Initially, most animals were diurnal, but adaptations that allowed some animals to become nocturnal is what helped contribute to the success of many, especially mammals. Evolution of diurnality A chimpanzee, a diurnal simian Scientifically classifying diurnality within animals can be a challenge, apart from the obvious increased activity levels during the day time light. Most primates are diurnal, including humans. Commonly classified diurnal animals include mammals, birds, and reptiles. Many types of animals are classified as being diurnal, meaning they are active during the day time and inactive or have periods of rest during the night time. In animals A bearded dragon, a diurnal reptile For example, sunflowers open during the day to attract bees, whereas the night-blooming cereus opens at night to attract large sphinx moths. The timing of flower opening is often related to the time at which preferred pollinators are foraging. Plants that open their flowers during the daytime are described as diurnal, while those that bloom during nighttime are nocturnal. Animals active during twilight are crepuscular, those active during the night are nocturnal and animals active at sporadic times during both night and day are cathemeral. Diurnality is a cycle of activity within a 24-hour period cyclic activities called circadian rhythms are endogenous cycles not dependent on external cues or environmental factors except for a zeitgeber. The timing of activity by an animal depends on a variety of environmental factors such as the temperature, the ability to gather food by sight, the risk of predation, and the time of year. The common adjective used for daytime activity is 'diurnal'. Steppe eagles are diurnal, and hunt during the day Humans are diurnal, and organize their work and business mainly in the day ĭiurnality is a form of plant and animal behavior characterized by activity during daytime, with a period of sleeping or other inactivity at night. So the next time you see a shadow at night, it might not be what you expect.Behavior characterized by activity during the day and sleeping during the night Worms have to wriggle away quickly if a mole comes by. Worms come out at night to the moles' delight. So they use their noses to sniff out for worms. And they have great, big, flat paws to dig with.

Moles live in holes, so they like it dark as well. They collect straw for their burrows and play in the dark. Badgers wait for night time, when it's safe to come out.

If you see a black-and-white face in the woods, it might be a badger. The bats use their big ears to listen out for the moths. They come out at night to hunt for moths. A slug could make a tasty treat.īats huddle in the roof of a church. Owls aren't the only animals that come out at night. So their parents have to feed them all the time. Phew! That was close! Barn owl chicks are always hungry. Mice like to live in barns too but they have to be careful. This white owl is called a barn owl because she likes to live in barns and sheds. Owls have big eyes to help them see in the dark. Woo! Who do you think these eyes belong to? There are some animals that only come out at night and they are called nocturnal animals.

Nocturnal animals meaning and examples