Animal Geographic Ranges Where a population of animals lives on Earth is called their geographic range. A range can change slowly over time due to weather, or quickly due to catastrophic events like earthquakes or meteor strikes. Big changes can cause a species to go extinct, but usually a population of animals will eventually reach a balance with the predators, prey and plants in its range. The exploration and expansion of humans around the world has affected animal (and plant) geographic ranges. As soon as humans began sailing the oceans in ships, they began introducing species to new ranges, sometimes with serious results, as seen with the extinction of the dodo bird. Humans also often intentionally introduce species with dire results, as seen with the rabbits in Australia. Yet many animals still have historical geographic ranges. Here are examples of 50 populations of animals in their historical geographic ranges. Australia is the only continent with populations of kangaroos (1), emu (2), dingos (3) and koalas (4), while only New Zealand has kiwis (5). The African grassland has cheetahs (6), African elephants (7), black rhinos (8), hippos (9), zebras (10), ostriches (11), wildebeests (12), lions (13), giraffes (14) and hyenas (15), while the north African deserts have dromedary camels (16) and fennec foxes (17). African rainforests are home to chimps (18) and gorillas (19), while lemurs (20) are only found in the forests of Madagascar. Orangutans (21) and gibbons (22) are found on the islands of Borneo and Sumatra. Pandas (23) are in China. Yaks (24) and snow leopards (25) are on the Tibetan Plateau. Populations of tigers (26) and Asian elephants (27) are found in Asia and India. Pronghorn antelope (28), musk ox (29), polar bear (30), lynx (31), timber wolves (32), grizzly bears (33), mountain goats (34), elk (35), northern fur seals (36) and bald eagles (37) are found in North America, while giant anteaters (38), jaguars (39), capybara (40), spider and squirrel monkeys (41-42), anacondas (43), vicunas (44) and harpy eagles (45) are found in South America. Antarctica has adelie (46), gentoo (47) and emperor penguins (48). The saiga antelope (49) and Bactrian camels (50) live on the steppes of Mongolia. Ocean animal ranges are more fluid as they migrate annually throughout the oceans for feeding and reproduction. Can you find your favorite animal? North America South America Africa Asia Europe Australia Antarctia Madagascar 4 1 3 5 8 9 6 7 10 11 13 12 17 15 14 2 16 22 18 19 20 21 23 24 25 22 40 39 37 32 36 31 29 28 27 26 34 33 38 41 42 43 44 45 48 46 47 49 50 30 35
94-4034 Where a population of animals lives on Earth is called their geographic range. Here are examples of 50 populations of animals in their historical geographic ranges. Australia is the only continent with populations of ____________________ (1), ______________ (2), _____________________ (3) and _______________________ (4), while only New Zealand has _______________ (5). African grassland has ______________________ (6), ______________________________ (7), ___________________________ (8), ___________________ (9), ____________________ (10), ___________________ (11), ___________________________ (12), _____________________ (13), _____________________ (14), and ____________________ (15), while the north African deserts have dromedary _________________ (16) and fennec ________________ (17). African rainforests are home to _____________________ (18) and _____________________ (19), while ________________________ (20) are only found in the forests of Madagascar. _______________________ (21) and ____________________ (22) are found on the islands of Borneo and Sumatra. _______________________ (23) are in China. ___________ (24) and snow _________________ (25) are on the Tibetan Plateau. Populations of __________________ (26) and Asian ________________________ (27) are found in Asia and India. Pronghorn ___________________ (28), ______________ ______________ (29), ________________ _____________ (30), ___________ (31), timber wolves (32), _________________ ____________ (33), mountain ________________ (34), ____________ (35), northern ___________ ___________ (36) and __________ ______________ (37) are found in North America, while giant _________________ (38), _____________________ (39), _____________________ (40), spider and squirrel ______________________ (41-42), ____________________ (43), ___________________ (44) and harpy eagles (45) are found in South America. Antarctica has _________________ (46), _________________ (47) and emperor ________________________ (48). The saiga _________________ (49) and Bactrian _____________________ (50) live on the steppes of Mongolia. Ocean animal ranges are more fluid as they migrate annually throughout the oceans for feeding and reproduction. North America South America Africa Asia Australia Antarctia Madagascar Europe Animal Geographic Ranges 4 1 3 5 8 9 6 7 10 11 13 12 17 15 14 2 16 22 18 19 20 21 23 24 25 22 40 39 37 32 36 31 29 28 27 26 34 33 38 41 42 43 44 45 48 46 47 49 50 30 35