education

TOOTHY TUESDAY # 19

Well, well, well, did you know that there are no reptiles in the arctic? It seems it is too cold for our cold-blooded friends in the arctic! Instead of having Reptilian Tuesday we’re going to have Toothy Tuesday! Do you have your coats on? It’s time to meet an animal with big teeth!

MEET THE WALRUS!

Range/Habitat: Arctic/water, shoreline

Diet: Carnivore: shrimp, sea-snails, fish

Length/Weight: 9 ¾-12 ft/ 1 ¼ -2 ¼ tons

Conservation Status: data deficient

Fun Facts:

• Walrus are large marine mammals with flippers.
• Walrus eat prey off the bottom of the oceans and use suction to eat.
• They can stay underwater for up to 25 minutes and can dive down to 330ft deep.
• They are highly social and often are seen in large groups, called herds.
• Male walruses are twice the size of females.
• They have rough wrinkly skin and very whiskery faces.
• Walruses have tusks of ivory. They can grow up to 3 ft 3” long.

Walruses sure are huge and cute! How can you not like their whiskery faces? These blubbery mammals are loud, social and full of personality! They are one of our favorites!

Here’s some walrus sounds:

MAMMAL MONDAY# 19

Do you have your coat on for this Mammal Monday? Well, if you don’t you better grab it because all this week we are heading to the chilly arctic circle! In honor of the holiday and the fat guy who lives at the North Pole, we’ve decide to spotlight animals who live there too! First up, a large and in charge bear! Are you all bundled up? Let’s go!

MEET THE POLAR BEAR!

Range/Habitat: Arctic/ice, shoreline

Diet: Carnivore: seals, carrion

Length/Weight: 7-11ft/800- 1500lb

Conservation Status: Vulnerable

Fun Facts:

• Polar bears are the largest members of the bear family and the largest land carnivore on earth.
• They have two coats of fur, an outer translucent coat that absorbs the sun’s heat and a dense undercoat.
• Polar bears have black skin that helps them absorb heat.
• They also have a thick layer of blubber to help them stay warm.
• Polar bears have rough pads on their paws that help prevent them from slipping and sliding on the ice.
• They are excellent swimmers and are often seen in open waters.
• They use their large front paws to swim.
• Polar bears can smell a seal from a half mile away.
• Female polar bears dig dens in winter and stay there to give birth to 1 to 3 cubs.
• Polar bear cubs stay with their moms until around the age of 2. They spend that time learning to hunt and be polar bears!

Polar bears are amazing animals! They are built to live in the cold arctic! These large and in-charge bears are a protected species! We hope to have them around for a very long time!

MAMMAL MONDAY# 18

Happy Mammal Monday! We had such a fabulous adventure last week, but we’re ready for a whole new week of animals! Be sure to look out tomorrow- we’re doing something special! Today’s animal is a cute prosimian! What’s a prosimian you ask? Well, they are primates, but they don’t have all the adaptations that monkeys and apes do! Prosimians include, lemurs and aye-ayes! Are you ready to meet this furry primate?

MEET THE GREATER GALAGO!

Range/Habitat: Central-Southern Africa/woodlands

Diet: Omnivore: fruit, tree sap, insects

Length/Weight: 10-16”/2 ¼-4 ½ lbs

Conservation Status: common

Fun Facts:

• Greater Galagos are the largest of the galago family.
• Greater galagos are also known as Thick-tailed Bush babies.
• They are called bush babies because of their childlike cries.
• They are nocturnal (active at night) and have large eyes and ears that help them navigate and find food in the dark.
• Greater galagos are arboreal (spend most of their time in trees).
• Greater galagos have strong feet with pads to help them climb and jump.
• They have brownish-grey fur!

Wow, these little primates have perfect adaptations for a life in the trees! But you won’t see one unless you are willing to head into the woods at night. Is anyone up for a nighttime adventure? Bring your night vision goggles and let’s go!