What do we call the natural environment in which an animal lives?

A habitat refers to the specific natural environment that provides the necessary conditions for an animal to live, grow, and reproduce. It includes the physical space (like forests, streams, or deserts) and the biotic factors (such as the availability of food, shelter, and water) that support a particular species.

Territory is more specific, as it denotes an area defended by an individual animal or group against others, often used for breeding purposes or resource control. Ecology relates to the broader study of interactions between organisms and their environment, encompassing various habitats and ecosystems. A biome is a larger ecological classification that describes regions characterized by particular climate conditions and types of flora and fauna, such as tundras, grasslands, or rainforests. While all these terms are related to environments and ecosystems, habitat specifically and directly identifies the living space of an animal.