Humans find ways to live. So do animals

Created By RISC | 3 weeks ago

Last modified date : 3 weeks ago

“Humans find ways to live. So do animals…. We do not harm one another.”

You might recognize this line from the iconic Thai song “Cheewit Sampan” (Life’s Connection) by Carabao. But have you ever noticed how every living creature seems to follow its own rhythm — its own “time” to be alive? Nature has designed these rhythms in such a fascinating way.

When you look closely, animal behavior isn’t all that different from human lifestyles. Let’s explore how animals live and how their patterns mirror ours.

Animals’ behaviors can be grouped into four main types.
Diurnal – These are the office workers of the animal world. They’re up with the sun, active during the day, and rest at night. Their eyesight is great in bright light — like elephants, monkeys, and many bird species.
Nocturnal – Night is heaven’s time. They sleep during the day and come alive after dark. Their senses are finely tuned including hearing, smell, and eyesight in the dark — like bats, owls, snakes, and nocturnal insects.
Crepuscular – Active at dawn and dusk, they avoid both harsh sunlight and total darkness – like deer, rabbits, and some mosquitoes.
Cathemeral – No fixed schedule here, these animals eat and rest at any time, depending on the season, safety, and environment – like bears and tigers.

In nature, “Time” isn’t just ticking on a clock in nature — it’s the heartbeat of life. All life on earth is simply trying to survive… each on its own time, in its own way.

Written by: Ms. Kotchakorn Rattanama, Biodiversity Researcher at RISC

Reference:
Vallejo-Vargas, A.F., Sheil, D., Semper-Pascual, A. et al. Consistent diel activity patterns of forest mammals among tropical regions. Nat Commun 13, 7102 (2022).
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-022-34825-1?utm_source=chatgpt.com