What is a Diurnal Animal? Examples and Definition

A diurnal animal is a creature that is usually awake and active during the day and rests or sleeps at night. These animals have learned to adjust their behaviour and body functions to be most energetic and aware during daylight. Things like sunlight, temperature changes, and the actions of other animals in the environment often influence diurnal behaviour.

Some examples of diurnal animals include:

• Humans: Most humans are active during the daytime and tend to rest at night since they are diurnal creatures.
• Cheetahs: These large felines are active hunters during the day and are well-known for their incredible speed.
• Butterflies: Lots of different kinds of butterflies are up and about during the daytime.
• Wallabies: Wallabies, like kangaroos, are known to be active during the day and primarily eat grass and plants.
• Kookaburras: These native birds are known for their distinctive laughing call and are diurnal hunters.

Identify and Sort Nocturnal vs. Diurnal Animals

Get ready to dive into the world of animal behaviours and adaptations! This is a fun and interactive way to help students learn about the unique survival behaviours of animals. 

The activity focuses on the differences between diurnal and nocturnal animals. It includes 24 different animals, and students must decide whether each animal is active during the day or at night. This interactive task card set is self-checking and so easy to use. If students select the correct answer, they will move on to the next animal. If they get the answer wrong, they will have another chance to try. This is a great way to help students learn about animals and their behavioural adaptations.

Download and Play to Learn About Nocturnal and Diurnal Animals

This resource is available as an easy-to-use PowerPoint or Google Slides resource. Click the dropdown arrow on the download button to select your preferred file.

This resource was created by Brittany Collins, a Teach Starter collaborator.

More Animal Activities for the Classroom!

Discover more ways to spark curiosity and engage your students. Take a moment to browse through these animal-inspired activities before you go!

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