Grasslands: Animals

Lesson Plan - Get It!

Audio:

Two types of grasslands are found all over the world.

• Can you name them?

The two types of grasslands are temperate grasslands and tropical grasslands.

• How can you tell the difference between temperate and tropical grasslands?

One way you can tell the difference is by how much rainfall the grassland gets. Tropical grasslands get much more rain than temperate grasslands.

In this lesson, learn about the animals found in both types of grasslands. Temperate and tropical grasslands both have similar animals.

Large herbivores are the most common animals in grasslands. Herbivores are animals that eat only plants.

Temperate grasslands are home to many different types of animals. Some of the grazing herbivores (animals that only eat plants) that live here include bison, pronghorn, deer, and antelope.

Small animals can be found here as well. Rabbits, badgers, prairie dogs, and mice are small animals hiding in the grass here!

Common carnivores (meat eaters) that live here include swift foxes, wolves, coyotes, and black-footed ferrets.

Temperate grasslands are home to birds like owls, meadowlarks, and sparrows.

Insects and arachnids can also be found here. They make great food for the small mammals and birds.

Reptiles are the last type of animal found here. Snakes are commonly found slithering through the grass!

The image on the left is a prairie dog, and the image on the right is a bison.

Tropical grasslands (savannas) are home to several animals that are similar to those found in temperate grasslands.

Grazing herbivores are found all over the savanna. Elephants, zebras, antelope, kangaroos, buffalo, and giraffes are all common grazing herbivores found here.

Small mammals like ground squirrels, mice, gophers, and moles can live in the savanna's grasses.

Carnivores like lions, leopards, cheetahs, and hyenas feed on the grazing herbivores and small mammals that live here.

Birds include emus, quails, pigeons, and parrots. These birds feed on the ants, beetles, and spiders that live in tropical grasslands.

Snakes are also found slithering through the grasses of the savanna.

The image on the top is a cheetah, and the image on the bottom is an elephant.

Animals found in the temperate and tropical grasslands were specially created to survive the dry seasons, forest fires, predators, and lack of shade.

For example, some small mammals, like prairie dogs and ground squirrels, have strong paws that allow them to burrow into the ground to keep them safe from predators.

These small mammals also are nocturnal (active at night). Being active at night helps hide them from predators that might spot them during the day.

You may have noticed that many animals in grasslands have brown, tan, or grey fur. Their camouflage helps them blend into their surroundings.

Another way animals survive in grasslands is by migrating during the dry season. These animals travel to other places to escape from the drought. Without water, they would not be able to survive.

The image on the left is an anteater, and the image on the right is a fox.

Before moving to the next section, describe how animals survive in grasslands. Make sure you include how this special characteristic helps them survive.

After answering, move to the Got It? section.