Animals and Where They Live

A habitat is the natural home of an animal — the place that gives it the food, water and shelter it needs. A fish's habitat is a river or the sea. A meerkat's habitat is the dry Karoo. A weaver bird's habitat is the trees near a river, where it builds its hanging nest.

Animals have body parts that suit their habitat. A fish has fins and gills so it can swim and breathe underwater. A springbok has long legs so it can run fast across the open veld and escape predators. A duck has webbed feet so it can paddle through water and mud.

Worked example. Why would a thick-furred polar animal not survive in the Kalahari desert? Its thick fur is made for freezing cold, so it would overheat in the desert sun. The Kalahari also has the wrong food and very little water for it. The habitat simply does not match the animal's body and needs.