Crepuscular animals - Definition and 5 examples

The spatial and temporal characteristics of the medium have put pressure on organisms, resulting in the different ways of life that we know today.It is easy to understand that a living being occupies a physical ecological niche, for example, in the marshes we can see how many species of herons, spatulas and limicoles are fed, that It is their ecological niche from where they obtain food and most likely shelter.This will also be the niche for feeding eagles, eaglets or hawks.

On the other hand, otters also have the same ecological niche as the animals mentioned above., but we will never see them together, because they live in different time zones or in other words, when these birds go to sleep the otter goes out to hunt fish and crustaceans, they feed on the same resource but do not compete for the time because the ecological niche tempora l is different.

This is one of the advantages of crepuscular animals and, therefore, in this article of Animals and Pets Online we will explain what they are and give some examples.

What are crepuscular animals?

Twilight animals are those that enter into activity during sunset and/or sunrise.This type of behavior, like being diurnal or nocturnal, is regulated by the biological cycles inherent in each species.

Twilight animals gain certain advantages because of their lifestyle.In desert climates they protect themselves from the high temperatures of the day and the low temperatures of the night, since they leave just at the moment when the ambient temperature It starts to oscillate.

They are more protected from being hunted by diurnal predatory animals if we take it for granted that the predator has already got food during the day.When a twilight animal leaves its shelter they will not have done so yet.nocturnal animals.

During the hour at which these animals begin their activity, the sun's rays affect the earth's surface in such a way that it is more complicated for both a daytime predator and another nocturnal predator to detect its pr those.

Cardiac rhtyms

To better understand the biological cycles of crepuscular animals, we will talk about circadian rhythms.Chronobiology is the discipline that studies biological rhythms, describing both their temporal characteristics and their implications for life.A biological rhythm is an oscillation of a biological parameter that depends on the endogenous clock (physiology and genetics) and environmental synchronizers (variations in the environment).

Then, there are different types of biological rhythms:

Circadian rhythm: biological activity that occurs with a periodicity of approximately 24 hours.According to this cycle, diurnal, nocturnal and crepuscular animals will appear.
Ultradian rhythm: biological activity that occurs in cycles of less than 20 hours (for example, feeding).
Infradian rhythm: biological activity whose frequency is greater than 24 hours, that is, they occur less than once a day (for example, lunar cycles).

Examples of crepuscular animals

Many animal species lead this twilight lifestyle either by living in climates, avoiding predators or not having to compete for certain resources with other species.Below we show some animal species with crepuscular habits:

Gila's monster (Heloderma suspectum): this reptile is the largest venomous lizard in the United States, it only comes out of its lair when the sun goes down, sometimes it can be days and weeks without going out and only It will do so if the weather becomes rainy.The striped skunk (Mephitis mephitis) is another twilight species.During the day time passes in its burrow, but at dusk and dawn it goes in search of food.a very calm animal that tends to ignore other animals, but if it feels threatened it will spray a pestilent liquid on its attacker.The European otter ( Lutra lutra ), difficult to see and very elusive, has its beak activity during twilight.The field rabbit ( Oryctolagus cunicu lus), although it can be seen during the day when the temperature is hot, they are crepuscular animals.This allows them to avoid some aerial predators, like the eagle.The wild cat ( Felis silvestris ), very similar to the common cat, like this one, is of crepuscular habits.In the Iberian Peninsula there are several subspecies of wild cats, all of them with the same habits.

If you want to read more articles similar to Crepuscular animals-Definition and 5 examples , we recommend you enter our Curiosities section of the animal world.

Bibliography

Arendt, J.(1998).Biological rhythms: the science of chronobiology.Journal of the Royal College of Physicians of London, 32 (1), 27-35.
Rickel, S.,&Genin, A.(2005).Twilight transitions in coral reef fish: the input of light-induced changes in foraging behavior.Animal Behavior, 70 (1), 133-144.
Roenneberg, T.,&Foster, RG (1997).Twilight times: light and the circadian system.Photochemistry and photobiology, 66 (5), 549-561.

Comments

AIR ANIMALS - Examples and characteristics

Flying is one of the ways animals have to move , but not everyone can do it.To fly it is necessary to have physical characteristics that allow the flight.The human being, through the observation of aerial animals, has taken centuries to create a machine that flies, for example, as a bird. Only a few groups of animals have the real ability to fly, although if we see it from the perspective of the species, most of the animal species that exist on the planet fly, insects.In this article of Animal Expert we will know which are the aerial animals , their characteristics and some examples. What are air animals? Air animals are those that use flight as a mechanism of locomotion.For some animals this is their only way of moving but many others use it as an escape route in the presence of a predator. Certain animals spend the majority of their lives flying, performing all their vital functions in the air: eating, interacting with their environment and living or reproducing.For them, f...

Common diseases of beagle dogs

The most common diseases in beagle dogs are mainly those that affect to the eyes, the skin and the ears .However, they are not the only ones, and it is that this canine breed, like most, is prone to suffer from hereditary or genetic pathologies.The beagle is a canine breed native to the Kingdom United, characterized by dogs of medium height, with a compact and muscular body, and short fur.From their origins, they have been used in hunting tasks.They love physical activity, so they are great runners, and they love digging holes on earth. In general, this breed is quite healthy, so it is not easy for them to become infected with viruses or develop a health problem, but there are certain ailments to which they are prone.Keep reading this Animals and Pets Online article so you can find out what the common diseases are it's in beagle dogs. Eye diseases in beagle dogs Eye diseases are the most common in Beagle dogs, so if you have one at home you should perform an eye check per...

Teach my dog to walk without a leash step by step

The most effective tool to strengthen the link between a dog and its owner is the walks, in addition to this important effect, the benefits of the walks go much further: they help the dog manage stress, keep it healthy and discipline it in a pleasant way. Sometimes our pets demand more freedom and space and some owners also need their dog to exercise in another way and in another context, but it is necessary to know how to do it to preserve the safety of our furry friend. If you want to your dog enjoys his exits in another way, in this article of Animals and Pets Online we show you how to teach a dog to walk without a leash . Knowledge of basic orders So that your dog can walk by your side without a leash and remain obedient you must first know the basic orders , you must not be in a dog training period but must have already integrated this knowledge. Among the orders that your dog should know are the following: Among these the most important orders to walk your dog wi...

The owl as a pet

The human being has always been in contact with the animal kingdom and although it is true that the today's society is far from the times of yesteryear, men can not disassociate ourselves from nature or animals, a good example of this are all those people who decide to share their home with an animal. However, The world of companion animals is no longer reduced to dogs and cats (although they are the pets par excellence) but we welcome in our home numerous animals of very different characteristics, such as mice, turtles, snakes, ferrets, chinchillas..And a long etcetera. There are more and more animals that can be considered housemates, but is everything okay? In this article of Animals and Pets Online we talk about the owl as a pet. The nature of the owl Its heart-shaped head and its large and penetrating eyes make the owl an enigmatic, mysterious animal that enchants us with great ease, however, we must talk about its nature to evaluate if it is suitable as a pet . T...

My dog has broken one, what do I do?

In this article of Animal Expert we will explain What can we do if our dog has a broken one? We will see how to cure a broken one at home and in which cases, on the contrary, we should move to the vet. It is Good idea that we pay regular attention to the ones and, if necessary, spurs of our dog, precisely to verify that they are in good condition and thus stop any problems.Injuries to the nails and fingers can get to make it difficult The ambulation of the dog, so it is good to cut them whenever necessary.Now, if during this process there has been a problem, or your dog has dropped one , read on to know that do. Why has my dog broken one? Dogs have four ones on the fingers of their paws.Some also have spurs , which are vestiges of a fifth finger that they are located on the inner side of each leg and above the foot.In general, dogs keep their ones trimmed by the wear and tear that occurs during normal activity.If, for any reason, this wear is insufficient, the ones will g...

Types of colicos in horses

The colic is one of the most frequent pathologies and, unfortunately, more serious in horses.When the term colic is used, reference is being made to a pathology that affects the intestine of any species including man.In a general and broad way it is defined as painful access, located in the intestines and It is characterized by violent cramps, pain, sweats, etc.On the horse it manifests itself as a acute abdominal pain and depression , being a true emergency situation, so you must urgently notify the veterinarian and explain the situation. In this article of Animals and Pets Online we will detail both the causes and the symptoms of colic in horses , as well as the different types of colic what is there and the treatment to cure them. What is the origin of the colic? A colic is a syndrome that can have multiple origins, so it is technically said that it is of multifactorial etiology.However, indistinctly there is a common denominator in the origin of colic in horses, which ...

How to swim a hedgehog?

In ExpertAnimal we have already seen that many people opt for ground hedgehogs as pet.As any pet, the hedgehog needs a series of basic care so that it can develop and live happily. One of those needs is hygiene.If you just adopted a hedgehog or you are not sure when and how to wash your new pet, do not worry, in our new article we will tell you everything you need to know about how to bathe a hedgehog . Do not forget to comment and share your pictures at the end of the article! Initial care of the hedgehog as a pet before the first bath The first thing you should know is that hedgehogs must get used to human contact .A hedgehog when scared or does not feel comfortable curls up into a ball of spikes.This implies that At the beginning you should interact with gloves. Be patient since this adaptation will take place little by little, which is completely normal.Think that in the life of your pet there has just been a very radical change.Therefore, you should let the hedgehog sn...

Tips for educating an adopted dog

If you have decided to adopt a dog from a shelter or are thinking of doing so, it will be It is essential to be clear about some things that can happen .And it is that, an adopted dog, can be very baffled at the time of arrival at a new home. It will also be basic to understand how you will react at home, on the street and even with other people, also understanding what we should do about it.Always with patience and a lot of love. Keep reading this complete guide of Animals and Pets Online to know all the tips for educating an adopted dog and discover how beautiful it is to have a best friend rescued.One of the best experiences you can have in life. The behavior of adopted dogs While some dogs are sold for exorbitant quantities, others spend years in a cage waiting for the same opportunity .Whether they are breed or not, it is currently possible to find dogs of all kinds in shelters or kennels: small or large, puppies, adults or elderly.It is proposed and sought. Althoug...

Where the anteater lives

The vermiling or anteaters They are extraordinary animals and have numerous peculiarities, it is an animal that feeds basically on ants and termites thanks to its powerful claws and its cylindrical tongue, which can reach up to 60 centimeters in length and is especially viscous. When we talk about anteaters we really encompass four different species of a very variable size, from the silky anteater, which has a size similar to that of a squirrel, to the giant anteater, which as the name implies, it is large. If you want to find out more about this amazing animal in this Animals and Pets Online article, we explain where the anteater lives . The anteater's habitat The anteater can adapt to different environments from there that we can find both in tropical forests and in savannas, although it is also common to find it in open grasslands, swampy areas and forests. Some anteaters of very small size live in trees and feed from there going from one branch to another. ...

What do the positions of sleeping dogs mean?

You probably know perfectly the preferred postures your dog uses at the time of rest.But, what do the positions of the dogs to sleep mean? In this article of Animals and Pets Online we will show you the most common forms of sleep in dogs and their possible meaning. Remember that sleep is essential for the proper well-being of the dog, so you must respect in at all times your hours of rest without interrupting you.Keep reading and discover more about dog poses! 1.Panza up This posture is very funny and sometimes makes us wonder if the dog is really comfortable sleeping in this way.By exposing its most vulnerable parts, the dog unconsciously expresses well-being and lack of concern .It may also be common in somewhat nervous and excitable dogs.Dogs that feel very comfortable in their environment tend to adopt this position. 2.La This position is extremely tender for any animal lover.We can observe the dog curled up, sometimes even surrounding itself with its tail.It is espec...

Animals and Pets Online

Search This Blog