Posts Tagged With: oceans

SUPER SURPRISE THURSDAY # 39

Posted on June 28, 2012 by Ellie and Edmond ©

SUPER SURPRISE THURSDAY# 39

We’re staying in the ocean today, but we’re not staying in the coral reef. Instead we’re heading off to the Georgia coast to meet a small and strange member of the shark family! We’re in the submarine today and we have room for others, so hop in and let’s go find…

MEET THE BONNETHEAD SHARK!

Range/Habitat: Eastern Atlantic-Western Pacific/ temperate-

tropical waters near reefs & estuaries

Diet: Carnivore: fish, crustaceans, shrimp

Length: 3-5 ft

Conservation Status: Common

Fun Facts:

Bonnetheads are the smallest member of the hammerhead shark family.
They often swim in small schools.
Bonnetheads have broad heads that are shovel shaped.
They have sharp teeth in the front of their mouths and broad molars in the back.
Bonnetheads must swim constantly to breathe.
Bonnetheads are migratory.
The purpose of the bonnet shaped head is still debated. It does seem to help them swim and hold prey down in the sand.
They can live up to 12 years.

These neat looking little sharks are great! Sharks come in so many shapes and sizes. They are fascinating creatures! Can you imagine having to continually move your entire life just to stay alive? Whew, just the thought of it makes us tired!

Categories: Animals, Children, education, Environment, fish, nature, oceans, science, sharks, wildlife | Tags: animals, children, education, environment, nature, oceans, science, sharks, wildlife | Leave a comment

WATERY WEDNESDAY # 39

Posted on June 27, 2012 by Ellie and Edmond ©

WATERY WEDNESDAY# 39

We’re going diving in the coral reefs of the Indo-Pacific Oceans today! We’re looking for a shy, unusual and beautiful fish! Make sure your diving goggles are extra clean and you have a flashlight, because these fish like to hide out! Let’s do this!

MEET THE ZEBRA MORAY!

Range/Habitat: Pacific- Indian Oceans & Gulf of California/ coral reefs

Diet: Carnivore: crabs, crustaceans

Length/Weight: up to 35”/ 22lbs

Conservation Status: Common

Fun Facts:

Zebra Morays are eels.
They have no scales or fins.
Zebra morays have black and white, long muscular bodies.
Zebra morays ooze a slime that protects their skin since they don’t have any scales.
They lurk in cliffs, rocks and coral; often with only their head sticking out.
Zebra morays are ambush predators.
They have blunt teeth for crushing prey!
Zebra morays are very territorial.

These amazing eels sure are pretty! We’re not sure we’d want to touch one though, eeeww slimy! Would you be scared if you saw one of these lurking in your neighborhood reef? We sure wouldn’t!

Categories: Animals, Children, education, Environment, fish, nature, oceans, science, wildlife | Tags: animals, children, education, environment, fish, nature, oceans, science, wildlife | 1 Comment

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: animals, children, education, environment, fish, nature, oceans, science, wildlife | 4 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: animals, birds, children, dads, education, environment, nature, oceans, penguins, science, wildlife | Leave a comment

SEA STAR BEAN BAG

Posted on June 8, 2012 by Ellie and Edmond ©

SEA STAR BEAN BAG

We’re making stuffed sea star bean bags for World’s Oceans Day! We hope you like them! Share your photos of your sea stars too!

MATERIALS:

Sea Star Pattern
Scissors
Felt (any color)
Hot glue gun (used by an adult)
Flax seed or stuffing
Funnel
Sharpie
Pom poms or googly eyes

Directions:

1) Cut out pattern.

2) Cut out two sea stars on felt.

3) Hot glue the two pieces together, leaving a small opening.

4) Put the flax seed in the sea star. If you don’t have a funnel, you can easily make one with paper, by rolling it in a cone shape. If you don’t have flax seed, stuffing or small dry beans will work too.

5) Make sure you don’t overstuff it. Then glue the opening shut.

6) Glue on the eyes and draw on the mouth.

You’re done! Toss your sea star, use him as a paper weight, or just give him a hug!

Categories: Animals, Children, crafts, education, Environment, nature, oceans, science, sea stars, wildlife, Worlds Oceans Day | Tags: animals, children, crafts, education, environment, nature, oceans, science, wildlife | 4 Comments

WORLD OCEANS DAY!!

Posted on June 8, 2012 by Ellie and Edmond ©

HAPPY WORLD’S OCEANS DAY!!

We’re celebrating the world’s oceans and their inhabitants today! The oceans of the world are magnificent in many ways! We land dwelling creatures have a hard time wrapping our heads around the oceans’ size and depth! Today we’re going to celebrate this watery habitat by sharing some fun facts and photos! We’ll also be sharing ways for you to help keep our oceans clean and healthy! And please share with us what you love about the ocean and its animals!

It’s estimated that 50-80% of life on earth live in the ocean.
The oceans have 99% of living space on the planet!
Humans have only explored 5-10% of the world’s oceans.
The oceans cover 71% of the earth’s surface!
The deepest point in the ocean is the Marianas Trench in the Pacific Ocean!
The Great Barrier Reef is the largest living structure on earth!
The oceans absorb CO2 to help keep our air clean.
The ocean absorbs heat from the atmosphere and distributes that warmth around the planet!

Wow! The ocean is sooo large and strange! Can you believe humans have only explored 10% of them? We have so much to learn! Let’s check out some photos of the some of the wild and wonderful creatures that call the ocean their home!

It is vital that we keep the world’s oceans clean and healthy not just for the animals that call it home, but for the land dwelling animals too! Want to know some easy ways to help? Well, we have those for you right here!

Pick up your trash! Trash can float into the ocean and it is often mistaken for food by many animals!
Pick up your pet’s waste. Poop is not good for anyone J!
Participate in a local beach or river clean-up! Remember that all rivers eventually make their ways to the oceans and so can the trash in them.
Use cloth or reusable bags when shopping. Plastic bags are a big killer of ocean life. Sea turtles especially mistake them for their favorite food- jellies.
Eat Sustainable Seafood. We are eating many species in to extinction. Check out Monterey Bay Aquarium’s Seafood Watch Program! They even have a smart phone app that helps you pick out the best seafood to eat!
When you fish, make sure you throw away extra line and hooks. The hooks can become embedded in all kinds of creatures and the line can be swallowed or wrap around an animal.
Cut up your soda six pack rings.
RECYCLE!
Join an organization that works to protect the world’s oceans, like the Ocean Conservancy!
Visit your local aquarium and learn about some amazing animals! Also learn what your aquarium is doing for conservation!

Categories: Animals, Children, education, Environment, fish, mammals, nature, oceans, octopus, penguins, science, turtles, wildlife, Worlds Oceans Day | Tags: animals, children, education, environment, fish, mammals, nature, oceans, science, wildlife, Worlds Oceans Day | 5 Comments

WATERY WEDNESDAY # 37

Posted on June 6, 2012 by Ellie and Edmond ©

WATERY WEDNESDAY# 37

We’re hoping in the Ellie and Edmond submarine today to meet one of the oceans powerful predators! We have room for you, so jump in and let’s see where this trip will take us!

MEET THE CREVALLE JACK!

Range/Habitat: Eastern Atlantic Ocean/ deep sea and coast lines

Diet: Carnivore: fish, mollusks, crabs

Length/Weight: up to 4 ft/ up to 70 lbs

Conservation Status: Common

Fun Facts:

Crevalle jacks have large blunt heads and a black spot on their gill covering.
They are the largest of all jacks.
They have deep forked tails.
Crevalle jacks often cruise in schools or pairs.
They are powerful and fast predators.
Juvenile Crevalle jacks are often found in brackish (part fresh-part salt water) habitats.

These great fish sure are fantastic! They are just another important part of the vast ecosystem of the world’s oceans! We always have to remember that each creature great and small has its place!

Categories: Animals, Children, education, Environment, fish, nature, oceans, science, space, wildlife | Tags: animals, children, education, environment, fish, nature, oceans, science, wildlife | Leave a comment

MAMMAL MONDAY # 36

MAMMAL MONDAY # 36

Happy Memorial Day! We’re not taking a vacation today, so that another mammal can enjoy the spotlight! Today we’re putting on our diving suits and taking a dip in the cold waters of the subarctic to meet this swimming mammal! Are you ready? Let’s do this!

MEET THE HARBOR PORPOISE!

Range/Habitat: North Atlantic-North Pacific Ocean/ coasts, rivers

Diet: Carnivores: fish, herring, capelin

Length/Weight: 4 ½-6 ½ ft/ 110-200 lbs

Conservation Status: vulnerable

Fun Facts:

The Harbor Porpoise is also called the common porpoise.
They prefer temperate and subarctic waters.
They generally shy and elusive.
Harbor porpoises tend to feed on the bottom.
They use echolocation to help them find their prey.
Harbor porpoises are black on top and white on the underside.
Harbor porpoises have been known to travel into fresh water rivers.

These shy porpoises are wonderful! Scientists don’t know much about these porpoises because of their shy nature. Ocean dwelling animals are very hard to study since humans don’t have gills :)!

Categories: Animals, Children, education, Environment, mammals, nature, oceans, science, wildlife | Tags: animals, children, education, environment, mammals, oceans, science, wildlife | Leave a comment

SUPER SURPRISE THURSDAY # 35

SUPER SURPRISE THURSDAY# 35

It’s Super Surprise Thursday and we’re celebrating another watery animal friend. Today we are jetting off to the waters of Pacific and Indonesian oceans to meet a very beautiful and helpful fish! It’s time everyone learned how sand is really made J! Let’s go!

MEET THE BICOLOR PARROTFISH!

Range/Habitat: Indian-Pacific Oceans/ coral reefs

Diet: Herbivore: algae

Length: up to 32”

Conservation Status: Common

Fun Facts:

Bicolor parrotfish have fused molar teeth that resemble a parrot’s beak.
Bicolor parrotfish are brightly colored.
Their beak like mouths and coloration gave them the name parrotfish!
Juvenile bicolor parrotfish are white with orange on their head.
They eat algae off the coral.
When bicolor parrotfish chew up the coral and algae, they crush the coral. The coral that is not digested is then pooped out in sand form.
One large bicolor parrotfish can produce up to 2,200 lbs of a sand year.

Well, who knew that the beautiful white sand beaches of the Pacific were really fish poop? Hehe! There are other species of parrotfish in the Caribbean too, so you cannot escape the fish poop! Actually these fish are amazing and they do help build the ocean floor and the beaches that animals rely on for habitats and that humans love to relax on!

Categories: Animals, Children, education, Environment, fish, nature, oceans, science, wildlife | Tags: animals, children, coral reefs, education, environment, fish, nature, oceans, science, wildlife | 2 Comments

ENDANGERED SPECIES DAY!

ENDANGERED SPECIES DAY!

Today is a day to celebrate the Endangered Species Act here in America! It was enacted in 1973 and was set up to protect animal and plant species! There are also two international organizations that work to protect animals, CITES and IUCN.

We’re celebrating Endangered Species Day, by picking a few organizations that are working to save endangered animals!

First up: The San Diego Global Wildlife Conservancy. They work in the wild and with the San Diego Zoo and Safari Park to actively protect wildlife. They’ve even reintroduced more than 30 species back into the wild! Our pal on twitter @ZooKeeperRick shared this video with us all about their efforts! They’ve had success with iguanas, pandas and California condors!

Next up: Is the Georgia Sea Turtle Center. The staff and volunteers at the center work hard to rehabilitate and reintroduce all species of sea turtles! They have a hospital and education center. They also keep track of all the sea turtle nests each season on the Georgia coast! Check out our post on when we visited!

Last up: The Kakapo Parrot! These critically endangered parrots are the largest of all parrots! They are also flightless, which is one reason they have declined in the wild. These amazing birds live in New Zealand, where rescue organizations are working very hard to save them! Check out the Kakapo Recovery website!

The National Wildlife Federation has a great page with more success stories!

We all can work to help endangered species all around the world, even with small steps! A huge problem is habitat loss for many animals. One way to combat this is by recycling glass, paper, plastic & aluminum. You can find a local recycling center near you- here! You can also help endangered animals by educating yourself and joining organizations like the National Wildlife Federation, World Wildlife Fund or the Nature Conservancy. You can also pay a visit to your local zoo, aquarium or nature center; often they are helping support animals in the wild and in their facilities with research and education! And one last thing you can do is to share your love of animals and wild places with others! Often your passion will spark that in other people! We’re going to leave you today with some adorable photos of some endangered species and hopefully they will inspire you to act!