Posts Tagged With: animals

SUPER SURPRISE

THURSDAY# 19

We couldn’t talk arctic animals without including this special hoofed animal! That’s right! We’ve found one of the most famous arctic dwellers of all! Do you have your sleigh ready?

MEET THE REINDEER!

Range/Habitat: North America-Europe-Asia/Tundra-forest

Diet:  Herbivore: grasses, moss, lichen

Length/Weight: 4- 7 ¼ ft/ 260-660 lb

Conservation Status: common

Fun Facts:

• Reindeer are also called caribou.
• They vary in color and size depending on where they live. Reindeer that live closest to the arctic are white in color.
• Both female and male reindeer have antlers. Males lose their antlers in the winter.
• Reindeer antlers are covered in a layer of fur called velvet.
• Their noses are specialized to warm cold air before it enters their lungs.
• Reindeers have a four chambered stomach!
• One of their favorite foods is called reindeer moss.
• Reindeers are the only mammal that can see ultraviolent light!
• Some reindeer populations migrate. They can migrate up to 3,000 miles in one year! Whew, they must be tired!

Besides being really neat, reindeer are famous for pulling Santa’s sleigh! We were hoping to meet a real reindeer this year, but we weren’t able to. We are making some antlers out of pipe cleaners though! What’s your favorite thing about reindeer?

We found a coloring sheet too:

http://www.edupics.com/coloring-page-reindeer-i8663.html

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!