Posts Tagged With: envrionment

Fancy Shrimp

Posted on May 15, 2017 by Ellie and Edmond ©

Fancy Shrimp

We are back on the boat and we’re spending this week snorkeling and diving so we can meet some of the most amazing animals of the reef! It’s hard to chose who we should share with you guys even! The shrimp we saw today was so fantastic though- we knew you had to meet them!

harlequin shrimp

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Date: 5/15

Location: Raja Ampat Islands

Harlequin Shrimp Fun Facts:

  • Harlequin shrimp live in pairs.
  • They have two large claws and four walking legs.
  • Females are slightly larger than males.
  • Harlequin shrimp are secretive.

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  • They flip over their sea star prey and eat the tube feet!
  • Harlequin shrimp are toxic from the sea stars they eat.

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We were so excited to spot these tiny little shrimp. They are so colorful and amazing. We do recommend that is you are a sea star- you stay away.

Categories: adventure, Animals, Children, conservation, education, Environment, nature, oceans, science, Today's Post, wildlife | Tags: , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

King Bird in Paradise

Posted on May 11, 2017 by Ellie and Edmond ©

King Bird in Paradise

We decided to do some bird watching while we were on land. There are so many amazing birds here and it was hard to pick a favorite. But we did love the Paradise Kingfisher with it’s long tail and bright blue colors.

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Date: 5/11

Location: Raja Ampat Islands

Paradise Kingfisher Fun Facts:

  • A pair of kingfishers in highly territorial.
  • They make their nests out of termite mounds on trees. IMG_4047
  • Paradise kingfishers do not migrate.
  • Both parents care for the chicks.

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These adorable birds are just one of the island inhabitants we enjoyed meeting! We head back to the boat and the coral reef next week to meet more ocean dwellers!

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

Giant Crab!

Posted on May 10, 2017 by Ellie and Edmond ©

Giant Crab!

We were exploring another island and met an infamous arthropod! These giant, slightly creepy looking creatures are the coconut crab and man are we excited for you to meet them too!

coconut crab

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Date: 5/10

Location: Raja Ampat Islands

Coconut Crab Fun Facts:

  • Coconut crabs are the largest land arthropods in the world.

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  • Young coconut crabs use other animals’ shells to protect themselves, just like other hermit crabs. As they grow older their exoskeleton hardens.
  • They do eat coconuts. They scrape away the fibrous outside and crack open the shell to get to the meaty inside.
  • As a coconut crab grows, they shed their exoskeleton and grow a new one.
  • Coconut crabs have an excellent sense of smell.
  • They are solitary and territorial.
  • Coconut crabs can live up to 40 years.

 

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These giant creatures may be one of our favorites! They are the stuff of bad B horror movies, but aren’t they cool. People do not eat them- which is good. They are tough! Hahahaha!

Categories: adventure, Animals, Children, conservation, education, Environment, nature, science, Today's Post, wildlife | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

One Large Bat

Posted on May 8, 2017 by Ellie and Edmond ©

One Large Bat

We decided to explore some of the islands this week. We do love our oceans, but the islands have some really neat creatures to meet too! Today we are meeting one of the largest flying mammals in the world and we couldn’t be more excited!

flying fox

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Date: 5/8

Location: Raja Ampat Islands

Large Flying Fox Fun Facts:

  • Large flying fox live in large colonies.
  • They are able to hang upside down just as smaller bats do.
  • Large flying foxes have long tongues to help them eat nectar and fruit.

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  • Large flying foxes are pollinators and seed disperses. Their poop contains seeds that they disperse and they get pollen on their fur when they eat nectar. They spread the pollen from plant to plant.
  • They feed in the upside down position.

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These large bats are so cool to see! We spotted a whole tree full just roosting and came back at night to watch them head out to find food! They fly silently, but they are a noisy bunch when they are eating! Edmond can be a loud eater too!

Categories: adventure, Animals, Children, conservation, education, endangered species, Environment, nature, science, Today's Post, wildlife | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Sharky Shark Shark

Posted on May 3, 2017 by Ellie and Edmond ©

Sharky Shark Shark

We strapped on our snorkel equipment to go exploring! We spotted so many fish, but we were most excited to see the black tip reef shark! These sleek predators are common inhabitants of the reef!

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Date: 5/3

Location: Raja Ampat Islands

Black Tip Reef Shark Fun Facts:

  • Blacktip Reef Sharks are the most common shark in coral reefs of the Pacific Ocean.
  • Blacktip reef sharks have streamlined bodies with black color on the tips of their fins.
  • They are powerful are strong and quick swimmers.

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  • Blacktip reef sharks must swim to breath. The motion moves the water over their gills that extract oxygen from the water.
  • They can be curious of divers.

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Blacktip reef sharks are fast! They are very important in their coral reef habitats, because they’re apex predators (top of the food chain). Blacktip reef sharks look so sleek and smooth! Do you think they feel that way? Nope- they feel like sandpaper! Neat, huh?

Categories: adventure, Animals, Children, conservation, education, endangered species, Environment, fish, nature, oceans, science, Today's Post, wildlife | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Coral Basics

Posted on May 2, 2017 by Ellie and Edmond ©

Coral Basics

We have talked about coral at the University before, but we thought it would be good to have a refresher about these amazing tiny animals.

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Coral Fun Facts:

  • Each animal is attached to the next by a hard exoskeleton.
  • The large coral colonies are fixed to one spot. The individual animals can pull their tentacles into their exoskeleton for protection.
  • They have tentacles with stinging cells that help them catch their prey!
  • Coral are related to jellies and anemones.
  • Coral share their homes with zooxanthella  (zō′ə-zăn-thĕl′ə), a type of algae. The zooxanthella and coral polyp help each other survive.
  • The coral provide a home for the zooxanthella and the zooxanthella provide oxygen and nutrients for the coral.
  • The zooxanthella also give the corals their colors!
  • Because the zooxanthella need sun to make energy (photosynthesis), coral reefs are located in shallow waters.
  • As coral grow, they help build shelter for many kinds of animals in the reef. Those calcium carbonate bodies build the reef.
  • Some fish, like parrotfish eat coral. The fish’s poop then becomes sand. Much of the sand in the Caribbean is parrotfish poop!
  • You can often see new growth on a coral by seeing the white tips!

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Now that we all know more about corals! We will get our diving equipment ready for exploring these amazing habitats!

 

 

Categories: adventure, Animals, Children, conservation, education, Environment, nature, science, Today's Post, wildlife | Tags: , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Off to the Islands!

Posted on May 1, 2017 by Ellie and Edmond ©

Off to the Islands!

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We have arrived at our last destination of the school year- the Raja Ampat Islands of Indonesia. These remote and magical islands are home to some of the most beautiful and diverse coral reefs in the world. It’s those reefs and one or two island stops that we will be exploring! We have the SS Ellie and Edmond ready to go and explore all around the Pacific Ocean!

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  • The islands consist of up to 1,500 small islands and cays. There are four large main islands where most of the population lives.
  • Canderawasih Bay is the largest marine sanctuary in Indonesian.
  • The Coral triangle is considered to be the most bio-diverse reef habitat in the world.
  • These islands are remote and mostly uninhabited, so the reefs are mostly undisturbed. The islands that do house sparse populations of people that still live in a very different world.
  • These islands contain some of the most beautiful birds and flora anywhere in the world.

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The big draw is in the ocean though! And that’s where we will be exploring the most! Stay tuned for tomorrow!

Categories: adventure, Animals, Children, conservation, education, Environment, fish, nature, oceans, science, Today's Post, wildlife | Tags: , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

The Parrot with a Crown!

Posted on April 25, 2017 by Ellie and Edmond ©

The Parrot with a Crown!

We met a feathered friend in the outback! This shy green bird is not always easy to spot, but we were lucky!

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Date: 2/25

Location: Great Victorian Desert

Princess Parrot Fun Facts:

  • Princess parrots were named after Princess Alexandra of Denmark.
  • They are quiet colorful, with bluish heads, pink throats and blue tails.
  • Males have longer tails and brighter colors than females.

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  • They make loud calls.
  • Princes parrots are known to live around 30 years.

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We were so excited to find a few of these chatty little birds! They tend to gather in a group for mating and then disappear again!

Categories: adventure, Animals, birds, Children, conservation, education, endangered species, Environment, nature, science, Today's Post, wildlife | Tags: , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Spring Break

Posted on April 10, 2017 by Ellie and Edmond ©

Spring Break!

We’re off to the beach for the week! But make sure to check out our social media this week as we have some great animal friends who are taking over! Woohoo!

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Categories: adventure, Animals, Children, conservation, education, entertainment, Environment, nature, science, Today's Post, wildlife | Tags: , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Give That Frog a Glass of Water

Posted on April 7, 2017 by Ellie and Edmond ©

Give That Frog a Glass of Water

We had no internet yesterday! Darn-it! Well we spent that extra time looking for an unusual amphibian who calls the desert home! The water holding frog is soooo cool!

water holding frog

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Date: 4/7

Location: Great Victorian Desert

Water Holding Frog Fun Facts:

  • They have webbed toes.
  • Water holding frogs live underground.

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  • When they bury themselves, they cocoon themselves in a mucus to protect themselves.
  • Water holding frogs eat that mucus when they emerge from their dormant state.
  • Water holding frogs can hold water in their bladder and send it back to their mouths to drink. They can also store in pockets under their skin!
  • They come out of their sandy burrows to mate during rainy season.

Woohoo! Animals have the neatest adaptation ever! Even if they seem kind of gross! Hehehehe!

Categories: adventure, amphibians, Animals, Children, conservation, education, Environment, nature, science, Today's Post, wildlife | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

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