Posts Tagged With: adventure

REPTILIAN TUESDAY # 53

Posted on November 20, 2012 by Ellie and Edmond ©

REPTILIAN TUESDAY #53

Today’s reptile can be found in Eastern Australia, so let’s head to the land down under! Grab your hiking boots and walking stick and let’s head out to meet…

MEET THE LACE MONITOR!

   Range/Habitat: Australia/ forests

   Diet: Carnivore: birds, eggs, reptiles

   Length: 5-6 ft

   Conservation Status: common

 

 

Fun Facts:

  • Lace monitors are gray-bluish with yellow spots.
  • They have long claws for climbing.
  • Lace monitors have long necks.
  • Lace monitors are solitary.
  • They are Australia’s second largest lizard.
  • Female lace monitors lay their eggs in a termite mound.

Lace monitors are super cool lizards. We were wondering if they would make tree climbing buddies. What do you think?

 

Categories: adventure, Animals, Children, conservation, education, Environment, lizards, nature, reptiles, science, wildlife | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

MAMMAL MONDAY # 53

Posted on November 19, 2012 by Ellie and Edmond ©

MAMMAL MONDAY #53

Today we’re going to Southwest America today to meet a teeny tiny mammal! So grab your gear and let’s head out to make a new friend!

MEET THE HISPID COTTON RAT!

   Range/Habitat: Southwest United States-North South America/ mountains,

grassy

    Diet: Omnivore: grub, plants

    Length/Weight: 5-8”/ 3 5/8- 8 oz

    Conservation Status: common

 

 

Fun Facts:

  • Hispid Cotton Rats are active day and night
  • They have stiff, coarse fur.
  • Hispid Cotton Rats are solitary.
  • They dig burrows.
  • Hispid Cotton Rats make nests of grass and plants.
  • They are excellent swimmers.

Hispid cotton rats are adorable little members of the rodent family. What do you think? Are you a rodent fan?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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

FEATHERY FRIDAY # 52

Posted on November 16, 2012 by Ellie and Edmond ©

FEATHERY FRIDAY #52

It’s Feathery Friday and we’re going to another tiny island today, this one is the southwest Pacific Ocean! So let’s hop aboard a boat and set sail to this tiny island and explore their rainforest to find…

MEET THE KAGU!

   Range/Habitat: New Caledonia/ rainforest

   Diet: Carnivore: insects, lizards, beetles

   Length/Weight: 22”/ 32 oz

   Conservation Status: endangered

 

 

 

Fun Facts:

  • Kagus are flightless birds that live on the ground.
  • They have large crests on their heads.
  • Kagus dig for prey in the ground.
  • They have long legs and can run fast.
  • Kagus are bluish-grey in coloration.
  • Kagus have special feathers that make a powder that cleans and waterproof them.
  • They have excellent vision.

Kagus are such beautiful birds! We love their crests! Who knew there were so many flightless birds in the world?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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

SUPER SURPRISE THURSDAY # 52

Posted on November 15, 2012 by Ellie and Edmond ©

SUPER SURPRISE THURSDAY #52

We are so happy to be back on dry land today! We’re going to the Wild West of North America to meet a handsome ungulate. Let’s grab our hiking gear and walking sticks and set out on today’s adventure!

MEET THE MULE DEER!

   Range/Habitat: West North America/ mountains, forests, grasslands

   Diet: Herbivore: plants

   Length/Weight: 2 ¾-7 ft/ 120- 460 ft

   Conservation Status: common

 

 

 

Fun Facts:

  • Mule deer are gray-brown in winter and rusty brown in the summer.
  • Male mule deer have antlers that they shed once a year.
  • Mule deer have black tips on their tales.
  • They are also called the Black Tailed Deer.
  • They have very large ears.
  • Mule deer are related to White tailed deer.

We just love Mule deer! They are majestic looking, especially the males with their large antlers! Do you love deer? What’s your favorite species?

 

 

 

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

ORANGUTAN AWARENESS DAY!

Posted on November 14, 2012 by Ellie and Edmond ©

ORANGUTAN AWARENESS DAY!

We are sporting orange today and going to the rainforests of Southeast Asia to celebrate one of the most special mammals and great apes on the planet! These amazing apes are gorgeous, intelligent and unfortunately endangered. So today we are going to share some fun facts, photos and resources and how you can help protect these special creatures!

 

  • Orangutans are great apes.
  • There are two species, the Bornean and the Sumantran.
  • Orangutans are solitary in the wild.
  • Orangutans are arboreal (spend most of their lives in trees.)
  • They are frugivores.
  • Orangutans are highly intelligent.
  • Baby orangutans stay with their mothers for around 8 years, the longest of any primate.
  • Orangutans have extremely long arm spans, up to 7 feet from finger tips to finger tips.
  • Orangutans’ feet are built just like hands and help them climb in the trees.

There are several organizations that are working very hard to ensure that orangutans have a future in the wild. Their rainforest home is rapidly disappearing mainly due to palm oil plantations. Cheyenne Mountain Zoo is one of the leading institutions working to solve this issue. Check out their website!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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

MAMMAL MONDAY # 52

Posted on November 12, 2012 by Ellie and Edmond ©

MAMMAL MONDAY #52

We’re off to Southeast Asia today to meet a monkey who lives amongst people and in the wild! Are you ready to head out and see who we meet today? Let’s do this!

MEET THE LONG TAILED MACAQUE!

   Range/Habitat: Southeast Asia/ rainforests, urban, coasts

   Diet: Omnivore: fruit, seeds, aquatic animals

   Length/Weight: 14 ½-23”/ 7 ¾- 26 lbs

   Conservation Status: common

 

Fun Facts:

  • Long tailed Macaques are one of the most common monkeys in Southeast Asia.
  • They live in troops of 5-60 individuals.
  • Long tailed Macaques are also known as the Crab-Eating Macaques.
  • Their tails are as long as their bodies.
  • Long tailed macaques often live in areas that are populated with people.
  • They use tools such as stones to open nuts and oysters.

Long tailed Macaques are so cool. People and monkeys often live together, but the monkeys can be a nuisance. It is important that we remember; feeding wild animals can be bad for them as they learn that humans are not dangerous or that human food is better than their natural diet.

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

FEATHERY FRIDAY # 51

Posted on November 9, 2012 by Ellie and Edmond ©

FEATHERY FRIDAY #51

We’re off to the forests of Canada today to meet a member of the raptor family! These gorgeous birds can be hard to spot, so you’ll need your best observation skills! Are you ready? Let’s meet…

MEET THE NORTHERN GOSHAWK!

    Range/Habitat: Northern Hemisphere/ forests-mainly old growth

    Diet: Carnivore: birds, small mammals

    Length/Weight: 19-28”/ 2 ¼-3 ¼ lbs

    Conservation Status: common

 

 

 

Fun Facts:

  • Northern Goshawks are raptors.
  • They have long tails.
  • Northern Goshawks coloration varies by the region that they live in.
  • Female Northern Goshawks are larger than males.
  • They are very territorial.
  • Northern Goshawks are shy and secretive.
  • They can reach high speeds when flying.

Northern Goshawks are very majestic birds. They are often used in falconry too. We love raptors as a group, because they are so awesome!

 

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

SUPER SURPRISE THURSDAY # 51

Posted on November 8, 2012 by Ellie and Edmond ©

SUPER SURPRISE THURSDAY #51

It’s time to meet our Super Surprise Thursday animal and to do so we must go to North Africa! We’re on the lookout for a small member of the canine family. Are you ready for today’s adventure?

 

MEET THE RUPPELL’S FOX!

   Range/Habitat: North Africa- West Asia/ scrub-desert

   Diet: Omnivore: reptiles, insects, grasses

   Length/Weight: 16-20”/ 2 ¼-6 ½ lbs

   Conservation Status: common

 

Fun Facts:

  • Ruppell’s Foxes are also called the Sand Fox.
  • They are crepuscular (active at dawn and dusk).
  • Ruppell’s Foxes change their dens every few days.
  • They scent mark their territories.
  • Ruppell’s foxes have large ears and white tipped tails.
  • They are one of the smallest members of the fox family.

Ruppell’s foxes are so cute with their large ears and slender bodies. We see red fox near our house and they are so fast. Do you love foxes?

 

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

WATERY WEDNESDAY # 51

Posted on November 7, 2012 by Ellie and Edmond ©

 WATERY WENESDAY # 51

We’re off in the E & E sub to meet a small and spotty shark! Are you ready to meet this cartilaginous fish? We have room for everyone! Let’s do this!

MEET THE LEOPARD SHARK!

   Range/Habitat: Eastern North Pacific/ oceans-near estuaries

   Diet: Carnivore: invertebrates, crabs

   Length/Weight: up to 7 ft/ up to 71 lb

   Conservation Status: common

 

Fun Facts:

  • Leopard Sharks have spots on their backs and sides.
  • They have long slender bodies and a large dorsal fin.
  • Leopard sharks are harmless to humans.
  • Leopard sharks have short round snouts.
  • They have strong jaws full of flat teeth for crushing prey.

 

Leopard Sharks certainly earned their name from another famous predator! It sure seems that spots and stripes help you camouflage in with your habitat! What kind of coloration would you want to help you camouflage in with your habitat?

 

 

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

REPTILIAN TUESDAY # 51

Posted on November 6, 2012 by Ellie and Edmond ©

REPTILIAN TUESDAY #51

Who’s ready to go to the Mediterranean with us today to meet a handsome and sturdy reptile? We knew you guys would be up for another fantastic adventure, so let’s do this!

MEET THE HERMANN’S TORTOISE!

   Range/Habitat: Southeast Europe-Mediterranean Islands/ grasslands

   Diet: Omnivore: flowers, fruit, leaves, slugs

   Length: 6-8”

   Conservation Status: near threatened

 

 

 

Fun Facts:

  • Hermann’s Tortoise coloration varies by the area that they live in.
  • They have a domed carapace (top shell).
  • Hermann’s tortoises hide in dense vegetation.
  • The male Hermann’s tortoises are smaller than the females.
  • Hermann’s tortoises hibernate in colder areas of their range.

Hermann’s tortoises are so cute! We are such huge tortoise and turtle fans! They come with their own built in shell! What’s your favorite thing about them?

Categories: adventure, Animals, conservation, education, Environment, nature, reptiles, science, turtles, wildlife | Tags: , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

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