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Creatures of Water, Air &
Land Chart
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Spectrum Chart - 717 : Creatures of Water, Air & Land
1. Tadpole – A tadpole is the larval
stage in the life cycle of an amphibian, particularly that of a frog
or toad. They are usually wholly aquatic, though some species have
tadpoles that are terrestrial. As they grow they undergo
metamorphosis, during which process they grow limbs, develop lungs
and reabsorb the tail.
2. Tortoise - Tortoises is a land-dwelling
reptile. Tortoises have a hard outer shell to protect them from
predators.The tortoise's shell can range in size from a few
centimetres to a couple of metres, depending on the species of
tortoise. Tortoises have one of the longest lifespans of any animal,
some individuals are known to have lived longer than 150 years.
3. Frog - Frogs are a diverse and largely
carnivorous group of short-bodied, tailless amphibians composing the
order Anura. Frog have long hind legs, elongated ankle bones, webbed
toes, no claws, large eyes and a smooth or warty skin. Like other
amphibians, oxygen can pass through their highly permeable skins.
4. Crocodile - Crocodiles are large
aquatic reptiles that live throughout the tropics in Africa, Asia,
the Americas and Australia. Crocodiles live in rivers, lakes &
dams. Their colours range from brown to grey and have different
patterns covering them. They have sharp claws and teeth. They can
hold their breath for a maximum of about two hours underwater.
5. Fish - Fish are vertebrates which live
in water and respire with gills. They lack limbs with digits (fingers
& toes). Most kinds of fish have bones. Some kinds of fish, such
as sharks and rays, do not have real bones they are known as
cartilaginous fish. Some people keep fish as pets. Goldfish and
Siamese Fighting Fish are popular types of pet fish.
6. Snake – Snakes are reptiles. They are
part of the order Squamata. They don't have legs, voice, ears and
eyelids. Despite this, snakes are successful carnivores. They have a
long, slender body and are very mobile in their own way. Most of them
live in the tropics. Very few snake species live beyond the Tropic of
Cancer or Tropic of Capricorn. Most snakes are nonvenomous. Those
that have venom use it mainly to kill and subdue prey rather than for
self-defense.
7. Shrimp - Shrimp are widespread and
abundant. They can be found feeding near the seafloor on most coasts,
as well as in rivers and lakes. Many shrimp species are caught to be
eaten as food. They play important roles in the food chain and are
important food sources for larger animals from fish to whales.
8. Crab - Crabs are in the phylum
Crustacea. They are decapods (having ten legs). Their short body is
covered by a thick exoskeleton. Crabs have short tails. Crabs are
omnivores, they eat almost anything they find. They will eat
molluscs, other crustaceans, worms, fungi and bacteria. Crabs are
prepared and eaten all over the world as food.
9. Slug - Slug is a mollusk that belongs
to the class Gastropod. There are thousands of species of slugs that
can be found all over the world. Slugs can reach ¼ inch to 10 inches
in length, depending on the species. Slug spends majority of time in
the cool, moist underground tunnels. It emerges at night to feed on
leaves, seed sprouts, roots and decaying vegetation.
10. Snail - A snail is a common name for a
kind of mollusc. Snails are invertebrates, means animals with no
backbones. The shell on the snail helps protect it and also reduces
the loss of water by evaporation. Shells have many different shapes,
sizes, and colours. Snails do not breathe through their mouths,
instead they have a breathing hole under their shells.
11. Honey Bee – A honey bee is any bee
that is a member of the genus Apis. They produce and store honey and
make perennial, colonial nests from wax. Honey bee is the only insect
able to produce food that will be eaten by humans. Honey bees live in
highly organized society composed of worker bees, drones and queen.
Each type of honey bee can be easily recognized because it has
specific appearance, body coloration and function.
12. House Fly - House Fly, is the most
familiar species of nonbiting muscoid fly, found in the vicinity of
human habitations throughout the world. It is often a carrier of
diseases such as typhoid fever, cholera, dysentery etc.
13. Bumble Bee – Bumble bees are a group
of social and semi-social bees, of the genus Bombus. Bumblebees
usually live in temperate regions. Majority of bumblebees inhabits
forests, meadows and gardens. Entire body of a bumblebee is covered
with tiny hairs and alternately arranged yellow and black bands.
Bumblebees have rounded body with 2 pairs of membranous wings and 3
pairs of legs. Legs are designed for gathering of pollen.
14. Ant - Ant is a type of social insect.
There are more than 12,000 species of ants. Ants have large head,
elbowed antennae, strong jaws, narrow waist and three pairs of legs.
Only queen and males of some species of ants have wings.
15. Millipede - Millipedes are a very long
type of arthropod. Millipedes are segmented. Most have between 20 to
over 100 segments and have flattened bodies. Except for the first few
segments, each segment has 2 pairs of legs. Most millipedes are
poisonous.
16. Centipede - Centipede is an arthropod
with many legs. Centipedes are predators. They hunt during the night,
they are nocturnal. Some centipedes are venomous, though none can
kill a human. They have between 5 and 173 segments, but only one pair
of legs per segment. There may be 8,000 species of centipedes in the
world.
17. Earthworm - An earthworm is an
invertebrate animal with a long, stretchy body and no legs. It is a
type of annelid. Earthworm is a reddish brown in colour, with a
pointed posterior and anterior end. Earthworms have no lungs and
absorb oxygen directly through their skin. Earthworm's diet is
decaying matter, leaf litter, microbial fungi and other microscopic
organisms.
18. Sea Snake - Sea snakes can be found in
the Indian and Pacific Ocean. There are around 60 species of sea
snakes that differ in size, colour, type of diet and habitat. Sea
snakes are carnivores. Their diet mainly consists of fish,
crustaceans, mollusks and eggs of various sea creatures. Venom of sea
snakes is very strong. They use it to kill their prey and to protect
themselves.
19. Scorpion - Scorpion belongs to group
called arachnids. There are 1200 species of scorpions that can be
found all over the planet. Scorpions use pincers to grab its prey.
Venom is used both for attack and for defence. Scorpions are
carnivores. They usually feed on insects. Scorpions do not drink much
water and they can survive very long time without water.
20. Silkworm – Silkworm is the larva or
caterpillar of the domesticated silk moth, Bombyx mori. It is an
economically important insect, being a primary producer of silk. A
silkworm's preferred food is white mulberry leaves.
21. Caterpillar - A caterpillar is a young
butterfly or moth that has just hatched out of its egg. A caterpillar
is a kind of larva. Caterpillars usually have three pairs of small,
but noticeable, true legs at the front and up to 5 pairs of fleshy
false legs at the back. Most caterpillars are shades of green or
brown and are relatively hairless.
22. Butterfly – A butterfly is a usually
day-flying insect of the order Lepidoptera. The life of butterflies
is closely connected to flowering plants, which their larvae
(caterpillars) feed on and their adults feed and lay their eggs on.
They have a long-lasting history of co-evolution with flowering
plants. Butterflies are distributed worldwide except Antarctica,
totalling some 18,500 species.
23. Bed Bug – A bedbug is a small,
elusive, parasitic insect of the family Cimicidae. They live by
feeding on the blood of humans and other warm-blooded animals. The
name 'bed bug' is used as the bug likes to live in houses and
especially in beds or other areas where people may sleep. Bedbugs are
mainly active at night and can feed without people noticing. They
leave a small itchy bite, like a mosquito.
24. Mosquito – A mosquito is a type of
fly. It is the common name of a family of flies in the order Diptera.
Mosquito is one of the most dangerous insects in the world. There are
over 3000 species of mosquitoes that can be found all over the world.
Mosquitoes transmit numerous dangerous diseases that kill millions of
people each year.
25. Grasshopper - Grasshopper is an insect
that belongs to the order Orthoptera. Grasshoppers can be found in
the temperate forests, tropical rain forests, meadows, areas near the
ponds and streams, rocky areas and even deserts. Size of grasshopper
depends on the species. Smallest grasshoppers are only 0.5 inches
long. Larger species can grow to 5 inches in length. Colour of the
body provides camouflage and it depends on the habitat. Grasshopper
can be green, brown, greyish and ochre in colour.
26. Cockroach - The cockroach is one of the
most commonly known pests to humans of the insects world but plays a
vital role in the ecosystem ingesting decomposing materials. Most
cockroaches are omnivores. They are tough, and hard to kill. A
cockroach can live for two weeks without a head.
27. Spider – Spiders are air-breathing
arthropods. They have eight legs and chelicerae with fangs that
inject venom. Most make silk. Almost all spiders are predators and
most eat insects. They catch their prey in several ways. Some build a
spider web and some use a thread of silk that they throw at the
insect.
28. Pangolin - Pangolin is odd-looking
animal that belongs to the group of anteaters. Pangolin body is
covered with hard, brown scales made of keratin. Scales cover every
piece of their body except forehead, belly and the inner side of
their legs. Pangolins have five toes on each foot. Pangolins are
insectivores. Pangolins can eat up to 70 million insects per night.
29. Porcupine - Porcupines are rodents.
They live in America, Africa, Europe and Asia. They can live in
deserts, grasslands or forests. Body of the porcupine is covered with
sharp spines or quills. Some porcupines have up to 30,000 quills on
their body. They are herbivorous animals. They like to eat leaves,
stem, bark, fruit. Porcupines can live 15-18 years.
30. Mongoose - Mongooses are weasel-like
creatures that belong to the group of Carnivores. There are 33
mongoose species, they live in Europe, Asia and Africa. Mongooses
like rocky areas, but they can be found in forests and semi-aquatic
areas. They have grayish or brown fur, and some of them have striped
coat and ringed tail.
31. Squirrel – Squirrels are a family of
rodents that includes marmots and chipmunks. Many kinds of squirrels
live in trees, so they often find nuts. Most squirrels are omnivores,
they eat anything they find. They eat seeds, berries and pine cones
too. Squirrels are indigenous to the Americas, Eurasia and Africa and
have been introduced to Australia.
32. Mouse – A mouse is a rodent, which is
a kind of mammal. It has a pointed snout, small rounded ears, a
body-length scaly tail and a high breeding rate. The best known mouse
species is the common house mouse. It is also a popular pet.
33. Rat – Rats are various medium-sized,
long-tailed rodents of the superfamily Muroidea. Rats are typically
distinguished from mice by their size. Usually rats are bigger than
mice. Rats are omnivores, they eat lots of different types of food.
There are about 56 different species of rats. The best known rats are
the black rat and the brown rat.
34. Wall Lizard / House Gecko - House
geckos is a genus of the family of common geckos, Gekkonidae. It has
about 90 described species. They are found in all the tropical
regions of the world, extending into the subtropical parts of Africa
and Europe. They are typically known as house geckos, due to their
readiness to adapt to and coexist with humans. Many kinds of geckos
can walk on walls, windows and ceilings. They can do this because
they have special toe pads.
35. Chameleon - Chameleon is a type of
lizard. There are around 160 species of chameleons. chameleons are
known for their ability to change the colour of their skin.
Chameleon's tongue is propelled by incredible speed: it takes 0.07
seconds for tongue to reach the victim, it eat locusts, grasshoppers,
crickets, mantis and stick insects.
