The Earth is full of so many wonderful things, and one of the most important elements on Earth are the flora and fauna that exist in perfect tandem. When children learn about the environment around them, one of the first things that they see and even talk about are the plants and animals that are around them. If they are taken to the playground or even head out on a holiday, nature is all around them, and an introduction to these two concepts is something that is needed and will be easy for them to understand, as they see it in real life.
In this article, we will introduce the concepts of flora and fauna for kindergartener with examples, characteristics of flora and fauna, and even list down the differences between them. Let’s jump straight in!
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What Is Flora?
When we talk about the Earth, we mean biotic and abiotic things that exist together. Abiotic elements are all non-living things like soil and water, while biotic elements are living things, that include flora and fauna.
Let us understand what Flora is now. The term Flora refers to all sorts of plant life that exist in the world. In Latin, the term flora means “Goddess of the Flower”. All sorts of plant life in the world fall under this term, the entire plant kingdom is represented by this title.
Flora is classified based on numerous factors, the biggest cause being the geographical location – particular regions where they are grown and found. The Earth is full of different types of terrain – from lush rainforests to even barren deserts – and there are different types of flora growing in every type of weather and geographical condition.
The beauty of plants is that each variety that’s located in any place in the world adapts to that local climate and thrives. Take the example of the cactus plant. This is usually found in deserts all over the world, and the way they have adapted is that they have thorns and are very fleshy as they store water to be able to survive.
Agricultural plants and flora are basically plants that are grown for consumption by man – from wheat to corn, etc. Horticulture is the art of growing decorative plants and flowers that are kept in gardens.
Examples Of Flora
Let us now look at some examples of fauna under a broad classification –
1. Native Flora
Native flora is basically the flora, or plants and trees, that are native to a particular place and only grow in that region, or is common to a particular region. For example: Sal trees are native to India, the Giant Redwood trees are native to California in the US, or the Baobab tree or the ‘tree of life’ is in Africa.
2. Horticultural Flora
This type of flora is grown by humans and involves them being displayed in spaces. Examples of this type of flora are grass, decorative or ornamental indoor and outdoor plants and landscape indoor and outdoor plants.
3. Agricultural Flora
This type of flora includes plants that are grown for the purpose of consumption – fruit and vegetable plants, etc. Some examples are sunflowers, tomatoes, potatoes, wheat, corn, etc.
4. Weed Flora
This variety is basically plants that are not desirable and are always removed or gotten rid of. Sow thistles or even dandelions are some examples of weeds that are always removed so that the main plant can get water and nutrients and grow well.
What Is Fauna?
Fauna basically means all sorts of animal life across the world. Fauna means “Goddess of Fertility”, and includes all sorts of animals like birds, fish, microbes, animals and even cryptofauna (species that haven’t been discovered so far!).
Birds are also called Avifauna; fish are also known as Piscifauna. Microscopic organisms that live on earth are called Microfauna. Bigger animals that we see in the wild are called Megafauna.
Fauna, like Flora, is classified based on the region, characteristics, climate, environmental conditions and even the time period. Cryofauna is defined as those animals that live in and around cold places. Cryptofauna refers to animals that live in protected habitats or spaces.
Earth is full of complex ecosystems that not only provide us with resources to use daily, but also make the world a more beautiful place to live in, thanks to all the diverse flora and fauna.
Examples Of Fauna
Let us now look at some examples of fauna that have been classified based on the habitat they’re from.
1. Terrestrial Animals
The animals that live on land are called terrestrial animals. They usually have four legs and developed sense organs. Some examples are lions, tigers, cheetahs, elephants, cats, dogs, bears, etc.
2. Aerial Animals
These are animals that fly and spend most of their time in the air. Most of the birds fall under this section.
3. Aquatic Animals
Aquatic animals are basically animals that live in water. A lot of fishes reside here, and have special respiratory organs called lungs to help them breathe underwater.
4. Amphibians
These are animals that live both in water and on land. Amphibians are also cold-blooded animals, but they don’t have scaly skin but slimy skin so that both air and water can pass through them. Some examples are frogs, toads, salamanders, etc.
5. Arboreal Animals
These are animals that usually live on trees. Some popular examples of this are monkeys and squirrels!
What Is The Difference Between Flora And Fauna?
| Flora | Fauna |
| All living plants come under the Flora category. | All types of living animals come under the fauna category. |
| Production of food happens on its own for plants. | Fauna depend on others for food, or hunt for their own. |
| Plants are immobile and cannot move from one place to another. | Animals are mobile and can move around. |
| Climate can affect flora. | Fauna can affect the climate of the region. |
| The study of plants is called Botany. | The study of animals is called Zoology. |
| Flora have cell walls. | Fauna don’t have cell walls. |
| Examples – grass, flowering plants, evergreen trees, etc. | Examples – Birds, fish, animals, etc. |
Importance Of Teaching Kids About Flora & Fauna
Let us now look at the significance of both flora and fauna in this section –
1. Maintaining Ecological Balance
Both flora and fauna play an important role in terms of ecological balance, as flora are required to release oxygen into the air, and fauna release carbon dioxide, which is what flora need to be able to convert into oxygen. It is a very symbiotic relationship that they share.
2. Improving The Local Economy
Both animals and plants contribute to a place’s local tourism, and thus help build the economy in different regions. Take the Amazon rainforest for example, which is a thriving ecosystem of both flora and fauna, and which has so many tourists coming to visit it every year, which then promotes the economy in Brazil.
3. Aesthetic Importance
Both flora and fauna on Earth are important, and there are so many national parks, bio reserves and even zoos that people visit to enjoy the scenery.
Interesting Facts About Flora And Fauna
Let us now look at some interesting facts about both flora and fauna in this section –
Fun Facts About Flora –
- Around 2,000 new plant species are discovered every year.
- Asparagus is a member of the Lily family.
- The first potatoes ever were cultivated in Peru around 7,000 years ago!
- The average strawberry has around 200 seeds, all of them on the outside of the fruit!
- 90 percent of the food us humans eat come from around 30 plants.
- Peanuts are not nuts, but are related to lentils!
- Bamboo is the fastest-growing woody plant in the world.
Fun Facts About Fauna –
- A snail can sleep for 3 years straight.
- Slugs have four noses!
- Elephants are the only animals that can’t jump.
- A rhino’s horn is made of hair.
- Sloths take about a week to digest their food.
- Giraffes have no vocal cords.
- An ostrich’s eye is bigger than its brain!
- Bats always turn left when they leave their caves.
Also Read:
Layers Of Soil with Activities for Children
Living and Non-Living Things for Kids
Compare and Contrast Lesson for Children
