SUPER SURPRISE THURSDAY # 73
Look at the picture, read the clues and then tell us who the animal is!
- I live in Africa.
- I am a member of the canine family.
- I have very large ears.
WHO AM I?
Posts Tagged With: environment
SUPER SURPRISE THURSDAY # 73
Categories: adventure, Animals, Children, conservation, education, Environment, nature, science, wildlife
Tags: adventure, animals, children, conservation, education, environment, nature, science, wildlife
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WATERY WEDNESDAY # 73
WATERY WEDNESDAY # 73
It’s time to hop aboard the E & E sub today and meet a fish with big teeth! There’s always room for everyone has we head out to the Pacific Ocean to meet…
MEET THE WOLF HERRING!
Range/Habitat: Indo-Pacific Ocean/ ocean
Diet: Carnivore: fish
Length/Weight: 3 ¼ ft/ 14 oz
Conservation Status: common
Fun Facts:
- Wolf Herrings are the largest member of the herring family.
- They are bright blue in coloration.
- Wolf herrings are active hunters.
- Wolf herrings have two fang-like teeth that protrude out of their mouth.
- They are known to hunt in small groups.
Wolf herrings are truly predators with those large teeth. We sure wouldn’t want to meet with that end of these fish!
Categories: adventure, Animals, Children, conservation, education, Environment, fish, nature, oceans, science, wildlife
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REPTILIAN TUESDAY # 73
REPTILIAN TUESDAY # 73
We’re hoping a plane to Australia on this Reptilian Tuesday. We’re going to meet a lizard today. Do you think they say good day mate?
MEET THE MAJOR SKINK!
Range/Habitat: South New Guinea- Northeast Australia/forest
Diet: Carnivore: insects, small invertebrates
Length: 23 ½-28”
Conservation Status: common
Fun Facts:
- Major skinks have a squarish shaped body.
- They have muscular legs.
- Major skinks are dark brown with a yellow underside.
- Major skinks are often seen basking in the sun.
- Female major skinks can have up to 6 babies per litter.
Major skinks are funny looking with their little short legs and blunt noses. We love all skinks and these guys are no exception.
Categories: adventure, Animals, Children, conservation, education, Environment, nature, reptiles, wildlife
Tags: adventure, animals, children, conservation, education, environment, nature, reptiles, science, wildlife
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MAMMAL MONDAY # 73
MAMMAL MONDAY # 73
We sure hope you enjoyed Habitat Week! We’re back to going to some of those of one of those habitats to meet today’s mammal! Grab your gear and let’s get ready to go!
MEET THE CHITAL!
Range/Habitat: South Asia/ grasslands
Diet: Herbivore: fruit, vegetation
Length/Weight: 3 ¼-5 ft/ 155-175 lb
Conservation Status: common
Fun Facts:
- Chitals are also called the Axis Deer.
- Chitals live in large herds, up to 100 animals.
- They share their habitat with langurs, who warn for predators.
- Chitals run up to 40 mph.
- Chital males have antlers!
These members of the deer family are really cool. We love their crazy antlers! Who knew deer came in so many shapes and sizes?
Categories: adventure, Animals, Children, conservation, education, Environment, nature, science, wildlife
Tags: adventure, animals, children, conservation, education, environment, mammals, nature, science, wildlife
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HABITAT WEEK- CRAFT!
HABITAT WEEK- CRAFT!
We’ve had so much fun celebrating some of the world’s amazing habitats! We first thought we might make a habitat for this month’s craft, but then we decided to go smaller and make a clay nudibranch! A what- you ask? A nudibranch or sea slug is one of our favorite animals in the coral reef. Are you ready to make one? Here’s what these crazy, colorful creatures look like!
Materials:
- Clay in any color you like (Air dry or oven bake will work)
Instructions:
- Take one color and make a large tube.
- Next, take your second color and make small cones (as many as you like)
- Then take a piece of the second color and roll a long tube and press it flat.
- Roll two small balls for the eyes.
- If you using clay that has to be dried in the oven- bake according to package directions. Then enjoy your new pal!
Categories: adventure, Animals, Children, conservation, crafts, education, Environment, habitats, nature, oceans, science, wildlife
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HABITAT WEEK- DAY #4
HABITAT WEEK DAY #4
It’s Day 4 of our Habitat Week and we’re grabbing our snorkel gear and going for a dip to find the most diverse habitat in the ocean. We’re going to visit a coral reef. Grab your wetsuit and let’s head out to check out this amazing habitat!
Coral Reef Fun Facts:
- Coral reefs are made up of colonies of tiny animals called coral.
- Corals are soft bodied polyps that are related to jellies. They have a limestone skeleton.
- There are two kinds of coral- soft and hard.
- There are three kinds of coral reefs- atolls, barrier reefs and fringing reefs.
- The largest coral reefs are in the Indo-Pacific oceans.
- Coral reefs are located in tropical waters. The coral need water that is above 64 degrees.
- Corals also need light to survive. They share their skeletons with algae called zooxanthellea.
- Coral reefs contain one third of the world’s fish species.
- Reefs are like rainforest, because of their diversity.
Animals of the Coral Reef:
- Sea Stars
- Sea Turtles
- Sea Snakes
- Sponges
- Anemones
- Yellow Tangs
- Sea Horses
- Stingrays
- Coral
- Parrot Fish
- Clownfish
We could spend hours and hours swimming in the reef. There is so much to see! The fish alone are often too many to count. Coral reefs are full of symbiotic relationships (where two organisms depend on each other). These relationships help the animals survive in these beautiful and amazing habitats.
Categories: adventure, Animals, Children, conservation, education, Environment, nature, oceans, science, wildlife
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HABITAT DAY WEEK- DAY #3
HABITAT WEEK DAY #3
It’s off to Ellie’s home on this third day of our Habitat Week! That’s right we’re going to visit the grasslands of the world. There different types of grasslands out there, but their common feature is grass and lots of it! These giant habitats are home to many different kinds of animals. So let’s learn more about grasslands!
Grassland Fun Facts:
- Grasslands are on every continent except Antarctica.
- There are temperate grasslands that lie north or south of the equator, these are often called prairies.
- Tropical grasslands are located near the equator, these are often called savannas.
- One quarter of the earth’s surface is covered in grasslands.
- Grasslands are open and flat.
- Tropical grasslands have dry and rainy seasons.
- Temperate grasslands have a growing season and a dormant season.
- Grass grows from the bottom to the top.
- Grasslands have trees, but not many.
Animals of the Grassland:
- Bison
- Giraffe
- Elephants
- Burrowing Owls
- Giant anteaters
- Baboons
- Prairie Dogs
- Ostrich
- Cheetahs
- Gerenuks
- Vultures
Grasslands are definitely Ellie’s favorite habitat on the planet. In fact on the prairies of North America there are wild horses, so Edmond is a fan too. Grasslands are home to so many kinds of herbivores and their carnivore predators. From the smallest insect to the largest land mammal on earth, grasslands are complex habitats that support a huge diversity of life.
Categories: adventure, Animals, Children, conservation, education, Environment, habitats, nature, science, wildlife
Tags: adventure, animals, children, conservation, education, environment, habitats, nature, science, wildlife
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HABITAT WEEK- DESERTS!
HABITAT WEEK DAY #2
We’re going to explore the world’s deserts today. We think deserts are void of plant and animal life, but these habitats are wonderful places full of life that has adapted to survive in a harsh environment. Let’s go exploring this amazing habitat!
Desert Fun Facts:
- Deserts receive less than 10 inches of rain a year.
- Deserts cover 1/3 of the earth’s surface.
- Only 20% of deserts are covered in sand.
- Polar deserts are in the Arctic and Antarctic. They are areas that are free of ice.
- The largest desert on earth is the Sahara.
- Deserts are often hot during the day and cold at night.
- Most animals in true deserts are nocturnal.
- Some animals, who call the desert their home, never drink water.
- There are deserts on every continent on earth.
Animals that live in the desert:
· Camels
- Gila monsters
- Kangaroo Rats
- Desert Bighorn sheep
- Meerkats
- Roadrunner
- Horned Viper
- Western Spadefoot Toad
- Fennec Fox
- Desert Tortoise
Deserts are fascinating places! Animals and plants have come up with some of the most amazing adaptations to live here. There are cactuses that live up to 200 years. Camels can go days without water because they store fat in those famous humps! What is your favorite desert animal?
Categories: adventure, Animals, Children, conservation, education, Environment, habitats, nature, science, wildlife
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HABITAT WEEK!!
HABITAT WEEK!
It’s Habitat Week here at Headquarters. We meet so many amazing animals and we talk about their habitats, but never in detail. So we thought it was high time that we learn more about these amazing habitats that make up our planet. First up, tropical rainforests!
Fun Rainforests Facts:
- Tropical Rainforests are found near the equator in South America, Africa and parts of Asia.
- Tropical rainforests are warm and humid all year round.
- Tropical rainforests have four layers, the emergent (top), the canopy (just below the emergent layer), the understory and the forest floor.
- The emergent layer trees grow tall to compete for sunlight.
- The canopy houses most of the animal life in the tropical rainforest.
- The forest floor is full of decomposing plant material. Not much grows in this part of the rainforest due to lack of sunlight.
- Rainforest cover about 2-6% of the earth’s surface, but are home to numerous species (many of which have not even been discovered)
- Tropical rainforests are home to nearly 50 % of all animal and plant species on earth.
- Tropical rainforests have helped people, not only do all those plants help produce oxygen for everyone to breath, but many medicines have been derived from plants only found in the rainforests.
- The largest tropical rainforest is the Amazon rainforest in Brazil.
Animals you can find in the Amazonian Rainforest:
- Jaguars
- Ants
- Howler Monkeys
- Sloths
- Tapirs (Check out Ellie’s Coloring Sheet Below)
- Forest Eagles
- Poison Dart Frogs
- Bats
- Toucans
- Macaws
- Capybara
- Caiman
- Emerald Tree Boas
The rainforest is an amazing place. It is so full of life and wonderful things to discover. We can’t even begin to pick our favorite thing about this special habitat. What do you love about rainforests? Check out The Rainforest Foundation for ways to help protect rainforests and their inhabitants around the world.
Categories: adventure, Animals, Children, conservation, education, endangered species, Environment, habitats, nature, rainforests, science, wildlife
Tags: adventure, animals, children, conservation, education, environment, habitats, nature, rainforests, science, wildlife
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WORLD OCEANS DAY!
WORLD OCEANS DAY!!
We’re celebrating the oceans on this special day! Did you know that around 75% of the world’s surface is covered by oceans and yet we’ve explored so very little of it. Every year scientists are discovering new species. The oceans are full of fascinating, creepy and down right mind blowing creatures. There are mammals, reptiles, fish, crustaceans, invertebrates and things we don’t know even how to classify!
There are all kinds of habitats in the oceans! Coral reefs are like rainforests and the vast open ocean is like a desert. There are also icy habitats and deep dark habitats with no light! These wonderful habitats need to be protected and we can all do our part! We’re going to share some photos and some great ways that we can all keep trash out of the ocean!
- Recycling aluminum take 5% of the energy used to make things with new aluminum.
- It takes up to 1,000 years for a plastic bag to break down.
- Sea turtles mistake trash for food.
- If everyone would recycle 1/10th of the newspaper bought, it would save 25 million trees.
- Five recycled plastic bottles can make enough fiberfill to stuff a ski jacket.
- There are 46,000 pieces of plastic per square mile of ocean.
- Approximately 380 billion plastic bags are used in the U.S. alone each year!
So what can we do to help our ocean friends?
- Recycle everything you can, especially those plastics. Plastics labeled 1-6 can be recycled.
- Give unwanted clothes, books and other things to charity.
- Make sure you pick up your trash when at the beach.
- Say no thank you to plastic bags and bring your own reusable ones!
We packed our bag!
For more information on how you can protect our precious oceans check out the Ocean Conservancy’s website.
Categories: adventure, Animals, Children, conservation, education, Environment, nature, oceans, science, wildlife
Tags: adventure, animals, children, conservation, education, environment, fish, nature, oceans, science, wildlife
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Today’s Post
The Adventures of Ellie and Edmond 