Grassland+Animals

Fauna  > > **Grassland Biome Information** > > Basically, the grassland biome encompasses various regions of the world, wherein the vegetation is predominantly characterized by different types of grass and herbaceous plants. The grasslands are broadly categorized into two types - temperate grasslands and tropical grasslands, both of which differ from each other in terms of abiotic conditions. The great deal of diversity in plant and animal species prevailing in these two types can be attributed to the difference in abiotic conditions which prevail here. One of the most biodiverse biomes of the world, the grassland biome is known by different names in different regions of the world. The grasslands of North America are known as Prairies, while those of South America are known as Pampas. Similarly, these grasslands are known as Savannah in Africa and Steppes in Eurasia and Australia. > > **Grassland Animals Information** > > > When we talk about the list of grassland animals, we start from invertebrates like the different species of beetles and end with large mammals such as the elephants. In between lie a wide range of animals coming from all genera, including insects, reptiles, birds, mammals etc. Given below are the details of these animals on the basis of the continent in which they are found. > The diversity of plant species allows a wide variety of plant-eating insects to thrive there and the fact that most of the plants are grasses means that grass-eating herbivores in particular can be found in this kind of habitat. || **Herbivore:** an animal for which plants make up its primary food source. || > Deer, for example, are frequently found grazing on grasses and they are one of the few mammals that has the ability to digest grass leaves. There are also many small mammals that specialize in eating grass seeds, especially mice and voles (voles resemble mice but do not have a long tail tail). > Rabbits are also common in grasslands and this abundance of rabbits, mice and voles makes grasslands ideal hunting grounds for birds of prey, also known as 'raptors', that patrol these habitats for signs and sounds of small mammals. > Other grassland predators include foxes, coyotes, weasels and snakes. > > Red-tailed Hawk. Photo by John MacRae. || || (You can easily find large raptors such as the Red-tailed Hawk sitting in trees or on power lines and fence posts along grassy roadside verges.) > || **Predators** are animals whose primary food source are other animals, which they catch live and kill. || >
 * The animals of the temperate grasslands are usually limited in diversity but still very abundant. In North America the pronghorn and bison are two major grazers while at ground level more animals such as mice, gophers, badgers, coyotes, ferrets, and prairie dogs can be found.
 * Around 25 percent of the total surface area of our planet is made up of the grasslands. These grasslands are found in all the continents of the world, except for the continent of Antarctica, with North America, South America and Africa having the major share of the same. The grassland biome covers approximately 50 percent of the total land surface of the African continent. The vast expanse of this biome gives you a rough idea of the tremendous diversity you are likely to observe in grassland animals and plants. Before we move on to [|grassland biome] animals, and their adaptations, let's try and get some more information on this biome.
 * Grasslands are full of life, with many animals that rely upon the abundant resources of grasslands to provide them with food, shelter and a place to reproduce.
 * || [[image:http://www.hamiltonnature.org/habitats/habitat_images/Red-Tailed-Hawk-JMacR.jpg width="200" height="276"]]

Mammals are not the only animals that eat plants. Many insects are also herbivores: some eat leaves, some eat seeds, others eat flowers and some eat roots. > Monarch larva pupating. || > Monarch adult on Liatris. || The best-known example of a herbivorous grassland insect is the Monarch Butterfly (//Danaus plexippus//), which feeds on plant leaves as a larva and plant nectar as an adult, particularly that of milkweeds (//Asclepsias sp.//). Grasslands and meadows are very important Monarch habitats because these feeding grounds help them build up energy for their long journey south to Mexico, which is their primary winter home. > Swamp Milkweed Leaf Beetle. || Grasslands are also home to many other butterflies as well as grasshoppers, crickets, ants, lady beetles, dragonflies, damselflies, and many fly and beetle species. > <span style="font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Insects are not the only invertebrates found in grasslands... > || <span style="font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">**Invertebrates** are animals that have no internal skeleton || > > > <span style="font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Earthworms are very important grassland invertebrates that maintain soil structure. They are a decomposer organism that breaks down dead, decaying matter (either plant or animal) by eating it and returning its basic components to the soil as excreta (urine and/or feces). Many insects are also important decomposers, as are bacteria.
 * [[image:http://www.hamiltonnature.org/habitats/habitat_images/Monarch-larva-pupating.jpg width="200" height="154"]]

Sources: [|http://www.ehow.com/facts_7155543_temperate-grasslands.html#ixzz1aO4vLWXK]

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