education

WEIRD WATERY WEDNESDAY # 11

Posted on October 26, 2011 by Ellie and Edmond ©

WEIRD WATERY

WEDNESDAY # 11

We know that our oceans, lakes and rivers have tons of wild and crazy creatures. Some of these animals are pretty creepy, especially in the deep dark depths of our oceans. We’ve found a very spooky fish for you today! So let’s go meet him!

MEET THE SPOOKFISH!

Range/Habitat: tropical- sub-tropical ocean waters/deep oceans

Diet: Carnivore: crustaceans, copepods, and anything they can get

Length: 3 ¼”

Conservation Status: unknown

Fun Facts:

  • Spookfish have a very odd shape.
  • They have transparent white bodies and long thin transparent pectoral (side) that are half the length of their bodies.
  • The Spookfish most spectacular adaptation is their eyes. They are tubular and point upwards.
  • Spookfish have a second eye on the side of their eye. It looks like a black spot.
  • The second eye is actually part of the primary eye and points downward. It acts as a mirror and is thought to help the spookfish find animal are bioluminescent. (They have chemicals in their body that give of light.)

It’s only been in the last few years that scientist figured out how the Spookfish’s eye works. They aren’t seen very often because they live so deep in the ocean! Wow! There sure is an almost alien world down in the deep dark depths of ocean! We wonder what other monsters live there!

 

Check out these crazy creepy fish from National Marine Life Center!

http://nmlc.org/2011/10/13-spooky-sea-creatures/

 

Categories: Animals, Children, education, Environment, fish, nature | Tags: , , , , , | Leave a comment

ABOMINABLE AMPHIBIAN TUESDAY #11

Posted on October 25, 2011 by Ellie and Edmond ©

ABOMINABLE AMPHIBIAN TUESDAY # 11

We’ve changed things up for our normal Reptilian Tuesday! In keeping with our scary and creepy theme this week, we’re spotlighting an amphibian! (You’ve met other amphibians such as the South American Bullfrog) This little animal is often referred to in stories about witches, or at least their eyes are! Ever heard of the eye of newt? Well this one doesn’t have scary eyes, but they have scary skin! Come meet them…

MEET THE ROUGH SKINNED NEWT!

Range/Habitat: Western United States-Canada/ woodlands and ponds

Diet: Carnivore: aquatic invertebrates, tiny fish

Length: 3 ½”- 7 ½”

Conservation Status: Common

Fun Facts:

  • The Rough Skinned Newt is an amphibian. Other amphibians also include frogs, toads and salamanders.
  • Rough skinned newts have rough, bumpy skin as implied by their name.
  • They are extremely toxic. They produce a strong toxin that can cause death if eaten. It can also be absorbed through the skin if you have an open cut or wound.
  • They are brownish-black in color with yellow to orange bellies.
  • Rough skinned newts feed at night.
  • They can live as long as 12 years!
  • The common garter snake is the rough skinned newt’s only predator. The snakes have developed immunity to their toxin.

Wow! Who knew a cute little newt could be so poisonous? Well we think they are pretty awesome! We think this animal is best seen and not eaten J!

Categories: Animals, Children, education, Environment, nature | Tags: , , , , , | Leave a comment

MONSTROUS MAMMAL MONDAY #11

Posted on October 24, 2011 by Ellie and Edmond ©

MONSTROUS MAMMAL MONDAY# 11

We’re featuring animals this week that are considered creepy or scary in honor of Halloween coming up. People often get so scared of our animal friends and they get a bad reputation.  Sometimes they may even be a little scary, but we love all animals! Sometimes we just love them from a distance J! Today’s animal is a bat with sharp pointy teeth and a really bad reputation! Let’s meet them! And by the way they’re not monsters!

 

MEET THE COMMON VAMPIRE BAT!

Range/Habitat: Mexico-South America/roost in caves, mines, trees

Diet: Hematophagy: blood of mammals such as cattle, pigs and tapirs

Length/Weight: 2 ¾”-3 ¾”/ around 1 oz

Conservation Status: common

 

Fun Facts:

  • Common Vampire Bats are one of three bats that’s only source of food is the blood of other animals.
  • They have sharp thin-pointed teeth they use to bite animals.
  • Their teeth are so sharp that often the animals do not feel the bite.
  • Common vampire bats are strong fliers.
  • They have strong forelimbs and legs that help them get around on the ground. In fact they are very agile and speedy.
  • Common vampire bats have heat seeking receptors in their nose to help them locate veins closest to the skin.
  • Common vampire bats are nocturnal (active at night).
  • Common vampire bats live in large groups of usually several hundred individuals. They are known to have strong family bonds. There is even evidence of females adopting young bats that are orphaned.

We’ll admit these bats are a little creepy. But all animals have a place in this world. So we respect them all, again from a distance!

 

Categories: Animals, bats, Children, education, Environment, nature | Tags: , , , , , , | Leave a comment

FEATHERY FRIDAY # 10

Posted on October 21, 2011 by Ellie and Edmond ©

FEATHERY FRIDAY # 10

It’s Feathery Friday yet again and we have wild and crazy bird for you today! Ok, they may not be very crazy but they are wild and wonderful! Who is this loony bird? Come find out!

MEET THE COMMON LOON!

Range/Habitat: North America-Greenland-Western Europe/sea coasts and large lakes

Diet: Carnivore: fish

Length/Weight: 28-35”/6 ½-10lbs”

Conservation Status: Common

 

Fun Facts:

  • Common loons are also known as the Great Northern Loon.
  • Common Loons are made for life in the water. They have webbed feet and water proof feathers.
  • They are excellent swimmers and divers. They can dive to great depths.
  • They take extra care to keep their dense feathers clean, this is called preening. They have to do this because the feathers keep them warm in the cold waters where they live.
  • Common loons are often found in pairs.
  • They are very clumsy on land.
  • Common loons use their bills to spear fish.
  • Both the female and male take care of the chicks. Chicks can swim at a very young age. Sometimes you’ll even see the chicks riding on the back of the mothers back.
  • Common loons are very vocal birds and make several different types of calls.
  • Common loons are the provincial bird of Ontario, Canada and are the state bird of Maine.

These noisy birds are very pretty with their black heads and spots.  We love the special adaptations they have for living in cold waters. People, elephants and horses don’t do well in cold water! What do you do stay warm when it gets cold? We like to put on scarves!

Here are two loons calling to each other:

 

Categories: Animals, birds, Children, education, Environment, nature | Tags: , , , , , | Leave a comment

SUPER SURPRISE THURSDAY #10

Posted on October 20, 2011 by Ellie and Edmond ©

SUPER SURPRISE THURSDAY #10

We love frogs; yes we do! We love frogs, how about you? We sure hope! Today’s Super Surprise Thursday animal is a frog if you haven’t guessed it by now. Are you ready to meet this special amphibian?

MEET THE SOUTH AMERCIAN BULLFROG!

Range/Habitat: Central-South America/ponds, lakes

Diet: Carnivore: insects and invertebrates

Length: 3 ¼”-9”

Conservation Status: Common

Fun Facts:

  • South American Bullfrogs are large and powerful frogs.
  • They are yellow-brown with dark markings.
  • South American Bullfrogs are nocturnal (active at night).
  • Male frogs have spines on their thumbs to fight off other males for territories.
  • South American bullfrogs make a loud “scream” if picked up by predator!

Wow, we’d put him down to if you screamed at usJ! South American bullfrogs are quiet as big as their American cousins, but we think they’re pretty neat all the same! Do you know what sound a bullfrog makes? Try and imitate it! RIBBBIT! RIBBIT!

Categories: Animals, Children, education, Environment | Tags: , , , , | Leave a comment

VAMPIRE BAT CRAFT!

Posted on October 19, 2011 by Ellie and Edmond ©

Vampire Bat Sock Puppet

What’s scarier than a bat that drinks blood to survive? Making your own out of a sock, some felt, googly eyes and glue! Vampire bats are real and they’re pretty creepy little flying mammals! But this harmless version is loads of fun to make and play with!

Materials:

Materials you'll need for your bat!

One brown sock (black will do)

Brown stiff felt

White felt

Red felt

Googly eyes

Hot glue (to be used only by an adult) or thick tacky glue

Patterns for wings, fangs, ears and mouth (provided)

Instructions:

1)      Cut out the patterns for the wing, ear, fangs and mouth

2)      Trace wing and ear patterns on brown felt and cut out. Remember you need two wings and two ears.

3)      Trace fangs on white felt and cut out.

4)      Trace mouth on red felt and cut out.

5)      Determine what part of the sock you want to be on top. Tuck the end of the sock in and glue the red mouth on the bottom. If using a glue gun, have an adult use it. If using tacky glue, you will have to hold the felt pieces for few minutes until they’re secure.

Put your hand in and see where you want the mouth to go.

6)      Then glue the fangs on the top edge of the sock.

glue the fangs on

7)      Next glue the eyes on top of the sock.

glue on the eyes

8)      Then glue the ears about an inch and half behind the eyes.

glue on the ears

9)      Glue the wings on the sides of the sock about inch and a half behind the ears.

glue on the wings

Once the glue has cooled, your bat is complete!

Here we are with our finished bat!

Now you can put your hand in and make him fly and bite people! (Ok, don’t really have him bite people!) We couldn’t find a sock to fit Edmond’s hooves, so Ellie is playing with our vampire bat sock puppet using her trunk! We would love to see pictures of your completed bats! Post them on our Facebook page!  http://www.facebook.com/pages/Ellie-and-Edmond/254090144618348

Categories: Animals, bats, Children, crafts, education, Environment, mammals, nature | Tags: , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

WATERY WEDNESDAY # 10

Posted on October 19, 2011 by Ellie and Edmond ©

WATERY WEDNESDAY # 10

Happy Watery Wednesday everyone! We hope it’s wonderful so far! Today’s fish is long, lean and full of teeth! But don’t worry they don’t think people are tasty! Phew!

MEET THE GREAT BARRACUDA!

Range/Habitat: tropical-sub-tropical waters worldwide/ reefs, shallows, mangroves

Diet: Carnivore: fish

Length/Weight: up to 6 ½ ft/ up to 110 lbs

Conservation Status: Common

 

Fun Facts:

  • Great Barracuda are long and lean fish.
  • They have powerful jaws full of sharp, knife like teeth.
  • Great barracuda are ambush predators. They stay relatively still and swim forward in one fast move to grab their prey.
  • They’re usually solitary, but juveniles often school together.
  • Great barracudas have few predators, mainly sharks.

 

Great barracudas are intimidating fish, with their long bodies and mouths full of teeth.  But we think they are pretty awesome! How about you?

 

 

 

 

Categories: Animals, Children, education, Environment, fish | Tags: , , , , | Leave a comment

REPTILIAN TUESDAY # 10

Posted on October 18, 2011 by Ellie and Edmond ©

REPTILIAN TUESDAY# 10

It’s that special day of the week when it’s time to meet a reptile and we have a snake today! It’s a pretty awesome little snake. It lives in Northern US and Canada and it the northern most member of the boa family. So let’s meet…

MEET THE RUBBER BOA!

Range/Habitat: Southwest Canada-Northwestern United States/woodlands, grasslands

Diet: Carnivore: small mammals, birds

Length: 14-32”

Conservation Status: Common, but considered vulnerable in parts of Canada

 

Fun Facts:

  • Rubber Boas got their name from their rubbery feel.
  • They have small blunt heads and tails that look very similar to each other. They’re often called the “two-headed” snake.
  • Rubber boas curl up to avoid predators. They hide their heads and stick up their tails to confuse predators. They will even “strike” at the predator with their tails.
  • They use other animals’ burrows and hibernate (inactive period) during the coldest months.
  • Rubber boas are nocturnal hunters.
  • They are considered to be very docile.

 

Rubber boas are a really neat little snake. They are considered to be very docile, but that doesn’t mean you should ever pick up a wild snake of any kind. Wild animals are fun to watch and observe but are most happy when left alone!

 

 

Categories: Animals, Children, education, Environment | Tags: , , , , | Leave a comment

MAMMAL MONDAY # 10

Posted on October 17, 2011 by Ellie and Edmond ©

MAMMAL MONDAY# 10

Happy Mammal Monday! We have a very special friend today. It’s our first primate! These adorable little monkeys sport a wild hairdo! Let’s get ready to meet…

 

MEET THE COTTON TOP TAMARIN!

Range/Habitat: Northwest South America/rainforest, forest

Diet: Omnivore: fruit, plants, insects

Length/Weight: 8-10”/14-16 oz

Conservation Status: endangered

 

Fun Facts:

  • Cotton Top Tamarins are small New World monkeys. New World monkeys live in Central and South America.
  • They live in family troops of 10-12 monkeys that are made up of a mated pair and their offspring.
  • Cotton top tamarins often give birth to twins.
  • Like other tamarins, cotton top dads and older siblings help raise the babies. They carry the babies on their backs.
  • Cotton top tamarins are arboreal (they live in the trees).
  • Their tails are very long, 13-16”.  That’s longer than its body! The tail helps them balance while they get around in the trees.
  • Cotton top tamarins are very vocal and have lots of different calls, to express danger, fear, joy and playfulness.
  • They use calls to warn each other of predators. There are different warning calls for predators in the air and predators on the ground.

 

These little monkeys are about the size of a squirrel, but have much better hairdosJ! How great is it that they dad and siblings help with the babies? We think these monkeys are super great!

Categories: Animals, Children, education, Environment, mammals | Tags: , , , , | 1 Comment

FEATHERY FRIDAY # 9

Posted on October 14, 2011 by Ellie and Edmond ©

FEATHERY FRIDAY # 9

We love our fine feathered friends and we love brightly colored ones even more! Today’s Feathery Friday friend lives right here in the Southern United States (that’s where we live)!

MEET THE PAINTED BUNTING!

Range/Habitat: Southern United States/woodlands, brushy areas

Diet: Omnivore: seeds, insects

Length: 5 ½ “

Conservation Status: Near threatened

Fun Facts:

  • Painted Buntings are very colorful birds. They are often called the most colorful bird in North America.
  • They often pair for life.
  • They are shy and hard to see in the wild, despite their bright colors.
  • Male Painted buntings are highly territorial.
  • Painted buntings are a member of the cardinal family.
  • They are migrating birds. They spend their winters in Mexico.

These bright and colorful birds sure are beautiful! If you’re live in the Southern United States, you’d be lucky to see one of these birds in the wild! Can you name all the colors you see on these birds?

Categories: Animals, birds, Children, education, Environment | Tags: , , , , | Leave a comment

Blog at WordPress.com.