By the end of this chapter you'll be able to…

  • 1Classify animals as pets, domestic, or wild
  • 2Group animals as herbivores, carnivores, or omnivores
  • 3Name the homes of common animals
  • 4Name the babies of common animals
  • 5Tell apart a pet and a domestic animal
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Why this chapter matters
Animals share our world, and grouping them by where they live and what they eat builds early biology skills. Children learn pets, domestic, and wild animals; herbivores, carnivores, and omnivores; and the homes and baby names of animals.

Before you start — revise these

A 5-minute refresher here will save you 30 minutes of confusion below.

Animals Around Us

1. Types of Animals

Animals can be grouped by WHERE they live or how they are USED by humans.

Pets:

Animals that live with us in our HOMES.

'Pets are our FRIENDS. We take care of them, and they keep us company.'

PetSpecial Fact
DogVery LOYAL — called "man's best friend"
CatCan see in the DARK
FishLive in an AQUARIUM
Bird (parrot)Can MIMIC human speech

Domestic Animals:

Animals that are KEPT for their PRODUCTS (milk, eggs, wool, meat).

AnimalWhat We Get
CowMILK, dung (manure)
BuffaloMILK, meat
GoatMILK, meat, wool (some breeds)
SheepWOOL, meat
ChickenEGGS, meat
HorseTRANSPORTATION
DonkeyCARRYING loads

Wild Animals:

Animals that live in FORESTS, JUNGLES, or NATURAL habitats — NOT with humans.

Wild AnimalWhere It Lives
LionAfrican grasslands, Gir Forest (India)
TigerIndian jungles
ElephantForests of India, Africa
BearMountains and forests
MonkeyTropical forests
DeerForests and grasslands
SnakeForests, deserts, grasslands

2. What Animals Eat

Animals can be grouped by WHAT they eat.

Herbivores (Plant Eaters):

Animals that eat ONLY PLANTS.

HerbivoreWhat It Eats
CowGrass, hay
HorseGrass, oats
DeerLeaves, grass
ElephantLeaves, bark, fruits
RabbitCarrots, grass, leaves
GiraffeTree leaves (acacia)

Carnivores (Meat Eaters):

Animals that eat ONLY OTHER ANIMALS.

CarnivoreWhat It Eats
LionDeer, zebra, buffalo
TigerDeer, wild boar
WolfDeer, rabbits
EagleFish, small animals
SnakeRats, frogs, birds
SharkFish, seals

Omnivores (Both Plants and Meat):

Animals that eat BOTH plants and animals.

OmnivoreWhat It Eats
BearBerries, fish, honey, meat
CrowGrains, insects, leftover food
DogMeat, vegetables, grains
PigVegetables, fruits, meat
HumanAll kinds of food!
GroupEatsExamples
HerbivoresOnly plantsCow, deer, elephant
CarnivoresOnly meatLion, tiger, eagle
OmnivoresBoth plants and meatBear, crow, human

3. Animal Homes

Every animal needs a HOME to live in — for safety from weather and enemies.

AnimalHome CalledDescription
BirdNESTMade of twigs, grass in trees
DogKENNELSmall house, usually in the yard
CowSHEDWooden or brick shelter
LionDENCave or hidden place in forest
BeeHIVEWax structure, often in trees
SpiderWEBSilk threads spun by the spider
RabbitBURRQWTunnels underground
FishWATER (river/pond)Lives in water
AntANTHILLMound of soil with tunnels

4. Animal Babies

Adult AnimalBaby Name
CatKitten
DogPuppy
CowCalf
HorseFoal
SheepLamb
GoatKid
LionCub
TigerCub
HenChick
DuckDuckling
FrogTadpole
ButterflyCaterpillar
HenChick

5. Interesting Animal Facts

AnimalAmazing Fact
ButterflyTastes with its FEET!
DolphinSleeps with ONE eye open!
GiraffeHas a BLUE tongue!
OwlCan turn its head ALMOST all the way around!
ElephantThe LARGEST land animal.
CheetahThe FASTEST land animal (120 km/h).
Blue whaleThe LARGEST animal ever on Earth.

6. Common Mistakes

  1. Calling an elephant a carnivore: 'An elephant is a HERBIVORE. It eats leaves, grass, bark, and fruits — NOT meat.'
  2. Thinking all animals that live with us are pets: 'Cows and chickens are DOMESTIC animals (kept for products), not PETS. Pets are kept for COMPANY.'
  3. Confusing wild and domestic animals: 'A tiger is WILD — it lives in the forest. A cat is a PET — it can live in our home.'
  4. Calling a baby frog a 'baby frog': 'A baby frog is called a TADPOLE. It looks very different from an adult frog — it has a tail and lives only in water!'

7. Key Facts to Remember

  • 'Pets live with us (dog, cat). Domestic animals give us products (cow, sheep). Wild animals live in nature (lion, tiger).'
  • 'Herbivores eat only plants. Carnivores eat only meat. Omnivores eat both.'
  • 'Every animal has a HOME — nest, den, hive, burrow, shed.'
  • 'Animal babies have special names — puppy, kitten, calf, cub.'

8. Self-Test

Q1: What is the difference between a pet and a domestic animal? Give examples.

Q2: Name the three groups of animals based on what they eat.

Q3: Give two examples of each: (a) Herbivore (b) Carnivore (c) Omnivore

Q4: What is a lion's home called? What is a bee's home called?

Q5: What is the baby of a cow called? A cat? A frog?

Q6: Is an elephant a carnivore? Why or why not?

Q7: Name one animal that can taste with its feet.

Q8: Where do fish live?

Answers:

A1: Pets live with us for company (dog, cat). Domestic animals are kept for their products (cow for milk, sheep for wool). A2: Herbivores (plant eaters), Carnivores (meat eaters), Omnivores (both plants and meat). A3: (a) Cow, deer (b) Lion, tiger (c) Bear, crow. A4: Lion — DEN. Bee — HIVE. A5: Calf (cow), Kitten (cat), Tadpole (frog). A6: No, an elephant is a HERBIVORE. It eats only plants (leaves, grass, fruits). A7: Butterfly. A8: Fish live in WATER — rivers, ponds, lakes, and oceans.

Key formulas & results

Everything you need to memorise, in one card. Screenshot this for revision.

Food groups
Herbivores (plants), Carnivores (meat), Omnivores (both)
A cow is a herbivore, a lion a carnivore, a bear an omnivore.
Animal homes
Nest (bird), den (lion), hive (bee), burrow (rabbit), shed (cow)
Every animal needs a home for safety.
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Common mistakes & fixes

These are the exact errors that cost students marks in board exams. Read them once, save yourself the trouble.

WATCH OUT
Calling an elephant a carnivore
An elephant is a herbivore; it eats leaves, grass, bark, and fruit.
WATCH OUT
Thinking all animals at home are pets
Cows and hens are domestic animals kept for products, not pets kept for company.
WATCH OUT
Calling a baby frog a 'baby frog'
A baby frog is called a tadpole and lives in water.

Practice problems

Try each one yourself before tapping "Show solution". Active recall > rereading.

Q1EASY· Classify
What is the difference between a pet and a domestic animal? Give examples.
Show solution
Pets live with us for company (dog, cat); domestic animals are kept for products (cow for milk, sheep for wool).
Q2EASY· Food
Give two examples each of a herbivore, a carnivore, and an omnivore.
Show solution
Herbivores: cow, deer; carnivores: lion, tiger; omnivores: bear, crow.
Q3EASY· Homes
What is a lion's home called and what is a bee's home called?
Show solution
A lion lives in a den; a bee lives in a hive.
Q4EASY· Babies
What is the baby of a cow, a cat, and a frog called?
Show solution
Calf (cow), kitten (cat), tadpole (frog).

5-minute revision

The whole chapter, distilled. Read this the night before the exam.

  • Pets live with us; domestic animals give products; wild animals live in nature.
  • Herbivores eat plants; carnivores eat meat; omnivores eat both.
  • An elephant is a herbivore.
  • Animal homes: nest, den, hive, burrow, shed.
  • Animal babies: puppy, kitten, calf, cub, tadpole.
  • A cat is a pet; a cow is a domestic animal; a tiger is wild.
  • Every animal needs a home for safety.

ICSE marks blueprint

Where the marks come from in this chapter — so you can plan your prep.

Typical chapter weightage: 5-8 marks, depending on the school paper

Question typeMarks eachTypical countWhat it tests
Types / Food3-42Classifying animals and food groups
Homes / Babies2-41-2Animal homes and baby names
Prep strategy
  • Learn the three living groups: pet, domestic, wild
  • Sort animals into herbivore, carnivore, omnivore
  • Memorise animal homes and baby names
  • Use examples in every answer

Where this shows up in the real world

This chapter isn't just an exam topic — it lives in the world around you.

Caring for animals

Knowing what animals eat helps us look after pets and farm animals.

Understanding nature

Food groups show how animals depend on plants and each other.

Protecting wildlife

Learning about wild animals helps us value and protect them.

Exam strategy

Battle-tested tips from teachers and toppers for this chapter.

  1. Always give examples when classifying
  2. Match food group to the right animals
  3. Recall the exact home and baby names
  4. Explain why an animal belongs to a group

Going beyond the textbook

For olympiad aspirants and curious learners — topics that build on this chapter.

  • Make a chart matching ten animals to their homes and babies.
  • Find one animal that surprises you by being an omnivore.

Where else this chapter is tested

CBSE board isn't the only one — other exams test this chapter too.

ICSE Class 3 School ExamHigh
Science Olympiad (junior)Medium

Questions students ask

The real ones — pulled from the Q&A community and tutor sessions.

Pets are animals we keep in our homes for company and friendship, such as dogs, cats, and fish. Domestic animals are also kept by humans, but mainly for the useful products they give us, like a cow for milk, a hen for eggs, or a sheep for wool. Wild animals are not kept by humans at all; they live freely in forests, jungles, and other natural places, such as lions, tigers, and elephants.

An animal is grouped by what it eats, not by its size or strength. An elephant, although huge and powerful, eats only plant foods like leaves, grass, bark, and fruits, and it does not hunt or eat other animals. Because it eats only plants, it is a herbivore. Some of the largest animals on Earth, including elephants, are herbivores.
Verified by the tuition.in editorial team
Last reviewed on 30 May 2026. Written and reviewed by subject-matter experts — read about our process.
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