Posts Tagged With: animals

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!

 

 

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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?

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SUPER SURPRISE # 9

Posted on October 13, 2011 by Ellie and Edmond ©

SUPER SURPRISE THURSDAY # 9

Everyone put your hands over your eyes! Ok? You ready? Open your eyes and Surprise!! We have a spectacular bird for Super Surprise Thursday! Let’s not delay and meet this bird!

MEET THE AFRICAN FISH EAGLE!

Range/Habitat: Sub-Saharan Africa/lakes, rivers, grasslands, swamps

Diet: Carnivore: fish, some water fowl and small mammals

Length/Weight: 25-29”/4 ½ -8 lbs

Conservation Status: Common

 

Fun Facts:

  • African Fish Eagles are also known as the African Sea Eagle.
  • They are related to the majestic Bald Eagle.
  • African fish eagles swoop down and catch feet with talons. Their talons (or feet) have special spiricules on them to help them grip slippery and wet fish.
  • Female African fish eagles are larger than the males.
  • They are the national bird of Zimbabwe and Zambia.
  • African fish eagles mate for life.
  • Their loud cry is known as the “voice of Africa”.

These regal looking relatives of the Bald Eagle are pretty awesome! They’re so awesome that they are the national bird of not one but two countries! And who wouldn’t want to be the national animal of two countries?

 

Listen to their awesome call:

http://www.bushcampcompany.com/DIDYOUKNOW_ww/2010/mp3/Fish%20eagle.mp3

 

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WATERY WEDNESDAY # 9

Posted on October 12, 2011 by Ellie and Edmond ©

WATERY WEDNESDAY # 9

What’s happening everyone? Well what’s happening here is Water Wednesday and we’ve found a comical fish who calls the coral reef its home! 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 like Ellie is! 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 black and yellow bodies with white spots on them! Their colorful appearance is why they were named after clowns.
  • 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 fins 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! Ellie thinks they’re much less scary than actual clownsJ! If you could create your very own fish, what colors would you use?

 

 

 

 

 

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REPTILIAN TUESDAY # 8

Posted on October 11, 2011 by Ellie and Edmond ©

REPTILIAN TUESDAY# 8

Who’s excited to meet another reptile on this Reptilian Tuesday? We definitely are and we have a great tortoise for you today! Tortoises may be slow but they sure are awesome! Besides who won that race with the hare? Let’s meet this great animal…

MEET THE RED FOOTED TORTOISE!

Range/Habitat: North-Central South America/forest edges, savannas, grasslands

Diet: Herbivore: leaves, flowers, plants and the occasional bug

Length/Weight: 16-20”/up to 25 lbs

Conservation Status: Endangered

 

Fun Facts:

  • Red Footed Tortoises have red- yellowish spots on their legs and their scutes. Scutes are the coverings on turtles and tortoise shells; they are made up of keratin, the same protein that makes up your nails and hair.
  • They can live up to 50 years.
  • Male red footed tortoises are smaller around the mid-section; it looks like they have a waist. If you look at them from above they have an hourglass shape.
  • Female red footed tortoises lay eggs. They can lay up to 15 eggs per clutch.

 

Red footed tortoises are really neat! They are popular to keep as pets. Would you like a tortoise as a pet? You have to do your homework and learn how to take care of them. Exotic pets, like tortoises and snakes need special habitats, food and care. We met a red footed tortoise at Zoo Atlanta who’s shell was misshapen and heavy because his owner fed him dog food. It’s really important to know how to take care of your pet!

 

 

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MAMMAL MONDAY # 9

Posted on October 10, 2011 by Ellie and Edmond ©

MAMMAL MONDAY# 9

Wow, it’s Monday again? Where did the weekend go? We have a great mammal for you today! This special mammal could have been featured on Watery Wednesday, but we just couldn’t wait for you to meet this animal, so let’s do it!

MEET THE FALSE KILLER WHALE!

Range/Habitat: worldwide/temperate-tropical waters

Diet: Carnivores: salmon, tuna, barracuda

Length/Weight: 16-20ft/1- ½ tons

Conservation Status: lower risk

 

Fun Facts:

  • False Killer Whales are one of the largest members of the dolphin family.
  • They are agile and fast swimmers.
  • False killer whales get their name because they resemble Orcas (aka Killer Whales).
  • They don’t have a beak (like a bottlenose dolphin).
  • You often see them swimming in groups of 10-20 whales. A group of whales is called a pod.
  • False killer whales prefer deep oceans, but can be seen in shallows near land.
  • They are very social and use clicks and whistles to communicate with each other.
  • Like other members of the dolphin family, they use echolocation to locate their prey.

 

These whales have a funny name, but they sure are cool. People communicate by talking, but these whales use clicks and whistles. We think everyone should try making up their own False Killer Whale language and practice making clicks and whistle sounds! We’re going to try today! Edmond thinks he’ll be better than Ellie at this challenge!

 

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FEATHERY FRIDAY # 8

Posted on October 7, 2011 by Ellie and Edmond ©

FEATHERY FRIDAY # 8

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:

  • The Greater Roadrunner 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 just as fun! They are fast and furious little birds. How fast can you run? You should try and be a roadrunner for the day!

 

 

 

Categories: Animals, birds, Children, education, Environment | Tags: , , , , | 4 Comments

SUPER SURPRISE # 8

Posted on October 6, 2011 by Ellie and Edmond ©

SUPER SURPRISE THURSDAY # 8

Rise and shine for Super Surprise Thursday! We have a riddle for you this morning! What do you get when you cross a kangaroo, a squirrel and rabbit? You get this crazy animal!

MEET THE SPRINGHARE!

Range/Habitat: Central-East South Africa/dry savannah

Diet: Omnivore: seeds, bulbs, plants, insects

Length/Weight: 10 ½”-16”/6 ½-8lbs

Conservation Status: Common

 

Fun Facts:

  • Springhares are not actually hares (a relative of the rabbit). They are rodents.
  • Springhares have large long hind that are built for jumping.
  • They can jump up to 6 ½ ft in one single bound.
  • Springhares have long bushy tails that help them when jumping and give them support when they sit.
  • They have large front claws for digging burrows.
  • Springhares are nocturnal (active at night).

These adorable animals may look like a kangaroo and a squirrel and rabbit, but they’re none of these! These rodents are pretty fabulous and are great jumpers! Edmond says he’s a good jumper, but I don’t believe him! How far can you jump? You should go outside and practice jumping like a springhare!

 

 

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WATERY WEDNESDAY # 8

Posted on October 5, 2011 by Ellie and Edmond ©

WATERY WEDNESDAY # 8

Wake up for Watery Wednesday! We have a gentle giant for you today! This big guy glides through the water looking for tiny, tiny animals to eat! So who this special fish? Let’s find out!

MEET THE MANTA RAY!

Range/Habitat: Worldwide/tropical-sub-tropical

Diet: Carnivore: plankton, small schooling fish

Length/Weight: 13-23ft/up to 1 ¾ tons (more than a small car)

Conservation Status: Near threatened

Fun Facts:

  • The Manta Ray is the largest ray in the world!
  • They filter plankton (tiny animals) out of the water. The water goes over their gills and special plates called gill rakers catch the plankton.
  • Manta rays can eat up to 60 lbs of food a day.
  • Manta rays are related to sharks. Their skeleton is made up of cartilage (the tissue in your ears and nose).
  • They have large lobes on the side of their head to help funnel the prey into their mouth.
  • Manta rays have no venomous barb on their tail like smaller rays.
  • They can jump out of the water (also called breaching). They often do this to avoid predators like sharks and killer whales.

Wow! Manta rays are amazing! They are such graceful and beautiful animals! We would love to go swimming in the ocean and meet one up close and personal! Too bad we don’t speak Manta ray J!

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