Childrens Illustrated Encyclopedia

241

Grassland wildlife 241-

VAST AREAS OF AFRICA, the Americas, Asia, and Australia

consist of grasslands—areas too dry for forests, but not too dry

for grasses. Grasses themselves are flowering plants that can

grow again quickly after animals eat them. Grasses also recover

quickly if fire sweeps across the plains in the hot, dry season.

The fire burns only the upper parts of the grass, so the roots

and stems are not damaged. Grasslands provide a home for

many different animals. Each survives by feeding on a different

part of the grass plants. Zebras, for example, eat the coarse,

older grass, while wildebeest (gnu) graze on new shoots.

Thomson’s gazelles nibble close to the ground. Grasshoppers,

ants, and termites shelter among the grass stems and roots;

these insects, in turn, are food for larger animals such as

anteaters and armadillos. The lack of trees in grassland areas

means that small animals and certain birds have to dig burrows

for shelter and for breeding. Each type of grassland has

burrowing rodents; prairie dogs and pocket gophers live

in North America, susliks in Asia, ground squirrels in Africa,

and viscachas and tuco-tucos in South America.

SOuTh AmERICAN pAmpAS

The largest mammals on the South

American pampas are the pampas

deer, guanaco, and rodents such

as the viscacha, which burrows for

shelter and safety. A fast-running

bird called the rhea also lives on

the South American pampas,

feeding on grasses and other plants.

pAmpAS GRASS

The white, fluffy seed

heads of pampas

grass are a familiar

sight in parks and

gardens. Wild pampas

grass covers huge areas

of Argentina, in South

America. pampas leaves

have tiny teeth, like

miniature saws, that

easily cut human skin.

Thistles grow in grassy areas throughout the world.

Their prickles protect them against grazing animals.

The flowers are often purple, and form fluffy

white seed heads.

GIANT ANTEATER

With large claws on its second and third fingers, the giant

anteater can easily rip a hole in an ant’s nest or a termite

mound as it searches for food. The giant anteater uses its

long, sticky tongue to lick up the ants and termites.

Its tongue measures about 24 in (60 cm) in length.

Tail

protects

anteater’s body as it

sleeps in a shallow hole,

listening for predators

such as pumas.

BuRROWING OWl

The burrowing owl

lives on the South

American pampas.

It often makes its

nest in an empty

burrow taken over

from a viscacha.

Burrowing owls eat

grasshoppers, insects,

small mammals, birds,

lizards, and snakes.

This map shows the main

grassland areas of the world.

Asia

Australia

Africa

GRASSlANd AREAS

The main grassland areas in the world are the

Asian steppes, African savannas and grasslands, North

American prairies, and South American pampas, which

blend into tropical Amazonian savanna. There are also

tropical grasslands in parts of India and across Australia.

VISCAChA

The viscacha is related to the guinea pig.

A male viscacha weighs about 17 lb

(8 kg), almost twice the size of

the female. Viscachas dig a

system of burrows with

their front feet and pile

up sticks and stones

near the various

entrances. They eat

mainly plant leaves

and stems.

North

America

South

America

Steppe

Pampas/Prairie

Savanna

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