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Animals of the Grassland Plains

The grassland plains covers one fourth of the earth's land surface. They usually exist between desert areas and forests. Both the tropical and temperate climates provide the best situations in which the biome can thrive. Tropical weather climate is very hot and wet. Temperate climates feature hot summers as well as cold winters with less rain than tropical climates.

North America
- The Monarch butterfly feeds in the North American grasslands on its way to Mexico.
  
  In North America, grasslands are known as prairies. These prairies stretch from parts of Canada such as Alberta to the United States and Mexico. Burrowing animals like the prairie dogs, white tail jack rabbits and black tail jack rabbits are common for these areas. Reptiles and amphibians include the prairie rattlesnake and American toad, both of which live in this habitat. Monarch butterflies stop in the grasslands to feed during their winter migrations to Mexico. Numbers of bison in North America were reduced by early settlers through hunting, but are gaining in numbers due to conservation.
Australia
- Kangaroos live in the Australian grasslands.
  
  Australia has many native and non native animals in grasslands. Kangaroos are some of the most well known native animals along with wallabies, wombats and dingos, which are wild dogs. Wombats burrow and eat the grass as well as leaves. Australia's second largest bird, the emu, as well as a tiny bird known as the white-fronted chat live in the grasslands. The non-native animals such as sheep were brought by settlers. These animals have spread into the biome, taking resources from native habitants.
South America
- Armadillos live in the South American grasslands along with opossums and foxes.
  
  The South American grasslands feature animals that exist in other areas such as the armadillo, opossum and fox. There are over 20 species of armadillo as well as 60 species of opossum that exist in this region. Some animals live only in this South American biome. The lowland tapir reaches a height of approximately 3 feet tall but can weigh up to 600 pounds. Resembling the ostrich, the flightless common rhea reaches 5 feet in height and eats insects, lizards and vegetation.
Africa
- The giraffe makes its home on the savannas of Africa.
  
  Africa's grassland plains are called savannas. Large mammals inhabiting the areas include African elephants and giraffes. The African elephant is one of the largest mammals ranging from 19 to 24 feet in body size while the giraffe is the tallest animal at 19 feet tall. Both eat leaves, grasses and bark. Birds in this African biome range from red-billed oxpeckers to gnus. The red-billed oxpecker is usually in the company of larger mammals and dines on external parasites found on the skin and fur of much larger animals.

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