Habitats

A habitat is the place where an organism lives. It provides everything the organism needs to survive. Animals and plants need food, water, shelter, and space. Different habitats have different conditions, and each one supports different kinds of life.

Types of Habitats

There are many different habitats on Earth. Forests, deserts, oceans, rivers, and grasslands are all habitats. Even a puddle or a rotting log can be a habitat for tiny creatures. Some habitats are hot and dry. Others are cold and icy. Each habitat has its own set of plants and animals.

Protecting Habitats

When habitats are damaged, the plants and animals living there are in danger. Cutting down forests, polluting water, and building on wild land destroys habitats. Many animals have become endangered because their habitats were destroyed. Protecting habitats is one of the best ways to help wildlife survive.

Fun Facts

• The ocean is the largest habitat on Earth, covering more than 70 percent of the planet.
• Some bacteria live in extreme habitats like boiling hot springs and frozen Antarctic ice.
• A coral reef provides habitat for about 25 percent of all ocean fish species.

Did You Know?

The deep ocean floor is a habitat where no sunlight ever reaches. Animals there survive using energy from hot water vents in the ocean floor instead of energy from the sun!