Environment

WATERY WEDNESDAY GREATEST HITS!

Posted on August 29, 2012 by Ellie and Edmond ©

WATERY WEDNESDAY GREATEST HITS!!

We went to a coral reef for this Watery Wednesday! Coral reefs are like the rainforests of the oceans! Reefs are full of all kinds of strange and wonderful animals and we have a strange looking fish for you today! This fish grows warts! Yep, warts! Eeew! Let’s meet the odd looking fish…

MEET THE WARTY FROGFISH!

   Range/Habitat: Western Pacific-Indian Oceans/coral reefs

   Diet: Carnivore: small fish, crustaceans

   Length/Weight: up to 4 ½”

   Conservation Status: Common

 

 

Fun Facts:

  • Warty Frogfish are relatives of anglerfish.
  • Instead of dorsal fins, they have long spines which act as lure to catch prey. If the top of the lure breaks off, they will regenerate a new one.
  • Warty frogfish are ambush predators, meaning they lay in wait for prey to swim by and then they grab them!
  • Young warty frogfish are white with yellow, orange or red. They develop their warty bumps as adults.
  • Warty frogfish are experts at mimicry and camouflage. They don’t just blend in with their surroundings, they actually look coral!

Wow, warty frogfish are some crazy looking fish and excellent at blending in with their habitats!  If you didn’t see them moving you might just miss them! Plus warty frogfish is just fun to say! Try and say it fast three times! Warty frogfish, warty frogfish, warty frogfish! Poof- now you are one :)!

Check out this video of a warty frogfish ambushing its prey!

  

 

Categories: adventure, Animals, Children, conservation, education, Environment, fish, nature, oceans, science, wildlife | Tags: , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

REPTILIAN TUESDAY GREATEST HITS!

Posted on August 28, 2012 by Ellie and Edmond ©

REPTILIAN TUESDAY GREATEST HITS!

We went to North Africa to meet a great lizard on this past Reptilian Tuesday! We’re off to the desert to meet one cool lizard! Grab your sunscreen and hat and let’s head out!

MEET THE SPINY DAB LIZARD!

   Range/Habitat: N Africa/deserts

   Diet: Omnivore: insects/plants

   Length: 12-16”

   Conservation Status: Common

 

 

 

Fun Facts:

  • Spiny Dab Lizards is also known as the Spiny tailed lizard or Uromastyx.
  • Their tales are covered with spiny scales.
  • Spiny Dab lizards are often found in burrows in the desert. They will stick their tails out of the entrance of the burrow to protect it.
  • Males are very territorial.
  • They hibernate during the winter months.
  • Spiny dab lizards change their color according to the temperature of the environment. They are yellowish/gray during the winter and orange/green or red during the warmer months!
  • Spiny dab lizards come out during the day to warm themselves in the sun. They are more active during warmer periods.

Animals have some great adaptations! These awesome lizards not only have spiny tails but they can change their color! We wish we could change colors! What color would you want to be? Ellie wants to be purple :)!

  

Categories: adventure, africa, Animals, Children, conservation, education, Environment, lizards, nature, reptiles, science, wildlife | Tags: , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

MAMMAL MONDAY GREATEST HITS!

Posted on August 27, 2012 by Ellie and Edmond ©

We’re doing one more week of Ellie and Edmond’s Greatest Hits as we finish up some projects at headquarters! We hope you enjoy these fun animals!

MAMMAL MONDAY GREATEST HITS!!

On this Mammal Monday we went to the rainforests of South America to find our first primate! 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 hairdos :)! How great is it that they dad and siblings help with the babies?

 

Categories: adventure, Animals, Children, conservation, education, Environment, mammals, rainforests, science, wildlife | Tags: , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

FEATHERY FRIDAY GREATEST HITS!

Posted on August 24, 2012 by Ellie and Edmond ©

FEATHERY FRIDAY GREATEST HITS!

We went to the desert on this day to meet a famous bird! Have you ever seen the cartoon where there’s a coyote and a roadrunner? Did you know that there are real roadrunners? Well they are real and they’re pretty cool! So let’s meet our feathery friend the…

MEET THE GREATER ROADRUNNER!

   Range/Habitat: Southwestern United States-Northern Mexico/desert and scrub

   Diet: Carnivore: lizards, snakes, scorpions and spiders

   Length/Weight: 22”/12 oz

   Conservation Status: Common

 

 

 

Fun Facts:

  • Greater Roadrunners can fly but spends most of its time on the ground.
  • They can reach speeds of up to 18 mph! That is one fast bird.
  • Greater roadrunners generally walk/run to catch their prey.
  • They use their large beaks to attack prey.
  • They have long tails that they lay flat when running.
  • Greater roadrunners have black skin under their feathers. They expose the skin to the sun to absorb heat.

We all love watching the coyote roadrunner cartoons, but the real roadrunner is more fun! They are fast and furious little birds. How fast can you run? You should try and be a roadrunner for the day!

  

Categories: adventure, Animals, birds, Children, conservation, education, Environment, nature, science, wildlife | Tags: , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

SUPER SURPRISE THURSDAY GREATEST HITS!

Posted on August 23, 2012 by Ellie and Edmond ©

SUPER SURPRISE THURSDAY GREATEST HITS!

We went to Australia to meet this feathery animal! Who is it, you say? Well it’s a bird you think would say who but this one doesn’t! Whooooo is it then?

MEET THE BOOBOOK OWL!

   Range/Habitat: Australia-South New Guinea/forests, grasslands, farmlands

   Diet: Carnivore: insects, birds, mammals

   Length/Weight: 12-14”/6-10oz

   Conservation Status: Common

 

 

 

 

Fun Facts:

  • Boobook owls are named after the call it makes.
  • They are nocturnal like other owls, but often feed at dusk and dawn too!
  • Boobook owls are specialists at catching prey in mid-air.
  • They have grey beaks and feet.
  • Both females and males take care of the chicks.

This funny little owl doesn’t make the typical who call! That’s what makes it so special! Listen to it here.

  

 

Categories: adventure, Animals, birds, Children, conservation, education, Environment, nature, science, wildlife | Tags: , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

WATERY WEDNESDAY GREATEST HITS!

Posted on August 22, 2012 by Ellie and Edmond ©

WATERY WEDNESDAY GREATEST HITS!

On this Water Wednesday we went to a coral reef to find a comical fish! Ok, this fish really isn’t that funny, but it is named after clowns and they’re usually funny, unless you’re scared of them! Let’s meet this fun fish…

MEET THE CLOWN TRIGGERFISH!

   Range/Habitat: Pacific-Indian Oceans/Coral reefs

   Diet: Carnivore: mollusks, crustaceans

   Length/Weight: up to 20”/up to 4 ½ lbs

   Conservation Status: Common

 

 

 

Fun Facts:

  • Clown triggerfish are very colorful.
  • They have strong and sharp teeth for crushing the shells of their prey.
  • Clown triggerfish can wedge in cracks and crevices of the reef when threatened by predators.
  • They usually do not use their tail fin to swim. They use their dorsal (top) and anal (bottom) fins to swim!
  • Clown triggerfish are very territorial.
  • Both male and female clown triggerfish protect the nest of eggs until they hatch.

These crazy looking Clown triggerfish sure are cool! If you could create your very own fish, what colors would you use?

 

Categories: adventure, Animals, Children, conservation, education, Environment, fish, nature, oceans, science, wildlife | Tags: , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

REPTILIAN TUESDAY GREATEST HITS!

Posted on August 21, 2012 by Ellie and Edmond ©

REPTILIAN TUESDAY GREATEST HITS!

We’re going to a coral reef today to meet a very cool reptile! Let’s get our snorkel gear and take a dip! We’re off to find a reptile who lives in the ocean!

MEET THE BANDED SEA KRAIT!

   Range/Habitat: Southern-South Eastern Asia/ tropical oceans-coral reefs

   Diet: Carnivore: fish, eels

   Length: 3 ¼-6 ½ ft

   Conservation Status: Common

 

 

 

Fun Facts:

  • Banded Sea Kraits are members of the sea snake families. They spend most of their lives in the ocean.
  • Banded sea kraits are highly venomous. They are more deadly than most land snakes.
  • They are not harmful to humans, because they have short fangs and are very docile.
  • Banded sea kraits have paddle shaped tails that help them swim.
  • They come on shore to lay their eggs.

Sea kraits are incredible snakes! Did you know there were snakes that lived in the ocean? We saw one while we snorkeling in Indonesia! It was awesome! If you could go snorkeling what animals would you like to see?

 

 

Categories: adventure, Animals, Children, conservation, education, Environment, nature, oceans, reptiles, science, wildlife | Tags: , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

MAMMAL MONDAY GREATEST HITS

Posted on August 20, 2012 by Ellie and Edmond ©

For the next two weeks, we’re sharing some of greatest hits here on Ellie and Edmond! We need a little time to focus on our book and iPad app, so we’re sharing some animals that were posted a while ago that didn’t get any love! We hope you enjoy our Greatest Hits!

MAMMAL MONDAY GREATEST HITS

You have the Monday morning blues? Well after learning about today’s mammal those blues will be disappear! Have you ever wonder what animals are lurking in the rainforests, hiding just out of the sight? Could it be a leopard? Or is it a monkey in the trees? Or is it today’s quiet, shy, solitary and secretive Okapi?

MEET THE OKAPI!

   Range/Habitat: Central Africa-Democratic Republic of

Congo/tropical rainforests

   Diet:  herbivores: twigs, shoots, fruits, leaves

   Length/Height/Weight: 6 ½-7 1/4 ft : 12-16 ½ in : 440 lb-770lb

   Conservation Status: Lower Risk

 

 

Fun facts:

  • Okapi were not identified until 1900.
  • Okapi are the closest living relative of the giraffe.
  • They are very shy and secretive.
  • Okapi have long black prehensile tongues. They use their tongues to grab leaves and branches.
  • They have stripes on their legs and rear end.
  • Male okapis have two skin covered horns that are called ossicones. They are actually part of the skull.
  • Every okapi’s stripe pattern in different!

These relatives of the giraffe are very special! We’re so glad that someone discovered them in the rainforests! And we’re sticking our tongue out to the Monday blues too!

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Categories: adventure, africa, Animals, Children, conservation, education, Environment, mammals, nature, rainforests, science, wildlife | Tags: , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

FEATHERY FRIDAY # 43

Posted on August 17, 2012 by Ellie and Edmond ©

FEATHERY FRIDAY #43

We’re off to the Big Apple today to meet one fast and freewheeling bird! These city dwellers live all over the world and are amazingly adaptable! Let’s grab a yellow cab and goooooo!

MEET THE PEREGRIN FALCON!

   Range/Habitat: Worldwide/ coasts, cities, mountains, wetlands

   Diet: Carnivore: birds

   Length/Weight: 13 ½-20”/ 1 ¼-3 ¼ lb

   Conservation Status: common

 

 

 

Fun Facts:

  • Peregrine Falcons are one of the fastest birds in the world.
  • Peregrine Falcons can reach speeds of up 145 mph.
  • They have the widest distribution of any diurnal land bird.
  • Peregrine Falcons are diurnal (active during the day).
  • Female peregrine falcons are larger than males.
  • They “dive” while flying to catch their prey.
  • Peregrine Falcons often nest in high places, such as skyscrapers, towers and cliffs.

These magnificent birds sure are amazingly fast! Don’t blink because you may miss them. They’re also a great success story! Peregrine falcons were almost wiped out in the Eastern U.S., but with the ban of DDT, they have made a great comeback. We just love that they love to nest on skyscrapers!

 

Categories: adventure, Animals, birds, Children, conservation, education, Environment, nature, science, wildlife | Tags: , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

SHARK CRAFT!!

Posted on August 15, 2012 by Ellie and Edmond ©

AUGUST CRAFT

    SHARK KOOZIE!!!!

We’re celebrating Shark Week at Ellie and Edmond Headquarters, so for this month’s craft we’re making a shark koozie! This shark’s bite will keep your drink cool! Chomp!! Chomp!! As usual, if you make the craft share your pictures with us on Facebook or Twitter @EllieandEdmond.

Materials:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Blue Koozie (we purchased ours at Michael’s)

Light Blue Fun Foam

Scissors

Hot glue gun

Wiggly eyes

 

Instructions:

1)   Print patterns for teeth & fins (below)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2)   Cut out two rows of teeth, two side fins, two top fins

3)   Glue teeth around the opening.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

4)   Glue on top fin.

5)   Glue on eyes.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

6)   Glue on side fins.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Be sure to recycle your can when you are done with your beverage!

 

Categories: Animals, Children, crafts, education, Environment, nature, oceans, sharks, wildlife | Tags: , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

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