Tip 1: What animals and plants live in Mexico
Tip 1: What animals and plants live in Mexico
The warm Mexican climate of the tropics andsubtropics, mountains and ocean coast - excellent conditions for the growth of many unusual plants and for the residence of a large variety of animals. Here there are both oaks and olive trees - trees of different climatic zones, typical of warm iguanas, as well as bears and wolves typical for temperate zones.
The rather extensive territory of Mexico is differentrich in plant and animal life, the species diversity of which varies depending on climatic zones. In one part of the country you can meet lovers of cool bears, and in the other - hummingbirds surrounded by orchids. Climatic zones of Mexico are divided by the parallel Tropic of Cancer, entering the subtropical in the north of the country and the tropical belt in the south. However, the differences are more pronounced in the weather conditions of coastal and mountainous regions. So, in the mountains it is always cooler, even in summer the air rarely warms up above +15 ° C. From November to April, dry weather is established throughout the territory, and the season of precipitation starts in June and lasts until September. In the period from mid-summer to November, hurricanes are frequent, especially on the Caribbean coast.
Mexican plants
The main cactus of Mexico is Nopal. He is depicted on the arms of this country. 700 years ago, the Aztecs valued this plant. And now Mexicans use it in many dishes.In the north-eastern part of the country on semi-desertThe territory of the flora is represented by cacti, agave, mesquite trees. At the foot of the slopes of the Sierra-Mandre mountain ranges, both in the west and in the east, there are willows, poplars and oaks. On the California peninsula in the mountains grows a lot of pine trees. In the vicinity of Tampico, shrubs of semi-deserts are replaced by plants characteristic of savannah. In the south, where rainfall is traditionally more frequent, wetlands are often found. Palms, olives, red and cotton trees prevail here. In the area adjacent to the coast of the Gulf of Mexico among the main representatives of the flora are ferns, orchids, mangroves. In the southern part of the country, especially on the Yucatan peninsula, tropical forests are widely spread. In the mountains of the south grow oaks, fir trees, and in the highlands there are also alpine meadows.
Animals of Mexico
In southern Mexico, there is a green iguana. Unlike their relatives, this species of lizards has horns on the tip of the nose and between the eyes.Among the shrubs and cacti of semidesertsThe central part of the country is inhabited by a variety of rodents, hares, wild cats ocelots. In the north, coyotes, jaguars, black bears, wolves, pumas, as well as deer and wild boars are common in the wooded areas. In the desert territories, lizards of various species found shelter. But among them you will not find an iguana that prefers the tropical forests of the south. Wetlands of this region are also suitable for alligators and crocodiles. In the tropical forests of both coasts and the south, there live monkeys, tapirs, anteaters, parrots of macaws, hummingbirds, tukans. Thus, the heterogeneity of the terrain and climatic conditions determined the striking diversity of the nature of Mexico for one country.
Tip 2: Which trees grow in the savanna
In such climatic regions as the savanna is brightthe subequatorial climate is expressed. In these places the year is very clearly divided into arid and rainy seasons. For this reason, only specific species of trees grow here.
The adaptability of trees to climate
Trees in savannahs are a very rare phenomenon,because in such climatic conditions it is quite difficult for them to survive. And if, for example, the Brazilian savannah can still be called a sparse forest, then in savannas of other countries trees are very rare, and most of them are short. The highest ones are comparable to the fruit trees of the middle belt, besides they have similar trunks and branches. The trees growing in the savannahs can for a long time be without moisture and withstand long-term arid seasons. They are adapted to dry, hot climates. Most trees in savannahs are covered with a wax-like coating, they have hard and small leaves. This contributes to the preservation of moisture even in the hottest and driest weather. For most of the year the savanna is exposed to the scorching sun rays, so there are often fires. To protect themselves from fire, the trees of this area have a very thick bark.The main representatives of the savannah trees
Baobab - the most popular tree of Africansavannah. This is one of the thickest trees in the world, its thickness can reach eight meters. A feature of the baobab is its lack of annual rings, so it has not been possible to establish exactly how long this tree lives. Baobab has a huge number of applications. From it make soft drinks and coffee, add to salad, apply as spices, cook asparagus. Also, fabrics, medicines, soaps are made from it, it is used as a building material. Umbrellas, like huge open umbrellas, are beautiful trees. This is another type of savannah trees. Despite the fact that their leaves are directed by the ribs to the sun, representatives of the local fauna are hiding from the scorching rays under the widely spread crown in the dry season, and during the rainy season these trees are used by animals as natural umbrellas. When the flowering time comes, the umbrella acacia is covered with white and yellow small flowers, and its fruits - it's beans. Most herbivorous savannah would not mind eating these fruits, so the acacia has a natural defense - large spines. One of the most widely known representatives of the savannah trees is the brachychyton. Its trunk can reach a height of 15 m, and the lower part of the trunk has an extension, as a result of which the tree looks like a bottle by its appearance, for which it is often called a bottle tree. In the lower thick part of the trunk, the brachychyton accumulates moisture, which helps it survive during the drought season. Seeds of this tree are eaten raw and roasted, and nectar accumulates in special cavities of the upper part of the trunk. Also in cooking are used root crops of brachychyton, and its leaves go to feed cattle.Tip 3: What are the animals in Australia
Each continent has its own characteristicsfauna. This is especially true for such closed ecological systems as Australia. The study of the animal kingdom of this country opened new horizons for zoologists. They were able to learn a lot about the history of the development of fauna on Earth.
A significant part of the species inhabiting the territoryAustralia, refers to the endemic, that is, in the wild, they can be found only on this continent. This is due to the geographical isolation of Australia and the fact that this continent was discovered and developed by the Europeans relatively late. There are more than three hundred species of mammals inhabiting the territory of the continent. A significant place among them is occupied by families of marsupials: kangaroos, marsupials, mice, bears, anteaters and even moles. On other continents, these types of animals are practically not preserved, displaced by more adapted species. Also in Australia live the oldest mammals - oviparous, for example, platypuses. Their existence proves the evolutionary connections of animals with birds and reptiles and is the connecting link between species, absent in the fauna of Europe, Asia and America. The world of Australian birds is also diverse. Its territory and neighboring islands, related to New Zealand, are inhabited by kiwi, emu, and various types of parrots. Among the reptiles of the region, crocodiles should be noted. They are common in swampy areas and in river valleys, but they are practically absent in the central part of the country where the deserts are located. The main mass of Australian fish is marine, there are few freshwater species. In the coastal waters, sharks also live. The unique Australian animal kingdom has often been in danger. Therefore, strict restrictions were imposed on the importation of plants and animals to the territory of the continent. Also, a system of national parks is developing in the country, where animals can live in freedom and under the protection of the state. The most famous park is Uluru-Katauta, near the city of Darwin. There is open access for tourists who can observe the life of wild animals in their natural habitat.
Tip 4: What animals are found in Africa
On the territory of Africa live more than 1000 speciesmammals, 2500 birds, 3,000 freshwater fish, and about 100,000 species of insects. The diversity of the animal world is due to the fact that the African continent crosses several climatic zones, including the equator.
For savannas, which occupy slightly less than half(giraffes, elephants, buffaloes, rhinoceroses), predatory (lions, cheetahs), birds (flamingos, ostriches, marabus), as well as monkeys, snakes and lizards. In the deserts there are turtles, hyenas, jerboas, snakes. In the territories of the tropics and subtropics there live monkeys, okapi, crocodiles, birds and invertebrates. One of the main representatives of the African fauna is the lion. He is the largest predator on this continent. Lions prefer to settle pride by 7-10 individuals with a leader at the head. They live at the watering places, that is, mainly in the savannah, and not in the deserts, as is commonly believed. The best hunters in the pride are the lionesses. They are able to single-handedly defeat young hippos, elephants, large antelopes and domestic ungulates. African elephant is the largest of terrestrial animals, which reaches about 4 meters in height and weighs more than 7 tons. Elephants live in the savanna and partly in the rainforests. Contrary to popular belief about the slowness of these animals, they swim fairly easily and overcome obstacles. Despite the fact that in the wild nature of no one threatens the elephants, except for man, they prefer to live in packs of 10-12 individuals, whose leaders are most often elephants. Rhinoceros are the second largest mammal on land after the elephant and another "visiting card" of African savannahs. It is interesting that this giant floats very badly, but likes to lie in the dust and mud, and also quickly gets used to the chosen habitat and does not leave it practically throughout his life. Despite poor eyesight, rhinoceroses have an excellent hearing. They like to live alone and rarely are aggressive towards themselves. The African ostrich in the wild lives only on this continent. They feed on vegetation and small birds, lizards. Ostriches develop a speed of up to 70 km / h. They prefer to settle in flocks and often live without conflict with antelopes or zebras. Defending their flock, males can make sounds that resemble a lion's roar. Okapi is one of the most obscure species of African animals. Their habitat is the Congo River basin. Okapi are similar to horses, but in fact they are a separate species that was discovered only in the 20th century. They eat leaves of trees, live alone and rarely go out into open spaces. These are extremely clean animals, and the language of okapi is so long that they can lick themselves behind the ear.
