Our
planet supports a diverse ecosystem. The flora and fauna is unique in
different parts of the world. However, there are some unique features
within the animal kingdom, like the land-water inhabitation of
amphibians and nocturnal behavior that add to biodiversity and variety.
The
animal kingdom comprises diurnal, crepuscular and nocturnal animals.
While diurnal animals are those that remain active through the day,
crepuscular animals are most active at dawn and dusk. Nocturnal animals
are those that remain awake and active during the night. The raccoon,
red fox, owl and the skunk come under the last category.
Why are Nocturnal Animals Called So?
Most
animals display behavior patterns not very unlike that of man. While
most animals are active during the daytime, there are quite a few that
display nocturnality. Nocturnality refers to an animal's preference to
sleep through the day and remain active during the night. Though this
behavior opposes the diurnal nature of human lifestyle, nocturnal
animals add quality to the animal kingdom. Animals like the flying
squirrel and mink follow an intermediate crepuscular schedule or a
preference for twilight activity.
While many animals that are
described as nocturnal remain active during the day as well as the
night, there are a few that rely on their post-twilight heightened
instincts. The niche differentiation makes additional resources and a
special time zone available to the animal. The ecological niche and
adaptation to avoid predation are the main features of nocturnality.
This kind of animal behavior is mostly seen in the desert regions around
the world, where the nocturnal behavior pattern enhances regulation of
osmotic pressure in the body in order to maintain a constant water
content.
Facts about Nocturnal Animals
• Nocturnal animal
species like sea turtles or seabirds visit breeding sites at night to
reduce the risk of predation. This enables them to protect themselves,
as well as their offspring, in the course of their lifespan. Otherwise
diurnal, nocturnal animals are also most active during the twilight
hours.
• Nocturnal animals have highly developed senses of
hearing, sight and smell which are specially adapted to make the most of
night-illumination. Some nocturnal animals have vision that is easily
adapted to night and day illumination, while bush babies and bats are
able to remain active only at night. Many nocturnal animals have special
eye cells called rods that enable them to capture light when it is
dark, more than humans or other animals can in the same environment.
•
Since the air is still at night and scents linger in the air it becomes
easier for nocturnal animals to pick up and track scents, and find
food. Their sharp hearing ability enables them to locate their prey as
the latter flee over fallen leaves and twigs.
• The bodies of
nocturnal animals have special adaptations to enable them to survive the
dark. Nocturnal animals like lemurs have special eyes, while bats use
echolocation. Echolocation refers to the bat's ability to emit a
high-pitched sound which bounces off objects within range and gives the
animal information about the shape, distance and direction of the
object.
• Unique features of nocturnal animals help them snag
their prey easily. For example: the owl has a special feather lining on
the edge of each wing that muffles sound as it swoops down on prey. A
cat has heavy fur and soft foot pads that help it to sneak up on a meal,
while the aardvark can actually hear and smell insects as it walks
along.
There are three basic advantages that a nocturnal animal
benefits from. Not only do the animals get to hunt and stay awake at the
cooler hours of the night, but they are also exposed to less
competition when they hunt in the dark. The twilight and night hours
also protect these animals from predators. They are able to camouflage
well at night, to find their way, hunt and flee from predators. In zoos
and parks nocturnal animals are kept in special dark areas during the
day which makes them think it is night, this way visitors can then watch
them.
By Gaynor Borade
