Crepuscular animal

"Crepuscular" redirects here. For the atmospheric optical effect, see Crepuscular rays. For a definition of the term "crepuscular", see the Wiktionary entry crepuscular.
Photo of a red fox standing outdoors among forest understory
A red fox at dusk
Photo of a cat sitting on a balcony ledge. Its coat is grey with black stripes and some white in its undercoat.
A domestic cat under low light

In zoology, a crepuscular animal is one that is active primarily during the twilight period: being matutinal (active around dawn), vespertine/vespertinal (active around dusk), or both. This is distinguished from diurnal and nocturnal behavior, in which an animal is active during the daytime or at night, respectively. Some crepuscular animals may also be active by moonlight or during an overcast day, under lower-light conditions.

A number of factors affect the time of day an animal is active. Predators hunt when their prey is available, and prey try to avoid the times when their principal predators are at-large. The temperature may be too high at midday or too low at night. Some creatures may adjust their activities depending on local competition.

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