• Skip to main content
  • Skip to secondary menu
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
Pets Reporter

Pets Reporter

How to understand your dog or cat better?

  • Home
  • Facts
  • Tips & Tricks
  • Stories
  • OMG

Why Do Some Animals Live Underground?

October 28, 2021 by Sarah Carter

Some animals live underground for protection while some simply prefer to. Animals living below the surface of the earth are commonly referred to as subterranean animals.

Some animal species living underground include cavies, naked mole rats, rabbits, armadillos, moles, and badgers. The most famous of these is the mole because it engages in the most digging of anything that lives underground.

There are a number of reasons why subterranean animals choose this lifestyle over others, but one reason is always the same: protection from predators and other environmental factors such as severe weather, drought, and flooding.

The burrows some animals make can reach hundreds of meters in length and can be used by many generations of animals.

For example, badgers typically live in 8- to 10-foot (2.5-3 m) deep burrows where they spend most of their time when not foraging for food. These mammals do come above ground at night but return before sunrise so they are safely underground if predators are present.

There are other animals such as the naked mole rats that never leave their burrows. These creatures eat, sleep and even give birth in their burrows. When they come above ground it is only for a short amount of time to grab a quick snack and then they hurry back below the surface.

A key attribute that makes some animals naturally good “diggers” is the type of soil in which they live. For example, moles live in the light, sandy soils where they create an elaborate system of tunnels and galleries.

In these areas, it is easier to dig than clay soil because there are more air pockets which makes the digging process easier. Cavies that live in grasslands and savannahs, on the other hand, prefer heavy soils that make tunneling hard work: they dig shallow burrows and plug the entrance during the day to keep themselves, and more importantly their food, safe from predators.

Some animals living underground also use vegetation as camouflage: rabbits will create a den under overhanging grass or bushes; armadillos can lose almost all of their body heat when they curl up in a ball with their armored shell lying flat against the earth, and naked mole rats are practically indistinguishable from rocks.

Many other animals that live underground never come up at all including blind snakes, spiders, centipedes, grubs, and worms. Perhaps the most surprising residents of these habitats are trees that have adapted to survive despite being deprived of sunlight for long periods of time.

In conclusion, many animals live underground for their safety and in turn create homes for other animals.

Filed Under: Science

Primary Sidebar

More to See

The Funniest Things Pets Do at the Park

May 5, 2022 By Jessica Meyer

How to Get a Dog used to Swimming

May 3, 2022 By Sarah Carter

Everything You Want to Know About Adopting a Pet

May 1, 2022 By brandyellen

The Cutest Cat Breeds

April 26, 2022 By Emma Cooper

The Crazy Things Puppies Do

April 24, 2022 By brandyellen

The Funniest Things Guinea Pigs Can Do

April 21, 2022 By Sarah Carter

Footer

About Us

We have a passion for pets and in my blog you’ll read about who is smarter: cats or dogs? Who is more loyal and loves humans better? How to choose the right pet for you? Why is it dangerous to kiss you pets? How to know your pet is sick and is crying for help sending you some alarming signals? How to understand your dog or cat better? You’ll find answers to these and many other important questions.

  • Terms of Use
  • petsreporter.com Privacy and Cookie Policy
  • Disclaimer
  • Contact Us

Search

Copyright © 2022 · petsreorter.com