Yes

I swim upside-down, with long oar-like legs. I have a hairy bottom which helps me hang on to the surface tension and pull down oxygen so that I can breathe. My large eyes find dinner easily, and my sharp stylets enable me to suck the body fluids of my prey, I just love tadpoles! Watch Out though - I BITE!!

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No

I love skimming and hopping about all over the water surface and can do this because my long beautiful legs spread my weight so I just glide on the water tension. I breathe through my skin. My tummy is hairy which helps me float, and is really useful as I can sense vibrations when my dinner is nearby! I dart out to insects that have fallen in the water and eat them with my piercing mouth. Got you!! Yum yum!!

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Yes

I move in a special way. It's like swimming and walking, but with a wriggling, looping motion, made by using my suckers at both ends of my body. You might think I'm from a horror story, because for dinner I suck the blood of fish, frogs and water snails ....s..s..scrumptious!!

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No

I perch on overhanging branches and then dive into the water and use my long pointed beak to catch small fish for dinner. To hide from predators I fly low over the water which makes me difficult to see. My nest is a burrow in the bank of the river or lake and this is where I lay my eggs and raise my family.

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Yes

I live in the water, floating about motionless using my swim bladders to rise and fall, just like a submarine. I am transparent so I have excellent camouflage because you can look through me at my surroundings!! I catch insects with the hook on my head and they taste delicious!

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Habitat Conditions

• Oxygen. There is enough oxygen in this area because all the underwater plants produce oxygen. The animals living here breathe through their gills, or skin. Some even take an air bubble with them down from the surface
• Light. Some light reaches this habitat through the water but the further down the animal goes, the darker it gets!
• Shelter. There is less shelter here, unless lots of floating plants are growing.
• Food. Food is difficult to find and most animals have to either hunt at the surface, margin or scavenge the bottom.
• Predators: The main predators are fish that dart into the other habitats in the pond.

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