habitats unfit for survival.

Conservation & Policy

So, there is an immediate need to protect and safeguard the habitats of both plants and animals. Many countries including India have passed legislation to protect these habitats.

• Protecting habitat is as important as it helps in maintaining species diversity.

• It helps stop pollution and land conservation for agriculture and organization.

• National parks, Wildlife Reserves, and Marine sanctuaries help protect habitats from human activities.

• Reforestation wetland Restoration and population cleanup also help in restoring the natural habitat and supporting wildlife conservation.

Animal Habitats NEET MCQs

Q1. Whole ecosystem is too much big and complex to be studied at one time, it is convenient to divide it into two basic categories named as :

1. Inland and outland ecosystem

2. Complex and non-complex ecosystem

3. Estuary and forest ecosystem

4. Terrestrial and aquatic ecosystem

Correct answer: 4) Terrestrial and aquatic ecosystem

Explanation:

Terrestrial and the Aquatic Ecosystem -

Since the whole ecosystem is too big and complex to be studied at one time, it is convenient to divide it into two basic categories, namely the terrestrial and the aquatic.

- wherein

Forest, grassland and deserts are some examples of terrestrial ecosystems; ponds lakes wetlands and, rivers and estuaries are some examples of aquatic ecosystems.

Hence the correct answer is Option (4) Terrestrial and aquatic ecosystem.

Q2. _____ is an attribute of the organism (morphological, physiological, behavioural) to survive and reproduce in its habitat.

1. Migration

2. Hibernation

3. Adaptation

4. Homeostasis

Correct answer: 3) Adaptations

Explanation:

Adaptations - Adaptation is any of the attributes of an organism (morphological, physiological, behavioural) that enables the organism to survive and reproduce in its habitat.

Many adaptations have evolved over a long evolutionary time and are genetically fixed. In the absence of an external source of water, the kangaroo rat in North American deserts is capable of meeting all its water requirements through its internal fat oxidation (in which water is a by-product). It also can concentrate its urine so that a minimal volume of water is used to remove excretory products.

Hence, the correct answer is option 3) Adaptation.

Q3. According to Allen’s Rule, the mammals from colder climates have:

1. shorter ears and longer limbs

2. longer ears and shorter limbs

3. longer ears and longer limbs

4. shorter ears and shorter limbs

Correct answer: 4) shorter ears and shorter limbs

Explanation:

• In 1877, Allen and Joel Asaph proposed this rule.

• According to this rule, endotherms' body proportions and form change with the temperature of their environment.

• To stop heat loss in colder climates, the surface area is reduced; in warmer climates, it is increased to encourage heat loss.

• Endotherms typically have short legs and ears in cold areas.

Hence, the correct answer is option 4) shorter ears and shorter limbs.

Also Read:

• MCQs on Adaptations

• Binomial Nomenclature

• The Living World

FAQs on Animal Habitats

What are the main types of animal habitats?

The main types of animal habitats are terrestrial and aquatic.

• Terrestrial habitats include forests, grasslands, deserts, and mountains where animals live on land.

• Aquatic habitats are water-based and include freshwater (ponds, rivers) and marine (oceans, seas) ecosystems. It includes two main types: freshwater and marine habitats.

What are examples of terrestrial and aquatic habitats?

• Terrestrial habitats: Desert (camels, lizards), Grasslands (lions, elephants), Forests (tigers, monkeys), Mountains (snow leopards, yaks).

• Aquatic habitats: Freshwater rivers and lakes (fishes, frogs, crocodiles), and Marine habitats such as oceans and seas (whales, dolphins, sharks, corals). These examples show how animals adapt to survive in different environmental conditions.

Why is habitat protection important?

Habitat protection is crucial for conserving biodiversity, maintaining ecological balance, and ensuring survival of species. When habitats are destroyed by deforestation, pollution, or urbanization, animals lose shelter, food, and breeding grounds, leading to population decline and extinction. Protected habitats like wildlife sanctuaries, national parks, and biosphere reserves help preserve endangered species and sustain ecosystems for future generations.

What are freshwater and marine habitats?

• Freshwater habitats are low-salinity water bodies like rivers, lakes, ponds, and wetlands. They support fishes, amphibians, insects, turtles, and plants like lotus and water hyacinth.

• Marine habitats are saltwater ecosystems such as oceans, seas, coral reefs, and estuaries. They are the largest ecosystems on Earth, supporting diverse organisms like whales, sharks, sea turtles, corals, and phytoplankton.