- Land-based ecosystems where animals live on and interact with solid ground.
- Examples:
- Forests: Temperate rainforests, tropical rainforests, boreal forests.
- Grasslands: Savannas, prairies, pampas.
- Deserts: Hot deserts, cold deserts, coastal deserts.
- Tundra: Arctic tundra, alpine tundra.
- Mountains: Alpine meadows, coniferous forests, rocky crags.
2. Aquatic Habitats
- Water-based ecosystems where animals are adapted to living in and around water bodies.
- Examples:
- Marine habitats: Oceans, coral reefs, kelp forests, intertidal zones.
- Freshwater habitats: Lakes, rivers, streams, ponds, marshes.
- Brackish habitats: Estuaries, mangrove swamps, coastal wetlands.
- Deep-sea habitats: Abyssal plains, hydrothermal vents, ocean trenches.
3. Amphibious Habitats
- Environments that include both terrestrial and aquatic components, suitable for animals capable of living on land and in water.
- Examples:
- Riparian zones: Areas along rivers or streams where land and water merge.
- Wetlands: Marshes, swamps, floodplains, peatlands.
- Temporary pools: Seasonal wetlands that may dry out periodically.
- Coastal beaches: Intertidal zones, sandy shores, rocky coasts.
4. Subterranean Habitats
- Underground environments within caves, crevices, and burrows formed naturally or by animals themselves.
- Examples:
- Caves: Dark, humid caverns beneath the Earth's surface.
- Burrows: Tunnels created by burrowing animals like moles, gophers, prairie dogs.
- Subterranean ecosystems: Ecosystems within cave systems with specialized animal adaptations.
5. Arboreal Habitats
- Tree-dwelling environments where animals spend most of their time living in and moving through the branches and vegetation of trees.
- Examples:
- Rainforest canopies: Tall trees that form a dense upper layer in rainforests.
- Forests with dense foliage: Trees providing plenty of cover and food sources for arboreal animals.
- Mangrove forests: Trees adapted to brackish waters, supporting various arboreal species.
- Epiphytic habitats: Plants growing on the stems and branches of trees, attracting animals.
These habitats and sub-habitats, as well as their diverse environments within them, create unique living spaces with distinct resources, predators, competitors, and physical conditions affecting the survival and adaptation of various animal species.