ARE THERE ALSO ANIMALS LIVING UNDER GRASSLANDS?

As grasslands usually have few trees or rocks to offer cover to smaller animals, many of them live in burrows underground. In North America, prairie dogs (Cynomys ludovicianus) live in huge numbers in connected burrows, sometimes causing the ground to cave in. The South American pampas also has many burrowing animals, including viscahas (Lagostomus maximus) and cavies (Cavia aperea), related to guinea pigs. The American bison, coyote, and gopher are just some of the animals that live in the grasslands.

Grasslands cover 25 percent of the world’s surface and it is the preferred habitat for animals like the wildebeest, coyote, and pronghorn. The grasslands provide animals with a variety of diets like grass, shrubs, twigs and even fellow animals for prey. The climate in the grasslands also changes depending on the seasons hence during the dry season, when water and grass are in short supply, animals move to other grasslands.

Swift Fox

Despite the resemblance to a domestic cat regarding size, the fox lives in near harsh conditions of North America especially in Colorado, New Mexico, Kansas, Oklahoma, and Arizona in grasslands. The survival of the fox in the grasslands is based on its omnivore diet of fruits and insects. Thanks to conservation efforts by wildlife authorities, the swift fox was saved from possible extinction. The lifespan ranges from 3-6 years in wild grasslands but in zoo, parks, and other forms of captivity, the swift fox can live for up to 14 years.

Prairie Dog

The structure of the prairie dog is similar to that of a squirrel, but it is their warning call to each other whenever danger lurks that sounds familiar to that of a dog. The grasslands are their preferred dwelling grounds because it provides them with hiding areas so they can protect themselves against harsh weather elements like floods and blizzards during the winter. The grasslands provide grass, seeds, and insects to prairie dogs. Predators do have a hard time trying to hunt the Prairie dog down thanks to the superior anti-predator techniques it has. If a predator is spotted, it employs an alarm response to alert fellow dogs.

Giant Anteater

Also known as the giant ant bear, the giant anteater feeds on ants, insects, and termites depending on the season of the grasslands. It tracks down its prey using scent. The giant anteater can be found in the grasslands of South and Central America. Predators like the puma or jaguar frequently hunt down this animal, but the giant anteater avoids them by galloping away. If cornered, it can use the hind legs, which are equipped with sharp claws to tear apart potential foes in defence. The mobility skills of this animal are remarkable as it can swim across rivers no matter the size. The climate changes cannot affect the animal due to its ability to adapt to cold weather and hot weather.

Gopher

The gopher is a rodent which uses tunnels as a means of protection and gathers food. Like other rodents, it has a small size and claws that are adapted to digging tunnels. Male gophers are slightly larger in size and weight than female gophers. The lifespan of gophers is five years and they can survive despite the threats from known predators like snakes. The gopher lives in the grasslands of Central America and South America.

Badger

Known for producing pelts which are used for making shaving belts, the badger is a sturdy animal that lives in the grasslands in North America. Determining the exact classification of the badger is not easy due to the existence of several species of badgers. However, the badger belongs to the Taxon Mephiditae family. In the past, badgers were hunted for their meat and hide, but due to conservation efforts they are no longer hunted today.

Picture Credit : Google