Posts Tagged With: science

WATERY WENESDAY # 40

Posted on July 11, 2012 by Ellie and Edmond ©

WATERY WEDNESDAY# 40

We’ve got on our snorkeling gear and we’re taking a dip in the Western Pacific to find a brightly colored fish, who has a great relationship with another sea creature! Do you have on your wetsuit? Let’s dive in!

MEET THE TOMATO CLOWNFISH!

   Range/Habitat: Western Pacific/coral reefs

   Diet: Herbivore: plankton, algae

   Length: 3- 5 ½”

   Conservation Status: Common

 

 

Fun Facts:

  • Tomato clownfish are also known as bridled or red clownfish.
  • They among an anemone.
  • Tomato clownfish are immune to the stings of the anemone because of mucus they produce.
  • Usually a family of tomato clownfish occupies an anemone.
  • If the tomato clownfish leaves its anemone it must reestablish its immunity with brief contact.
  • They usually prefer purple anemones.
  • Female tomato clownfish are usually larger than the males.

We bet you didn’t know there were other kinds of clownfish in the world did you? It’s all about Nemo… Well these little tomato clownfish deserve some love too!

 

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

REPTILIAN TUESDAY # 40

Posted on July 10, 2012 by Ellie and Edmond ©

REPTILIAN TUESDAY # 40

We’re off to the rainforests of Central America to meet a really cool reptile that has a special adaptation! Can you run on top of water? We didn’t think so! Let’s head out on today’s adventure!

MEET THE PLUMED BASILISK!

   Range/Habitat: Central America/ rainforests-wetlands

   Diet: Omnivore: insects, rodents, fruits

   Length: 23 ½-30”

   Conservation Status: common

 

 

Fun Facts:

  • Plumed Basilisks are arboreal (they live in trees).
  • They live near streams and rivers.
  • Plumed basilisks run across the surface of the water on their hind feet.
  • Plumed basilisks have 3 crests on body; on their head, back and tails.
  • They are excellent swimmers and can stay under water for 30 minutes.
  • Male plumed basilisks are very territorial. They preside over a territory with numerous females.

These lizards are sooo cool! Can you believe they can run on water? We wish we could do that, alas we only doggie paddle, or elephant and horse paddle in this case!

  

Categories: Animals, Children, education, Environment, lizards, nature, rainforests, reptiles, science, wildlife | Tags: , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

MAMMAL MONDAY # 40

Posted on July 9, 2012 by Ellie and Edmond ©

MAMMAL MONDAY # 40

We’re taking a night hike in the Malaysian rainforest today to meet a very neat animal who looks like a cat, but isn’t! Are you ready for another great Ellie and Edmond adventure? Grab your night vision goggles and let’s go!

MEET THE MALAYAN CIVET!

   Range/Habitat: Southeast Asia/ rainforest

   Diet: Carnivores: millipedes, bugs, mice

   Length/Weight: 24-26”/ 7 ¾-10 lbs

   Conservation Status: common

 

 

Fun Facts:

  • Malayan civets are covered in dark spots and have a black and white “collar”.
  • Malayan civets have 15 bands on their long tails.
  • They are nocturnal and solitary.
  • Malayan civets are distantly related to cats and hyenas and mongooses.
  • They are mostly ground dwellers.

These cool little civets are so cute. They look like little bandits in the rainforests at night! What’s your favorite thing about them?

  

Categories: Animals, Children, education, Environment, mammals, nature, rainforests, science, wildlife | Tags: , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

AMERICAN ANIMALS WEEK DAY # 5

Posted on July 6, 2012 by Ellie and Edmond ©

AMERICAN ANIMALS WEEK DAY #5

It’s the last day of our celebration of American Animals week! We’ve packed up the RV and headed to the woods of the Northeast to find our national bird! These majestic birds now fly over most of our country after almost being lost. Bring your binoculars and your best bird watching skills and let’s do this!

MEET THE BALD EAGLE!

   Range/Habitat: North America/ woodlands, near marshes or bodies of water

   Diet: Carnivore: fish, small birds, carrion

   Length/Weight: 28-38”/ 6 ½- 14 lbs

   Conservation Status: least concern

 

 

 

 

 

Fun Facts:

  • Bald Eagles have been the National Bird since 1782.
  • They have a wingspan of up to 8 ¼ feet.
  • Bald Eagles mate for life. They reinforce their pair bonds with spectacular flights that they do together.
  • Pairs build their large nests and raise their chicks together.
  • They are the only eagle native to North America.
  • Bald Eagles have excellent eyesight.
  • They can live for up to 28 years!
  • Bald eagles don’t develop their white feathers until around the age of 5!

We just love Bald Eagles and think they make a fine national bird! They are so regal. Unfortunately we almost lost these birds to pollution and habitat loss and they were near extinction in the mid 1900s. After much human effort to save them they are now living in almost every state! YAY!!!

  

 

Categories: american, Animals, birds, Children, education, Environment, nature, science, wildlife | Tags: , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

AMERICAN ANIMALS DAY # 4

Posted on July 5, 2012 by Ellie and Edmond ©

AMERICAN ANIMALS WEEK DAY # 4

We hope everyone had a lovely holiday yesterday and for those of you in other countries, we hope you had a nice WednesdayJ! We’re taking the RV to the California coast to meet a vocal and social mammal today! Grab your wetsuits because the water is cold!

MEET THE CALIFORNIA SEA LION!

   Range/Habitat: Western US-Galapagos islands/ oceans-coastlines

   Diet: Carnivore: fish, squid

   Length/Weight: up to 7 ¾ ft/ 610-860 lbs

   Conservation Status: common

 

 

 

 

 

Fun Facts:

  • California Sea lions are large and have a thick layer of blubber.
  • They live in large groups with a dominate male and numerous females.
  • California sea lions are very social and very vocal.
  • They are faster than any other member of the seal or sea lion family and can swim up to 25 mph.
  • California sea lions can rotate their rear flippers.
  • California sea lions can stay under water for up to 10 minutes.
  • Male California sea lions are larger and dark brown, whereas the females and juveniles are tan.
  • They can live up to 30 years.

We just love California Sea lions! They are so full of personality and smarts! We even met a one who knew to stick out his tongue! Do you love sea lions too? Here’s a great video of some divers swimming with them!

  

Categories: american, Animals, Children, education, Environment, mammals, nature, oceans, science, wildlife | Tags: , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Happy 4th of July!!

Posted on July 4, 2012 by Ellie and Edmond ©

HAPPY 4th of JULY!!

We hope everyone has a fantastic & safe holiday and to our international friends Happy Wednesday! We hope you have enjoyed meeting a few native animals so far! We’ll be back on the road tomorrow! Until then enjoy these photos of us with a bald eagle & an American alligator :)!

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Categories: american, Animals, Children, education, Environment, nature, science, wildlife | Tags: , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

AMERICAN ANIMALS DAY #2

Posted on July 3, 2012 by Ellie and Edmond ©

AMERICAN ANIMALS WEEK DAY #2

It’s day two of American Animals week and we drove the RV down to the Southwestern United States to find a really cool reptile! Grab your sunscreen or mud and your sunglasses, because it’s going to be a hot one!

MEET THE GILA MONSTER!

   Range/Habitat: Southwestern US-desert, scrub, rocky outcrops

   Diet: Carnivore: eggs and small animals

   Length: 14-20 “

   Conservation Status: threatened

 

 

 

Fun Facts:

  • Gila Monsters are one of two venomous lizards in the whole world (the other is the Guatemalan Beaded Lizard.)
  • They brightly colored to ward of predators.
  • Gila Monsters have a forked tongue like a snake and it helps them “smell” for prey.
  • They inject venom into their prey when they bite. They have special glands in their lower jaw that stores the venom.
  • Gila monsters’ tails store fat so they can survive when food is scarce or when they hibernate in the winter.
  • Gila monsters have bumpy heads. Those bumps are part of their skull.
  • They are not harmful to humans, despite their bad reputation! So Gila Monsters aren’t so monstrous after all!

We think Gila monsters are super cool! These amazing reptiles are protected here! That is good news, because it sure would be a shame if we didn’t have this neat lizard to see!

  

 


 

 

 

 

 

Categories: american, Animals, Children, education, Environment, lizards, nature, reptiles, science, wildlife | Tags: , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

AMERICAN ANIMALS WEEK!

Posted on July 2, 2012 by Ellie and Edmond ©

AMERICAN ANIMALS WEEK

We’re celebrating all American animals this week in honor of July 4th! So we’ve packed up our RV and we’ll be driving all around our country looking for animals that are native to our home! We have room for everyone, so join us! Our first stop on this tour in the western plains to meet a very large mammal!

MEET THE AMERICAN BISON!

   Range/Habitat: Western-Northern United States/plains, mountains,

woodlands

   Diet: Herbivore: grasses, buds, shoots

   Length/Weight: 7-11ft/ 770-2000 lbs

   Conservation Status: common

 

Fun Facts:

  • American Bison are also known as the American Buffalo.
  • They are tall and can reach up to 6 ½ ft high at the shoulder.
  • American bison are very fast and can run up to 37 mph.
  • They have small short horns on their heads.
  • American bison have excellent hearing and sight.
  • American bison migrate to find food.
  • Female American bison live with maternal family groups with a dominate female in charge.
  • Male American bison live in bachelor groups.

These majestic bison almost went extinct in this country. Efforts were made to save them and they now roam the American West, but there are only two truly wild herds left in Yellowstone National Park and Wood Buffalo Park in Canada. We are so glad that they’re still around! Buffalo are just too cute to miss :)!

Categories: american, Animals, Children, education, Environment, mammals, science, wildlife | Tags: , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

FEATHERY FRIDAY # 39

Posted on June 29, 2012 by Ellie and Edmond ©

FEATHERY FRIDAY# 39

We’re off to Africa today to find a colorful and most famous bird! We all know these pinkies! Have you guessed it by now? That’s right; it’s time to meet a flamingo! Grab your wellies again, we’re going wading!

MEET THE LESSER FLAMINGO!

   Range/Habitat: West-Central-Southern Africa/ wetlands, lakes

   Diet: Herbivore: blue-green algae

   Length/Weight: up to 3 ¼ ft/ up to 4 ½ lbs

   Conservation Status: Near threatened

 

 

 

Fun Facts:

  • Lesser flamingos are the smallest of all flamingos.
  • They are light to dark pink in coloration.
  • Lesser flamingos have long dark beaks.
  • They feed at dusk and dark.
  • Lesser flamingos live in large colonies. There have been flocks of up to 1 million birds.
  • You can see hundreds are of flamingos move together in elaborate courtship rituals.
  • Lesser flamingos build mud mounds to lay their one egg on.
  • They can live up to 50 years.

We just love flamingos! They’re long legs and bright pink feathers make them one of the most iconic birds on the planet! And yes they do sleep on one leg; it helps them conserve body heat! Hhhmm… we might practice being flamingos, but that is hard with four legs!

     

 

Categories: Animals, birds, Children, education, Environment, nature, science, wildlife | Tags: , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

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: , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

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