Chapter 2 — Diversity in the Living World

Chapter 2 'Diversity in the Living World' teaches Class 6 students about the variety of plants and animals (biodiversity), how to group them based on features like stem type, venation, root system and seed structure, and how adaptations help living organisms survive in different habitats such as deserts, mountains and oceans.

The variety of plants and animals found in a particular region contributes to the biodiversity of that region. Each member in the biodiversity of a region has a different role to play, and plants and animals are dependent on each other.

Herbs are small plants with soft green stems (e.g. tomato). Shrubs have many brown woody stems branching close to the ground, hard but thinner than tree stems (e.g. rose). Trees are tall with hard, thick, woody brown stems and branches starting higher up (e.g. mango).

Venation is the pattern of veins on a leaf. Reticulate venation shows a net-like pattern of veins on both sides of a thick middle vein (e.g. hibiscus, chickpea). Parallel venation shows veins running parallel to each other (e.g. banana, grass, wheat).

A taproot system has one main root with small side roots arising from it (e.g. mustard, chickpea, hibiscus). Fibrous roots appear as a bunch of similar-sized thin roots arising from the base of the stem (e.g. grass, wheat).

Plants with seeds that have two cotyledons are called dicotyledons (dicots). They have reticulate venation and taproots. Plants with a single thin cotyledon are monocotyledons (monocots). They have parallel venation and fibrous roots. Examples: chickpea (dicot), maize and wheat (monocots).

Adaptations are the special features that enable plants and animals to survive in a particular region. Examples: the conical shape and sloping branches of the deodar tree help snow slide off in mountain regions; the thick fleshy stems of cactus store water to tolerate desert heat.

The place where plants and animals live is called their habitat. It provides food, water, air, shelter and other needs. Plants and animals on land live in terrestrial habitats (forests, deserts, grasslands, mountains). Those in water live in aquatic habitats (ponds, lakes, rivers, oceans). Animals like frogs that live in both are called amphibians.

Hot-desert camels have one hump to store food, long legs with wide hooves to walk on sand without sinking, excrete small amounts of urine, have dry dung, and do not sweat — reducing water loss. Cold-desert camels have two humps, shorter legs for mountain terrain, and grow long hair from head to neck to survive cold winters.

Salim Ali (1896–1987) was an Indian ornithologist who travelled across India to observe and document bird diversity, their travel routes and habitats. He wrote a landmark series of 10 books on birds of the Indian Subcontinent and helped preserve regions like Keoladeo National Park (Bharatpur) and Ranganathittu Bird Sanctuary (Mandya, Karnataka). He is called the 'Birdman of India' and was awarded Padma Vibhushan in 1976.

Sacred groves are undisturbed patches of forests protected by local communities. No one is allowed to harm animals or cut trees in these groves. They are home to diverse plants, animals and medicinal plants, making them a community-protected treasure of biodiversity.

Yes. The NCERT Class 6 Science (Curiosity) Chapter 2 'Diversity in the Living World' PDF is available free of charge with no registration or sign-up required. You can read and download it directly from the NCERT website or through our app.