You are on page 1of 4

Weather, Climate and Adaptations of Animals to Climate

The average weather pattern taken over a longer time is called the climate of the place.

Different parts of the earth have different types of climate. The sun is responsible for this difference in climatic conditions.

Climate is described in terms of overall temperature distributions and air pressure. Based on the precipitation and the
temperature five major types of climates are recognised. They are,
Moist tropical climate
Dry climate
Humid middle latitude climate
Continental climate
Cold climate

Moist Tropical Climates are known for their high temperatures and large amount of rain around the year.

Dry Climates are characterised by little rain and a high daily temperature range.

In Humid Middle Latitude Climates, land or water differences play a key part. These climates have warm, dry summers, and
cool, wet winters.

Continental Climate is characterised by winter temperatures low enough to support a fixed period of snow cover every year,
a relatively moderate precipitation occurring mostly in summer, and an even distribution of precipitation.

Polar areas have cold climates as they are covered by ice almost all the year round. Most areas are covered by glaciers or
by a semi-permanent layer of ice.

Climate has an intense effect on all living organisms. Animals adapt themselves to survive various conditions in which they
live. Animals that live in extreme climates acquire some special features to protect themselves from it. Animals evolve to
acquire these features and habits to adapt to their environment.
Example: The camel has a hump to store food in the form of fat, and hooves to tread on the desert sand with ease.

Adaptation of animals in Polar region


Regions like, Canada, Greenland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden, Finland, Alaska in the United States and Siberia in Russia are
in the northern polar region.
The temperature in the polar areas may go down to -370C during winters.
Animals like polar bears, penguins and many types of fish, musk oxen, reindeer, foxes, seals, whales and birds are found in
the polar regions.

Adaptation in Polar bears - Camouflage


Polar bears protect themselves with the thick fur on their bodies.
They have two layers of fur for protection from the extreme climate.
They also have a layer of fat under the skin, and are very well insulated. In fact, they often take rest to avoid getting
overheated.
The polar bear often goes for a swim to cool off on warm days. Its wide and large paws are useful for swimming as well
as for walking on the snow.

Adaptation in Penguin
The bodies of penguins are white, and merge into the background. They have a thick layer of skin and move around in
groups to keep warm.
Their streamlined bodies and webbed feet make penguins swift swimmers.

Fish survival in Polar region


Water retains its warmth under the icy layer. Fish go deeper in the water to stay warm.

Migration of Siberian cranes


Birds have to stay warm to survive. Hence, at the onset of winter, these birds migrate to warmer areas. They come back
again in the summer.

Siberian cranes migrate to far-off places like Bharatpur in Rajasthan, Sultanpur in Haryana and also to some wetlands of
north-eastern India. They fly here all the way from Siberia. Birds travel thousands of kilometers to migrate. During the day,
the sun guides them, and the stars do so in the night.
Tropical rain forests
Tropical rain forests spread around the equator. Temperatures like 15C in winter and 40 C in summer are characteristic
features of this region. Day and night are of equal duration through year. The Western Ghats and Assam in India, South
East Asia, Central Africa and the Amazon in Central America experience this type of climate.
These regions receive abundant rainfall. A significant feature about this region is the tropical forest.
A wide variety of plants and animals are found in these regions due to the continuous warmth and rain.
The major types of animals living in this type of rainforests are monkeys, apes, gorillas, lions, tigers, elephants, leopards,
lizards, snakes, birds and insects.

Adaptation in Tropical Rain Forests


Most of the tropical animals have sensitive hearing, sharp eyesight and thick skin. They also have skin colour that
helps them to disguise and protect themselves from predators.
All animals have some special feature, like good eyesight, sharp claws, long beaks, sensitive hearing or long trunks, to
protect themselves.
Some animals of the rainforest have special features that help them to find food and live on trees.
For example, a toucan has a long, large beak. This helps it to reach the fruits on branches that are otherwise too weak to
support its body weight.
Red-eyed frogs have sticky pads on their feet to help climb trees. Monkeys also have long tails that help them to hold
on to branches. This is how they adapt to find food and live on trees.
A lion-tailed macaque stands out for the silver-white mane that covers the head from the cheeks to the chin. It is also
known as a Beard ape and can climb very well. It survives mainly on fruits, seeds, stems, young leaves, flowers and buds.
Macaques spend the maximum time of life on trees as they get sufficient food on the tree itself.
The elephant has such large ears and tusks. The tusks are modified teeth and are used to tear the bark of trees for
food. The large ears help it hear even very soft sounds. They also keep it cool in this hot and humid climate.

1.Name the elements that determine the weather of a place.


Answer:
The elements that determine the weather are temperature, rainfall and
humidity.

2.When are the maximum and minimum temperatures likely to occur


during day?
Answer:
The maximum temperature of the day occurs generally in the afternoon
and minimum temperature occurs generally in early morning,

3.Fill in the blanks:


(a) The average weather taken over a long time is called CLIMATE
.

(b) The place receives very little rainfall and the temperature is high
throughout the year,

the climate of that place will be hot- and dry.

(c) The region two regions of the earth with extreme climatic conditions
are pole and desert.

4.Indicate the type of climate of the following areas;


(a) Jammu and Kashmir: Cold and wet.

(b) Kerala: Hot and wet

(c) Rajasthan: Hot and dry

(d) North-east India: Hot and wet

5.Which of the two changes frequently, weather or climate?


Answer: Weather.
6.Following are some of the characteristics of animals:
(i) Diets heavy on fruits. Tropical

(ii) White fur: Polar

(iii) Need to migrate Both

(iv) Loud voice Both

(v) Sticky pad on feet Polar

(vi) Layer of fat under skin Polar

(vii) Wide and large paws Polar

(viii) Bright colour Tropical

(ix) Strong tails Tropical

(x) Long and large beak. Tropical

7.The tropical rain forest has large population of animals. Explain why it is so.
Answer:
Because of continuous warmth and rain, this region supports wide variety of
plants and animals.

8.Explain, with examples, why we find animals of certain kind living in particular
climatic conditions.
Answer:
The organisms interact with the environment to survive. So, it is necessary for
the organism to have characteristics that suits the environment.

Polar bears have white fur so that they are not easily visible in the snowy
background. It protects them from their predators. It also helps them in catching
prey. The thick layer of fur and fat deposit inside the skin insulate them to
survive in cold climate.

Physical activities on warm days necessitate cooling. So, the polar bear goes
for swimming.

It is a good swimmer. Its paws are wide and large, which help not only to swim
well but also walk with ease in the snow.

9.How do elephant living in the tropical rainforest adapt itself?


Answer:
The elephant has adapted to the conditions of rainforests in many remarkable
ways. It uses the trunk as a nose because of which it has as strong sense of
smell. The trunk is also used by it for picking up food. Moreover, its tusks are
modified teeth. These can tear the bark of trees that elephant love to eat. So,
elephant is able to handle the competition for food rather well. Large ears of
elephant help it to hear even soft sounds. They also help the elephant to keep
cool in the hot humid climate of the rain forest.

10.A carnivore with strips on its body moves very fast while catching its prey. It
is likely to be found in
Answer: (iv) tropical rainforests.

11.Which features adapt polar bears to live in extremely cold climate?


Answer: (i) A white fur, fat below skin, keen sense of smell.
12.Which option best describe a tropical region?
Answer: (i) Hot and humid.

You might also like