Page 17 - Science - 5

Rabbits, snakes, earthworms and rats live borrows in ground. Several types of
insects also live on the forests floor.

Desert

A desert is a dry, often sandy, region that receives
very little rainfall. Deserts are often very hot

during the day and cold during the night. Animals
that live in deserts have special features to

withstand the hot and dry climate. Many desert
animals stay cool during the day by underground

burrowing. It is very hard to find water in deserts.
Many desert animals have thick skin to avoid water loss through sweating.

Camels can live without water for a long time.

Camel is known as ‘Ship of the Desert’.
Polar Regions

The polar regions of the Earth (Antarctica and
Arctic) are extremely cold regions and covered with

snow. Animals that live in these regions have
special features to withstand cold, for example :

polar bears have thick fur. A layer of fat beneath
this fur also helps in keeping them warm. Seal,
Penguin and Walrus are also found in polar regions.

Mountains
Mountains are characterised by rapid changes in

climate, soil, vegetation and altitudes over very
short distances. The animals living on mountains are
mostly herbivores, for example : yak, mountains

goat, ibex etc.

Oceans and Freshwater Bodies
The ocean is a large, continuous body of salty water

that covers two-third of the Earth's surface. It is the
world's largest habitat. It is divided into the Pacific

Ocean, the Atlantic Ocean, the Indian Ocean, the
Arctic Ocean and the Southern Ocean. A large variety

of fish are found in the oceans. Whale, octopus and
jellyfish are some other creatures found here.

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