CHAPTER 3 WEATHER, CLIMATE AND ADAPTATION OF ANIMALS TO CLIMATE
WEATHER
Weather of a place is the day-to-day atmospheric condition in terms of temperature, rainfall, humidity, rainfall, wind speed, etc.
CLIMATE
The average weather pattern recorded over a long time is called the climate of the place.
CLIMATE AND ADAPTATION
Animals have to adapt to survive in the climatic conditions they live in. Animals living in extremely cold climatic conditions have features like thick fur coat to protect them from cold whereas animals living in the hot conditions develop resistance to heat and scarcity of water.
Different climatic regions:
(i) The Polar Regions
WEATHER
Weather of a place is the day-to-day atmospheric condition in terms of temperature, rainfall, humidity, rainfall, wind speed, etc.
CLIMATE
The average weather pattern recorded over a long time is called the climate of the place.
CLIMATE AND ADAPTATION
Animals have to adapt to survive in the climatic conditions they live in. Animals living in extremely cold climatic conditions have features like thick fur coat to protect them from cold whereas animals living in the hot conditions develop resistance to heat and scarcity of water.
Different climatic regions:
(i) The Polar Regions
- Extremely cold
- Animals have thick coat of fur on the skin and a layer of fat under the skin. This keeps them warm even under freezing temperature
- Some animals like penguin huddle together to keep warm.
- Some animals like the Siberian Crane migrate to warmer places during harsh winters
- Animals also have large paws for swimming
(ii) The tropical rainforests
- Located near the equator
- Have a hot climate
- Get plenty of rainfall
- Animals have a sharp sense of hearing and eyesight and a skin colour which helps them to blend in with their surroundings (camouflage)
- Strong tails, long beaks, loud voice and thick skin are some other features of animals living in the tropical rainforests