Diurnal, Nocturnal, Crepuscular
Common Ostrich Names: Boomer (He is the first ostrich in the picture with the black and white feathers), Bina & Bushara Age: Boomer is about 21 years old Bina and Bushara are about 6 years old Diet: Fresh lettuce and a specialized grain Size: They are about 150 pounds each and stand about 9 feet tall
Hartmann’s Mountain Zebra Name: Kasane & Rund Age: Kasane is about 15 years old, Rundu is about 8 years old Diet: They get lots of hay and a specialized grain Size: Zebras on average weigh about 600-700 pounds
Visit us at Http://www.Uticazoo.org/kazoo . Mission: Utica Zoo creates unique experiences and promotes public appreciation of wildlife through education, conservation and recreation.
Diurnal animals are active during the day and asleep at night, like our Zebras and Ostriches. Initially, most animals were diurnal, but adaptations over time allowed some animals to become nocturnal. Nocturnal animals are active at night and rest during the day, like Daisy, our Virginia Opossum. This evolutionary movement to nocturnality allowed them to better avoid predators and gain resources with less competition from other animals. A majority of animals, about 69%, are nocturnal and only about 20% of animals are diurnal. Another term that is sometimes used to describe some nocturnal animals is crepuscular. Crepuscular animals are most active at dawn and dusk, when the sun is rising and setting. Some crepuscular animals that we have at the zoo are Widget, our North American Porcupine, and our family of Chinchillas!
So why are different animals active at different times of the day? There are a majority of factors that go into why animals adapt the way that they do, including temperature, levels of light, availability of food, and competition. There are some habitats in the world where animals have to adapt to living in very extreme temperatures. A good example of this is the Sonoran Desert that spans from the southwest United States into Mexico. In the Summer, temperatures often exceed 100 degrees Fahrenheit, so many animals retreat to underground burrows and tunnels during the day and are active when the temperature begins to drop. Many reptiles, like Donatella, our wood turtle, are diurnal because they need to use the sun to help warm up their bodies. They can’t self-regulate their body temperature like mammals and birds, so they need to be active when there is enough sunlight. However, some reptiles, like those that live in extreme habitats like deserts, are crepuscular as it can be dangerous for them to go out when it’s extremely hot. A good example of this is our Sulcata Tortoises, Bob, Bart, and Roscoe. The tunnel systems that they create are often used by other desert animals for protection from the daytime heat! All of our reptiles are housed inside during the Winter months as well since they need warm temperatures to be active.
Another reason why animals are adapted to living at different times of the day is to find food and avoid competition. Diurnal birds of prey, like our Red Tailed Hawks and Eagles, eat things like chipmunks, squirrels, and fish that are active during the day. Owls are primarily nocturnal and usually hunt for things like small rodents that are also active at night. In addition, by being active at night,
Owls don’t have to worry about competing for food or possibly becoming prey for larger birds of prey! The biggest competition for Barred Owls, like Grace, are Great Horned Owls, because they are larger in size, and they usually avoid them by moving to a different part of their territory when a Great Horned Owl is nearby.
At home, you can investigate which animals in your neighborhood are active during the day and which are awake at night! This would be a great activity to add to your nature journal. In the morning, take a look outside your window and listen for the sounds of animals. You may see a robin at your bird feeder or a turtle in the creek behind your house. Jot down all of the animals that you see, the weather and the temperature, and what time you’re making your observations. Try this again at night. If you live near the woods, you may hear an owl, or perhaps you’ll smell a skunk passing through your yard! For more information about nature journals, be sure to check out our Nature Journaling Kazoo video!