Scientists know about the existence of more than a million species of animals. Considering that there are many inaccessible forests and deep oceans in the world, we may discover as many more living creatures in the future. Until the 20th century, it was difficult to calculate the total number of animals in certain regions of our planet. But with the advent of the Internet, this task has become much easier and, moreover, some species of animals are discovered not by scientists, but by ordinary people – this phenomenon is calledcitizen scienceThere is plenty of information about the animals of the Earth today, so science can finally answer the question of which part of our planet has the largest number and diversity of animals. If you think that there are most of them in Australia, then this is a mistake.
There is a place on Earth that is literally teeming with different animals. Source: goodfon.com
Contents
- 1 Ideal places to live on Earth
- 2 Where plants grow best
- 3 Ideal conditions for animals
- 4 Where on Earth there are the most animals
Ideal places for life on Earth< /h2>
In the late 1980s, British ecologist Norman Myers coined the term“biodiversity hotspot.”This is the name given to places where the greatest diversity of animals, from tiny insects, live and ending with birds and mammals. To date, scientists have identified 36 hotspots of biodiversity, and many of them are located on continents located on the equator – a conventional line passing through the center of the globe.
Where plants grow best
In this region of the Earth, the climate is warm and humid, ideal for the development of most species of animals and plants. According to ecologist Barnabas Daru, it is primarily plants that thrive in such conditions. When the air is warm, it retains moisture for a long time, which is necessary for plant growth. Moisture is also very important for the growth of bacteria, which decompose dead materials and turn them into fertilizer.
Tropical forests are ideal habitats for most animals. Source: natural-museum.ru
In the tropical regions of our planet, plants also thrive because most pollinating insects thrive only in warm conditions. The fact is that they do not know how to regulate their own body temperature and are very dependent on environmental conditions. Near the equator, insects do not need to hide from the cold, and they pollinate plants almost all year round. That's why forests in the tropics are so dense and green.
Did you know that there are underground plants in the world that feed on animals?
Ideal conditions for animals
The more plants there are on a continent, the more animals there are. This is due to the fact that in dense forests, most living creatures will never die of hunger. Herbivores will feed on tree leaves and reproduce. And predators will hunt and eat herbivores. It turns out to be a chain in which tropical forests feed herbivores, and herbivores become food for predators.
The more plants there are on a continent, the better for all animal species. Source: goodfon.com
Heat and moistureare not the only factors that increase animal diversity. The continent must not only be large, but also provide different habitats. It should have not only forests, but also rivers, high mountains, plains and other biomes. Due to the fact that animals are at different heights, they always have enough food and water.
No photoshop:These giant animals exist for real
Where on Earth are the most animals
Africa may not be the place with the greatest diversity animals, because there are many deserts and relatively few large bodies of water. Australia, of course, has many unique animals, but this continent is also not an ideal place to live.
What part of the Earth has the warmest and most humid conditions, as well as the most diverse habitats for animals? Scientists believe that the largest hotspot of biodiversity in the world isSouth AmericaThe Amazon rainforest is home to trees of varying heights that can support a variety of animals, from monkeys to snakes and beyond.
The greatest biodiversity in the world is in South America. Source: mir24.tv
The Andes also run through the whole of South America – this is the longest and one of the highest mountain systems on Earth. The different altitudes of this mountain system maintain unique environmental conditions, each ideal for different species. This also increases biodiversity in South America.
South America has many unique animal species. For example, only in the warm and humid conditions of this continent do capybaras live – those same beaver-like rodents that are very popular on the Internet.
Capybaras live only in South America. Source: fotkiflo.ru
A unique spectacled bear lives in the Andes; besides it, there are no other representatives of the bear family in South America. You may not even know such a bear exists because it is very rarely talked about. These creatures live in humid forests on the tops of the Andean mountains. Because they live in inaccessible places, scientists don't know exactly what kind of life they lead. It is known for sure that they are active at night and at dusk, and also that they do not hibernate. Researchers also know that spectacled bears eat plants.
Spectacled bears are the only members of the bear family that live in South America. Source: fotkiflo.ru
Among the unique birds of South America, it is worth highlighting the blue-footed booby. These creatures live along the coast from the California Peninsula to Peru. The males of these birds have bright blue legs. The brighter the shade, the greater the chance that the male will be chosen by the female for procreation.
The Amazing Blue Booby. Source: reddit.com
We have a separate post about the blue-footed booby in our Telegram channel. A must-read!
Ultimately, it turns out that South America is the place where the most animals live. To be more precise, the Amazon and Andes forests have the greatest biodiversity. They have ideal living conditions for a wide range of different animals.