Some details about Terrestrial plants and Terrestrial animals

Terrestrial Plants

                 Plants, which live on land, are called terrestrial plants. They can be classified into two types as mesophytes and xerophytes.

1. Mesophytes

         These are intermediate plants between xerophytes and hydrophytes. With reference to their water requirements, They grow in habitats which are neither dry nor wet. Mesophytes need moderate amount of water and well-aerated soil for growth and development. Therefore they do not show any special structural adaptations to their mode of life. eg. sunflower, hibiscus, mango tree, garden plants, papaya and tamarind.

2. Xerophytes

            these plants live in deserts where there is scarcity of water due to poor rainfall. The air is hot and dry. There is intense light. The greatest need of desert plants is to absorb and conserve the available water. eg. Opuntia, casuarina and Euphorbia, Asparagus, Nerium.

Terrestrial Animals

            Unlike fish and whale, we find large varieties of animals living on land. Such land dwelling animals are called terrestrial animals.

   eg. Garden lizard, fox, ox and elephant.

Under terrestrial animals we are going to learn about:

1. arboreal animals 

2. aerial animals 

3. cave dwelling animals.

1. Arboreal animals

       Arboreal animals spend lot of their time on trees. eg. squirrels

chameleons, monkeys, birds etc.

       Arboreal animals are comparatively small. their chest, ribs and limbs are strong. They have claws or hooks to hold the tree branches. In monkey, the tail is prehensile. In the case of mammals the thumb and the great toe are opposable.

2. Aerial animals
       Birds are best fitted for aerial mode of life. The body of bird is boat shaped. Their forelimbs are modified as wings. The exoskeleton is in the form of feathers, which help the birds to fly. They have powerful flight muscles. The jaws are modified as beaks. their eyesight is keen and powerful. to reduce weight, they have hollow bones. Many of their bones are fused together. To get more energy, they have efficient breathing system.
3. Cave dwelling animals

           Cave is a natural hollow place in the earth or hill side with an opening. Cave animals are either colourless or pale white colour. This is due to the absence of light. their eyes are reduced in size or completely absent. But other sense organs are well developed. Body is elongated and slender. The cave arthropods are characterized by weak exoskeleton. The cave snails have thin shells. eg. Proteus and salamanders.