Territory (animal) facts for kids

In the world of animals, a territory is a special area that an animal or a group of animals strongly defends. They protect it from other animals, especially those of the same species. Animals that do this are called territorial.

Not all animals are territorial. Many animals have a home range, which is an area they use regularly but don't necessarily fight to defend. Home ranges often overlap with other groups' areas. When this happens, the groups usually try to avoid each other instead of fighting.

Why Animals Have Territories

Animals defend territories for important reasons. It helps them make sure they have enough food, water, and safe places to live. It also helps them find a mate and raise their young without too much competition.

Types of Territories

Territories can be held by different kinds of animal groups:

• Individuals: Some animals, like many birds, defend their own space.
• Pairs: A mated pair might defend a territory together, especially during breeding season.
• Groups: Some animals, like wolves or certain monkeys, live and defend their territory as a family or social group.

The size and importance of a territory can also change throughout the year, depending on things like breeding season or food availability.

How Animals Mark Their Territory

Animals use different ways to let others know an area is taken.

Sound Signals

Many animals use loud sounds to announce their territory. These sounds are short and only made when the animal is there. But they can travel very far, even through thick forests or over open fields.

• Birds sing their unique songs.
• Frogs croak loudly.
• Canids (like wolves and coyotes) howl or bark.

Scent Markings

Many mammals use their sense of smell to mark their territory. They leave behind special scents that other animals can detect.

• Some animals have scent glands that produce strong smells. They rub these glands on trees, rocks, or the ground.
• Others, like many dogs, squirt urine in key spots. This tells other animals who owns the area.
• Domestic cats also use scent marking. They rub their faces on things, leaving behind their unique smell. They also have special ways of showing aggression if another cat enters their space, starting with sounds and sometimes leading to a fight.

Images for kids

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  A male South China tiger scent-marking his territory

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  Ring-tailed lemurs hold their distinctive tails high in the air during territorial scent marking. They also engage in "stink fights" with intruding males.

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  The antebrachial scent gland and spur on the forearm of a male ring-tailed lemur

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  Two domestic cats posturing during ritualized aggression over a territory

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  A western marsh harrier is mobbed by a northern lapwing. The marsh harrier, a male, had been quartering the ground in which lapwing and redshank were nesting.

See also

In Spanish: Territorio (animal) para niños