Posts Tagged With: animals

FEATHERY FRIDAY # 38

Posted on June 22, 2012 by Ellie and Edmond ©

FEATHERY FRIDAY# 38

It’s time to jet off to the wetlands of Sub-Saharan Africa to meet a most regal bird! These beauties wade in the water to catch a meal, so we must too! Do you have your waders? Let’s do this!

MEET THE SACRED IBIS!

   Range/Habitat: Africa-South of the Sahara/ wetlands, swamps

   Diet: Carnivores: insects, fish, frogs

   Length/Weight: 26-35”/ 3 ¼ lb

   Conservation Status: Common

 

 

Fun Facts:

  • Sacred Ibis have white bodies with shiny, black featherless heads.
  • They are wading birds and have partially webbed feet.
  • Sacred ibis live in flocks.
  • Both the male and female Sacred Ibis take care of the eggs and chicks.
  • They can live up to 20 years.
  • Sacred Ibis were worshipped in Ancient Egypt!
  • They are an ancient species. They’ve been around the planet for about 60 million years!

Wow, these birds have been around a looooong time and they were worshipped at one time! We wonder if they’re stuck up. We think they’re great either way!

     

Categories: africa, Animals, birds, education, Environment, nature, science, wildlife | Tags: , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

SUPER SURPRISE THURSDAY #38

Posted on June 21, 2012 by Ellie and Edmond ©

SUPER SURPRISE THURSDAY# 38

Man, we couldn’t decide where to go today, because the bird we found lives all over the place! So we’re off to Europe to meet this wading bird! Grab your wellies and night vision goggles and let’s head out to meet today’s bird!

MEET THE BLACK CROWNED NIGHT HERON!

   Range/Habitat: North-South America-Africa-Asia-Europe/wetlands-rivers

   Diet: Carnivore: fish, frogs, crustaceans

   Length/Weight: 23-26”/18-29 oz

   Conservation Status: Common

 

 

 

Fun Facts:

  • Black crowned night herons are also known simply as Night Herons in Eurasia.
  • They feed at night and dusk.
  • Black crowned night herons wade in shallow waters and ambush their prey.
  • They have excellent vision in dim light.
  • Black crowned night herons rest in trees during the day.

 

We just love these little stocky herons! We could watch wading birds all day and night! It is so fun to see them catch their prey! Do you have a favorite wading bird?

 

Categories: Animals, birds, Children, education, Environment, nature, rivers, science, wildlife | Tags: , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

WATERY WEDNESDAY # 38

Posted on June 20, 2012 by Ellie and Edmond ©

WATERY WEDNESDAY# 38

It’s Watery Wednesday again we’re off to the Northern Pacific ocean to meet a special and very toxic fish! We’ll stay in our sub to check this fish out! We have plenty of room, so who’s coming?

MEET THE FUGU!

   Range/Habitat: Western North Pacific/ ocean, reefs

   Diet: Carnivore: fish

   Length: up to 6”

   Conservation Status: Common

 

 

Fun Facts:

  • Fugu means “river pig” in Japanese.
  • They are also known as blowfish.
  • Fugus are highly toxic and release their toxins in the water to deter predators. If that doesn’t work, they inflate themselves!
  • They have beak like mouths with strong teeth and jaws.
  • Their toxin is strong enough to kill 30 adult humans.
  • Fugus breed around the full and new moons in spring time. They actually spawn on the beach during high tide!

 

We’ll keep our distance from this fish! People do eat them in Japan and it can be very dangerous! We think we’ll leave these amazing fish swimming in the ocean!

 

Categories: Animals, Children, education, Environment, fish, nature, oceans, science, wildlife | Tags: , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

REPTILIAN TUESDAY # 38

Posted on June 19, 2012 by Ellie and Edmond ©

REPTILIAN TUESDAY # 38

Whew, it’s hot here in this desert! We hope someone brought some mud for sunscreen! We’re here to find a marvelous lizard who can blow himself up! No, no, the lizard doesn’t actually explode, instead they inflate! Are you ready to meet this new friend?

MEET THE CHUCKWALLA!

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

   Diet: Herbivore: fruit, leaves, flowers, succulents

   Length: 11-16 ½”

  Conservation Status: common

 

 

Fun Facts:

  • Chuckwallas are large, wide and flat bellied lizards.
  • Their name comes from a Native American word!
  • Chuckwallas like hot conditions. They are often seen basking in the sun during the day!
  • When threatened chuckwallas jam themselves in crevices and inflate their lungs and flaps of skin, so that is impossible for a predator to get them out!
  • They have thick long tails.
  • Male chuckwallas are larger and often have black heads.
  • They have a life span of up to 25 years.

 

Wow, they lizards are not only cool, but they have a cool name! Try saying Chuckwalla three times fast! Chuckwalla, chuckwalla, chuckwalla… We got tongue tied just typing it :)!

       

Categories: Animals, Children, education, Environment, lizards, nature, reptiles, science, wildlife | Tags: , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

MAMMAL MONDAY # 38

Posted on June 18, 2012 by Ellie and Edmond ©

MAMMAL MONDAY # 38

We’re back to our regular programming today after celebrating some great animal dads last week! Today we’re heading to the rainforests of South America to meet one adorable and wooly monkey! Grab your climbing gear because we’re going up!

MEET THE GRAY WOOLY MONKEY!

   Range/Habitat: Central-South America/ rainforest

   Diet: Omnivore: fruit, seeds, flowers, small animals

   Length/Weight: 20-26”/ 8 ¾-22 lbs

   Conservation Status: vulnerable

Fun Facts:

  • Gray Wooly Monkeys are arboreal (they live in the trees).
  • They have thick, soft and curly fur.
  • Gray wooly monkeys have a prehensile tail (they can hang from it). The tail has a bald spot on near the end for better gripping.
  • They live in large troops with a dominant male and lower females and males.
  • Gray wooly monkeys have stocky bodies with strong shoulders and hips. These adaptations are for a life in the trees.
  • They are known to have a gentle nature.

Gray wooly monkeys sure are cute! Don’t you just want to hug one? We sure do, but we won’t because these monkeys are best left in their rainforest home as wild monkeys! Remember though that their home is disappearing, so it’s important that we all work to make sure it is safe!

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

DAD’S WEEK DAY # 5

Posted on June 15, 2012 by Ellie and Edmond ©

DAD’S WEEK DAY #5

It’s the last day of dad’s week and we sure hope you’ve enjoyed meeting all of our dad friends! Today we’re going back to South America to meet a large and in charge bird dad! So shed your parka from yesterday and put on those khakis, hats and sunscreen and let’s head out to the plains of Argentina!

MEET THE GREATER RHEA!

   Range/Habitat: Eastern South America/ desert-grasslands

   Diet: Omnivore: fruits, seeds, lizards, insects

   Length/Weight: 3-5ft/ 33-60 lbs

   Conservation Status: common

Fun Facts:

  • The Greater Rhea is the largest bird in South America.
  • They are flightless and are related to the Ostrich and Emu.
  • Male Greater rheas attract up to 12 females with a booming call and wing display.
  • Female greater rheas (up to 12 ladies) then lay their eggs in a nest the male has dug out.
  • Male Greater rheas then take sole charge of the eggs.
  • They are highly protective of the nest and eggs and the chicks after they hatch.
  • Male Greater rheas even take care of all the chicks after they hatch!

These big old birdies sure make great dads! We wouldn’t want to mess with these dads while they’re protecting their young! Way to go Rhea dads!

      

Categories: Animals, birds, Children, dads, education, Environment, nature, science, wildlife | Tags: , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

DADS WEEK DAY # 4

Posted on June 14, 2012 by Ellie and Edmond ©

DAD’S WEEK DAY #4

We’ve already made it to Day 4 of Dads week can you believe it? So far we’ve met some awesome dads, all of whom live in a tropical or warm habitat, but not today! We’re putting on the parkas, big boots and snow shoes to meet today’s feathery dad! Talk about enduring the elements, these South Pole residents sure live in a harsh climate! Are you ready to go?

MEET THE EMPEROR PENGUIN!

   Range/Habitat: Antarctica, coastline and oceans

   Diet: Carnivore: fish

   Length/Weight: up to 3 ½ ft/ up to 82 lbs

   Conservation Status: common

 

 

 

 

 

Fun Facts:

  • Emperor Penguins are the largest of all penguin species.
  • They breed in the winter.
  • Female Emperor Penguins lay their eggs and immediately give them to the males.
  • Male Emperor Penguins then carry the eggs on their feet and cover them with a pouch of skin to keep them warm.
  • Females return to the sea to eat while the males incubate the egg.
  • Male Emperor Penguins fast for around 65 days while they incubate the egg.
  • They huddle together in the harsh conditions to keep warm. The penguins rotate in the center of the huddle to get warm.

Emperor Penguins are fantastic birds! These dads go through a very harsh winter with eggs on their feet to ensure that their chicks are safe! We are very impressed by these birds! What about you?

 

 

Categories: Animals, birds, Children, dads, education, Environment, nature, oceans, penguins, science, wildlife | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

DADS WEEK # 3

Posted on June 13, 2012 by Ellie and Edmond ©

DAD’S WEEK DAY #3!

We’re going snorkeling today to meet one amazing dad! These funny looking fish are related to Edmond. Ok, they’re not really related to him, but they are the horses of the sea! Hehe! Do you have your goggles, wetsuit and snorkel? Let’s take a dip!

MEET THE COMMON SEAHORSE!

Range/Habitat: Indo-Pacific Oceans/ shallow coasts, coral reefs

Diet: Carnivore: plankton (tiny animals)

Length: up to 6 ½”

Conservation Status: vulnerable

 

 

 

Fun Facts:

  • Common Seahorses have bony plates covering their bodies.
  • They swim upright and are propelled by a small dorsal (on back) fin.
  • Common seahorses have prehensile tails that they use to anchor themselves to coral.
  • Female common seahorses place their eggs in a pouch that is on the front of a male seahorse.
  • Male common seahorses carry the eggs for about 4-5 wks.
  • They give “birth” when the seahorses hatch!

Wow! How cool are seahorse dads? They come with their own built in pouch for incubating eggs! And you thought that they were just cute- in a funny kind of way!

 

 

 

 

Categories: Animals, Children, dads, education, Environment, fish, nature, oceans, science, wildlife | Tags: , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

DAD’S WEEK DAY # 2

Posted on June 12, 2012 by Ellie and Edmond ©

DAD’S WEEK DAY #2

We’re staying in South America today to meet this exceptional amphibian dad! This frog was discovered Charles Darwin himself! Grab your boots and rain gear because we’re going to a mountainous rainforest to meet these amazing dads!

MEET THE DARWIN’S FROG!

   Range/Habitat: Southern South America/ mountain rainforest

   Diet: Carnivore: insects, small animals

   Length: up to 1 ¼ “

   Conservation Status: common

Fun Facts:

  • Darwin’s Frogs have sharp pointy snouts that look like leaves.
  • Male Darwin’s frogs attracted females with a low call that sounds like a bell.
  • They are nocturnal (active at night).
  • Female Darwin’s frogs lay around 30 eggs.
  • Male Darwin’s frogs protect the eggs for about two weeks and then scoop them up in their vocal sacs.
  • The eggs hatch in their vocal sacs, where the tadpoles eat the yolk from the egg. They emerge from dad’s vocal sac as little froglets!

These little funny look frogs are spectacular dads. It’s pretty crazy that they carry around the eggs in their mouths until they are little frogs!

     

Categories: amphibians, Animals, Children, earth day, Environment, frogs, nature, rainforests, science, Uncategorized, wildlife | Tags: , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

DAD’S WEEK!!

Posted on June 11, 2012 by Ellie and Edmond ©

DAD’S WEEK!

We’re celebrating great animal dads this week in honor of Father’s Day! We bet you thought that animal moms did all the work, but we’ve found some most fabulous dads too! Today we are off to the rainforests of Brazil to meet a tiny little mammal who lives in the trees! These primate dads sure are cute! We’re gearing up to zipline through the rainforest canopy! You ready?

MEET THE GOLDEN LION TAMARIN!

   Range/Habitat: Eastern South America-Brazil/ rainforest

   Diet: Omnivore: fruit, grubs, insects

   Length/Weight: 8-10”/ 14-29 oz

  Conservation Status: critically endangered

 

 

 

 

Fun Facts:

  • Golden Lion Tamarins have beautiful golden coats and fluffy manes around their faces.
  • They are diurnal (active during the day) and arboreal (live in the trees).
  • Golden Lion Tamarins live in small family groups led by a female-male breeding pair.
  • Mother Golden lion tamarins give birth to 1 or 2 offspring.
  • Father Golden lion tamarins take care of the babies and carry them on their backs. They give them to their mom when it’s time for feeding.

Father Golden Lion Tamarins are excellent dads! They not only carry the babies around on their backs, but they help raise them! Whew, that’s a good thing for mom, because if she gives birth to twins, she has twice the amount of work to do! Way to go dad! These tamarins are critically endangered, but zoos across the country are working very hard to save them. Read about their program here.

 

      

 

 

 

 

 

 

Categories: Animals, Children, education, Environment, mammals, nature, rainforests, science, wildlife | Tags: , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

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