However, many animals are also able to adapt very quickly, some with remarkable alacrity, to sudden changes in their environment, where others simply die out in similar circumstances. Compare for example Pandas and Pigeons, the former’s habitat must be very specific to avoid extinction and the latter can live pretty much anywhere – simply moving on to new pastures if their situation becomes undesirable.

Since life began on Earth, animals have evolved to survive in an enormous variety of habitats:

• near hot ocean vents
• in icy polar regions
• under desert rocks
• amidst dense rainforests

The ability of animals to adapt to life in many different habitats has allowed animal life to continue to survive on Earth as the structure and environment of our planet has changed over billions of  years.