Yes

My worm-like body, with short stumpy legs, makes it easy for me to wriggle through the mud. I am an insect larva, and that long tube is a wonderful feeding snorkel, that sucks up detritus (decaying plants). Although I now live on the pond bottom, when I eventually turn into an adult I'll leave the water and become a hoverfly.

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Yes

A muscular foot is which is great for burrowing into the mud at the bottom of the pond. My shell is very strong and I have powerful muscles to hold it closed when predators are about. My shell also has tiny hairs inside that beat and move the water down my breathing siphon. This helps me get oxygen and small floating food particles.

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No

I am a bird with large wings and can fly long distances. My legs are long and slender for standing in the water and my beak is long, too, for spearing fish, frogs and shell fish. I am brilliant at keeping still - much better than you !! The stiller I keep, the better chance I have of catching my dinner.

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No

I have beautiful wings and am a brilliant flier. I love darting about above the water. The large eyes on the front of my head give me excellent sight to spot gnats and mosquitoes for dinner, and my powerful jaws with special hooks, catch and hold firm my prey so they can't escape!!!

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Yes

I am flat and have a large surface area compared to my size. This is important because it improves my oxygen uptake and means I can live at the bottom of the pond. I move through and over the mud by gliding. Although I am minute, I am carnivorous, and enjoy small insects and crustaceans for my dinner.

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Habitat Conditions

• Oxygen. There is little oxygen at the bottom of the pond because dead animals rot and decompose using up the oxygen. Plants also find it hard to grow here because of the lack of light and this reduces the oxygen levels in the water.
• Light. The level of light here is low because the water depth and plants that grow above shade the pond bottom.
• Shelter. There is plenty of shelter and hiding places in decaying plant matter, stones, mud and sometimes rubbish!
• Food. Food is available in the mud and debris, it may be dead or decaying plant or animal material (detritus.).
• Predators: are fish and insects that can dive down to search for food and lurk in the mud waiting to pounce!

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