We’ve all heard the fairytales about frogs and princes, right? Well, if you’ve been hoping to find a magical amphibian this summer we’ve got great news for you! Scientists working in Ecuador have recently decided to give a princely name to a new species of frog, dubbing it “Hyloscirtus princecharlesi” after Prince Charles of Wales!
Photo Credit: Chester Zoo/PA Wire
It’s a pretty big honour to have a new species of animal named after you! The Prince Charles stream tree frog was given a monarch’s moniker (aka a royal name) in recognition of all the hard work Prince Charles has done to help protect rainforests around the world. In 2007, Charles helped launch the Prince’s Rainforest Project to raise awareness about the link between the loss of rainforests and climate change, and to create new ways to help rainforest nations keep these biologically diverse habitats intact. Prince Charles has also used his station as an international figure to raise awareness about biodiversity loss, support sustainable business and farming practices, and has even become a patron of several environmental charities including Earth Rangers!
The Prince Charles stream tree frog was first discovered in 2008 by Dr. Luis A. Coloma amongst a collection of museum specimens. A small number of these frogs and their tadpoles were then sighted during an expedition to the cloud forests of north-western Ecuador. The Prince Charles stream tree frog seems to be most active at night, and those found by the scientists were clinging to rocks or climbing along branches and leaves in thick vegetation near the edge of a small stream. Sadly, the small area in which the frogs were found living in the wild faces many threats, including logging, cattle grazing, pesticide use and invasive species. Two live juvenile specimens of the Prince Charles frog are now being raised as part of the international Amphibian Ark captive breeding program to help boost their numbers in the wild, and protect the new species from extinction.
If you’d like to have a newly discovered species named after you, don’t fret, there are plenty of animals out there just waiting to be found and described! Some scientists estimate that there are probably over 8 million species of plants and animals on Earth, and we’ve only discovered about 1.7 million so far!
If you could be named after a newly discovered species what would you pick, a beautiful flowering plant, a colourful butterfly, or a tiny lizard? Post a comment below to tell us your species of choice!
Get all of your eco-terminology in this glossary, filled with definitions for everything from conservation to biodiversity!
At Risk:
A species is described as being at risk when it is in danger of becoming extinct. Species that are either endangered or threatened are considered to be at risk.
Biodiversity:
The variety of life forms found within an ecosystem or over an entire planet. Biodiversity is used to measure the health of an ecosystem—the greater the variety of living things in an ecosystem, the healthier that ecosystem is thought to be. It is important to remember, however, that biodiversity will vary naturally from place to place, with healthy ecosystems in Polar Regions typically having lower biodiversity than healthy tropical ecosystems, for example.
Breed/breeding:
Organisms are said to breed when they reproduce or create young. Sometimes, in order to protect a species of endangered animal, scientists will create a captive breeding program. These programs provide ideal breeding conditions for animals living in zoos or other facilities so that the young produced can be released into the wild. Captive breeding programs have helped save animals like the spotted frog and the black footed ferret from extinction.
Conservation:
The management of natural resources in order to protect biodiversity. Usually this involves studying and protecting species and their habitats, as well as the ecosystems with which they interact.
Endangered:
A species is considered to be endangered when it is facing a very high risk of extinction in the wild. Scientists determine if a species is endangered by considering how many individuals are left in the wild and how quickly their numbers are decreasing, as well as the size of the area in which they can still be found in the wild. Species whose numbers in the wild are decreasing quickly and who are only found over very small areas will probably become extinct soon unless action is taken to protect them—these species are therefore considered to be endangered.
Extirpated:
A species is said to be extirpated when it has become extinct in a specific area but can still be found in the wild in other parts of the world. For example, grey wolves became extirpated from Yellowstone Park in 1926 because of over-hunting. Luckily, wolves were still found in other parts of North America, and in 1995 a group of 14 wolves from Alberta were released back into Yellowstone to repopulate the area. Sometimes extirpation will be referred to as a “local extinction”.
Extinct:
A species is said to be extinct when there are no more individuals of that species living anywhere on Earth. Organisms that only exist in captivity may be said to be extinct in the wild. A species may become functionally extinct when there are no longer any individuals capable of breeding and creating further generations.
Geolocation:
The process of finding an animal’s location on the globe using a variety of techniques. When studying wild animals, scientists can use many different types of technology to keep track of the movements of individuals or entire populations. Radio transmitters on collars, for example, can be tracked with receivers on trucks or airplanes, or even onboard satellites.
Habitat:
The area or environment in which a population of organisms normally lives is called its habitat. Habitats can vary greatly in size, and may sometimes be fragmented or patchy. A habitat becomes fragmented when it is broken into chunks that are no longer connected to each other—for example, building a road through the middle of a forest breaks that forest in two, creating a fragmented habitat. Since habitats provide everything that organisms need for survival, the loss or change of a habitat can have an enormous impact on the survival of those organisms.
Invasive Species:
A species that has been introduced to an ecosystem from another part of the world and is having a negative impact on the health of the environment into which it has been released. Invasive species can destroy habitat and disrupt food webs, and can sometimes introduce diseases and parasites as well. A famous example of an invasive species is the European rabbit, which was introduced to Australia in 1859. With no natural predators, the rabbits quickly spread across the eastern part of the country, devastating local ecosystems by eating too many native plants and outcompeting native mammals for resources like food and water.
Luminescence:
Luminescence occurs when light is produced by an object in a way that does not involve heat. Think of it this way. When your stove element gets hot it glows red, but this is due to heat, so it is not luminescence. In Polar bear guard hairs, the beam of light hitting the inner surface of the hair causes light to be given off but heat is not involved, creating luminescence.
Native Species:
A species is described as being native to an area if its presence there is the result of natural processes, and not as a result of human activities. Sometimes a native species may also be referred to as an “indigenous species”.
Organism:
An individual life form that may be a plant, animal, fungus, protist or bacterium.
Population:
The number of individuals of one species living within a certain environment. The population sizes of different species living together in an ecosystem will naturally vary over time. Some species, such as leaf cutter ants, will tend to naturally have very high populations, but others, like blue whales, will tend to have much smaller populations.
Species:
a species is generally considered to be a group of individuals that are capable of breeding with each other, having young that are able to produce offspring of their own, and that do not breed with different groups of other individuals. Defining a species can be a challenge, however, because there are exceptions and special cases in the wide world of biology.
Threatened:
A species is considered to be threatened if it is likely to become endangered if nothing is done to reverse the threats the species is facing in the wild. Some organizations will also use the term “vulnerable” to describe these species.
When summer lets out Earth Rangers, along with the kids we visit throughout the year, take a break from the school scene. We head out into the sunny days of summer with the Animal Ambassadors, but instead of visiting the classroom we meet up with kids and their families at such community events as Ontario Place and the Royal Ontario Museum. One of the kids we met last summer was Nasim, he heard our message about the importance of protecting the environment and was inspired to take action to help the Newfoundland pine marten.
Meet Super Ranger Nasim!
Hi, my name is Nasim and I am 11 years old. I LOVE animals so much. My family has travelled to many cities to see as many animals as we can. My favourite animal is the Emperor Penguin. My favourite animal memory is when I got to touch King Penguins in Sea World. They were amazing and sooo soft. My favourite subject in school is biology and going to the library to get books about animals. My least favourite subject in school is math. I would love to have a job that would let me work with animals one day.
I first heard of Earth Rangers when I went to an Earth Rangers show at Ontario Place in 2010. Seeing the animals was what interested me first and once I found out that I could help endangered species I knew that I had to do something. With the help of my family, friends and classmates I had a fundraising bake sale, started a dog walking business and asked for donations instead of Christmas presents.
When I first started to raise money it was difficult but as more of my friends and classmates found out how important helping endangered species it became easier. This showed me that we can achieve anything if we all work together. It is everyone’s responsibility to help our planet and all creatures that live on it.
Thanks Nasim for helping spread awareness about the Newfoundland pine marten and raising support for important conservation work! Check out this update from the Newfoundland pine marten to see how Nasim and Earth Rangers just like him have helped Bring Back the Wild™.
Although Pangolins have strong claws, they don’t have any teeth and they aren’t very fast, which leaves them potentially vulnerable to predators. That’s why Pangolins use their outer shell as protection.
Pangolins have strong, spiky scales that form armour around their bodies. If they sense any danger, they roll up into a ball that is nearly impossible to unroll by force.
A pangolin defending itself against lions. Photo Credit: Sandip Kumar
All year long Earth Rangers, like these Super Ranger Kids, take action to protect the planet! All this eco-action can be a lot of work. You may be thinking that you are all tapped out of earth saving and maybe need a break because aren’t you the hardest working environmental hero around? Think again, Earth Rangers aren’t the only ones helping the planet; we aren’t even the only species! In fact there are tons of plants and animals that work hard every day to help the earth.
Who is helping?
Every organism has an important role in keeping the planet happy and healthy. These helpful acts can be done by something really small, like the tiniest insect, or really big, like an entire ecosystem working together. Here’s a list of just some of the ways animals and plants, fungi and even wetlands take action every day to help the environment!
Worms
Eco-action: Fertilize the Soil
You might think that worms are slimy and gross but they are actually great for gardens. As worms wiggle around underground, air mixes in with the soil and improves its ability to drain. They also release important nutrients into the soil because the plant debris they eat is high in nitrogen. Both of these are important for successful plant growth.
Bees have a BIG responsibility because they are the most important group of pollinators on Earth. Bees carry male pollen to female flowers and it is this cross-pollination that allows plants to reproduce. Honeybees, for example, are responsible for pollinating over 110 crops that you eat and use every day, like that tasty apple and even the cotton your clothes are made out of.
Fungi are one of the most important decomposers in the biosphere. They are responsible for the breaking down of debris, which would otherwise pile up to the point where we would not be able to survive. Fungi are also very important for soil. Like worms, Fungi release nutrients into the earth.
This Cassowary is a frugivore. Photo Credit: Bjørn Christian Tørrissen
A frugivore is an animal that feeds mainly on fruit. For many frugivores, the seeds of fruit are too difficult to digest so they have to excrete them. Since the animal tends to move around, the seeds end up in different locations. This seed spreading helps plants grow in new areas, making frugivores kind of like the farmers of the fruit world. Some seeds even have a better chance of growing once they have passed through an animal’s digestive tract!
Britannica Educational Publishing, “Forests and Grasslands.” The Rosen Publishing Group: New York, 2011: Page 37
Predators
Eco-action: Control Population
It might make you sad when one animal eats another one, but the so-called ‘circle of life’ is very important for keeping populations at a manageable size. When natural predators go missing, its prey can reproduce uncontrollably. The sea otter is an excellent example of this; it feeds on sea urchins, a creature who loves kelp. Each of these species in the chain help keep all the other populations in perfect balance, take one of these out and it creates all kinds of trouble. If the sea otters disappeared, for example, there would be too many sea urchins who would eat way too much and destroy the kelp forest!
When beavers build dams, it causes water to build up and floods the area around it. Don’t worry because this actually has huge benefits for the surrounding ecosystem. When beavers are still using it, these ponds improve water quality downstream, provide a watering hole for local wildlife and create a thriving wetland habitat. When the pond is abandoned by the beavers it is still helping the environment by leaving behind logs that reptiles and amphibians use for cover and making a perfect foraging and nesting area for all kinds of animals like bats, owls and songbirds.
Wetlands provide more services than we can list! They prevent flooding by slowing water flow and storing it. They also act as the first line of defense against storms and tidal waves for the same reason and we can’t forget to mention that they filter water by absorbing pollutants in soil and vegetation.
Like wetlands, Forests also provide far more services than we can list. Almost everyone knows that plants, like trees, give off oxygen but did you know that they also absorb things from the atmosphere? Along with things like ozone and sulphur dioxide, their ability to absorb carbon makes them excellent carbon sinks – meaning they take in more carbon than they release – which makes them very important in the battle against climate change.
Now that you know how hard other species work to help the planet, it’s time for all of us to really up our game and do even more to protect the environment! After all, if bees can pollinate the plants and worms are on soil fertilizing duty, the least we can do is take action to protect biodiversity with programs like Bring Back the Wild™. Got another idea for how you can help the planet? Post them in the comments section below!
It’s April, and you know what that means! Sure spring is here and summer is right around the corner but more importantly it’s Earth Month!
The planet has been waiting all year for April 22 and now it’s time to start celebrating and show the world how much we care about the environment! To get started, take the Earth Month Challenge Quiz and see how sharp your Eco-hero skills are.
a) Water
b) Bees
c) Flowers
d) Grass
Find the answer here by highlighting the next three lines with your mouse… a) Water! By turning on the tap at night instead of when it is hot out, like in the middle of the day, less water will be evaporated or wasted, leaving more H2O for your thirsty plants!
a) Leave your electronics on
b) Unplug your electronics
c) Service your electronics
d) Turn your electronics on and off several times.
Find the answer here by highlighting with your mouse… b) Unplug your electronics. Lots of devices like computers, TVs, microwaves, and videogame consoles still use power when they are turned off so the best way to stop this wasteful energy usage is to pull the plug!
a) Make your lunch litterless by using reusable containers
b) Include local and/or organically grown food
c) Compost any leftover organics like apple cores and orange peels
d) All of the above
Find the answer here by highlighting the next three lines with your mouse… d)All of the above! This one was sneaky because by thinking about every part of your lunch time routine, from how it is packed to what food you take, you can make the Earth Saver Champion of lunches!
a) Kitchen
b) Bathroom
c) Basement
d) Living Room
Find the answer here by highlighting the next three lines with your mouse… b) The Bathroom! This is the spot where you can conserve tons of water by taking shorter showers, fixing leaking taps and turning the water off when you brush your teeth.
a) Walking
b) Skateboarding
c) Biking
d) All of the above
Find the answer here by highlighting the next three lines with your mouse… d)All of the above! These are all totally environmentally friendly. Remember if you have to drive to school, buddy up and start a carpool!
Fill in the blanks
a) Flowers, trees, birds
b) Mammals, reptiles, amphibians
c) Videogames, MP3 players, movies
d) Paper products, plastic bottles, automobiles
Find the answer here by highlighting the next three lines with your mouse… b) Mammals, reptiles, amphibians. Sad but true. There are lots of animals at risk of extinction.
a) Buy products with cat pictures on them
b) Draw lots of cat pictures
c) Practice making meow noises
d) Don’t buy products made with fur
Find the answer here by highlighting the next three lines with your mouse… d) Don’t by products made with fur
a) Tall plants
b) Local plants
c) Small plants
d) Multi-coloured plants
Find the answer here by highlighting the next three lines with your mouse… b) Local plants! Not only will these plants grow better in your garden, they will also attract animals that live in your area. After all we like things we are familiar with.
a) Shark fin soup
b) Clam Chowder
c) Lobster Bisque
d) Sardine stew
Find the answer here by highlighting the next three lines with your mouse… a) Shark fin soup! This dish, commonly served at some traditional weddings, poses a major threat to sharks. By saying ‘no’ to shark fin soup you can help protect our oceans and keep the animals that live there safe.
Thanks for taking the Earth Day Trivia Challenge! Post your score in the comments below.
This past holiday season Earth Rangers kicked off the Save the Real Reindeer campaign. We called on kids to join together to protect the Woodland caribou, a species that once roamed all across Ontario but today lives only in the northern half of the province. Through the Save the Real Reindeer campaign, Earth Rangers and the Wildlife Conservation Society of Canada teamed up to raise awareness about the Woodland caribou and support conservation efforts.
Alex and his best friend, Ryder the golden retriever
All of this caribou protecting would not be possible without the support of a whole team of Earth Rangers! Who are these kid eco-heroes who have taken up the call for planet protection? Well, they are kids like Earth Ranger Alex. Listen up for what he has to say about animals, caribou and yes, even cookies!
Alex sneaking a cookie from his Save the Caribou fundraising campaign
My name is Alex and I am an Earth Ranger. I love animals – all kinds of animals. That’s why I became an Earth Ranger. When I grow up I hope to be a veterinarian or a zoo keeper. I chose to protect the Woodland Caribou because it was Christmas and Santa needs his reindeer. Because it was Christmas, my Grandma and Grandpa donated. So did my mom and my dad. Then I made and sold chocolate chip cookies. Canada has so many awesome animals. When I grow up I don’t want all our amazing animals to be gone. I think more kids should become Earth Rangers because it is up to us to save the wild animals of Canada. My name is Alex and I love animals.
Thanks to Earth Rangers just like Alex we have helped protect the Real Reindeer! To find out more about how your Bring Back the Wild campaign is making a difference check in with the Woodland caribou in this update from the field.
It’s not everyday that we meet a 9 year old so passionate about helping animals, but according to Ethan he is just a typical boy, who loves Lego, video games and birds. However, this kid’s dislikes are just as important as his likes – he gives a big thumbs-down to pollution. Ethan doesn’t like plastic bags being dumped on the ground and in the ocean because, as he pointed out to us, it kills birds that are going fishing for food. Ethan loves all kinds of animals, like the puppy he fosters and the eagles he helps monitor through his volunteer work, but his favourite species is the Desert hawk.
How it all began…
Ethan saw an Earth Rangers’ public service announcement on TV and decided to sign-up, choosing to protect the Spotted turtle. With his account created and his avatar made, Ethan headed out on an epic adventure to help save the Spotted turtle!
Making a difference!
Ethan visited local businesses to collect donations for his Bring Back the Wild™ campaign. The store owners Ethan visited were really supportive, offering donations for the Spotted turtle and even giving him some candy and a toy! Next Ethan sold some of his old toys and reached out to his teachers for support. He even got his family involved by asking his parents to share his campaign on Facebook. All this effort paid off and Ethan was able to spread awareness about animals that are at risk while raising donations to help protect the Spotted turtle. As an added bonus Ethan reached the Global Guardian fundraising level on EarthRangers.com, scoring some sweet Earth Rangers’ buttons, a t-shirt and a hoody.
Words of wisdom
Ethan wanted to share with everyone how great it felt to help the Spotted turtle, saying that becoming involved with Bring Back the Wild™ wasn’t that difficult and it was worth it. But his most important message, which you should totally show your parents, is that we should all…“Remember TV can inspire stuff!”
When someone says the word “SHARK” most people think of a massive, grey, toothy, underwater animal; basically they are imagining a Great White. In fact sharks come in all shapes, sizes and even colours! That’s why we’ve made a top ten list with some of the planet’s most amazing sharks, featuring everything from hammerheads to species with horns, saws and even frills.
Angel Sharks (Squatina squatina)
Angel sharks easily blend into the rocks. Photo Credit: Philippe Guillaume
Location: North-eastern Atlantic
Size: up to 2.4m (3 feet 11 inches)
Status: Critically Endangered
What makes it unique? Their flat, wide bodies!
These sharks look more like a ray than a member of its own species. They have large flat bodies with big pectoral fins. This shape allows them to hide under mud or sand and wait for prey to come close. When it is the perfect time, these sharks shoot out of their hiding spot and catch their lunch.
You can easily see the horns on this Horn Shark. Photo Credit: Cymothoa exigua
Location: Along the Western Coasts of the Americas
Size: Around 1.2m
Status: Not Yet Evaluated
What makes it unique? The two large spines on their backs!
If a predator attempts to gobble up one of these sharks, it is certainly in for a surprise. As the predator bites down, the spines on the Horn shark’s back will stick into the predator’s mouth and the Horn shark can make its get away.
Size: up to 6.1m, making them the largest of the Hammerhead species (20 feet)
Status: Endangered
What makes it unique?Their heads!
It is easy to spot a Hammerhead because their heads are, well, shaped like a hammer. Their eyes are placed on either side of the hammer which allows them to see a much larger area than other sharks. Once they’ve spotted their prey of choice, stingrays, they use their heads to pin them down so they can’t get away.
There are three species of filter feeding sharks (Whale shark, Basking shark, and the Megamouth shark) but Basking sharks are unique among them. Where the other two suck in water and filter to collect their prey, Basking sharks leave their mouths open as they swim, filtering water passively.
Japanese Sawshark. Photo Credit: OpencageShortnose sawshark
Location: Indo-pacific and Atlantic oceans
Size: Can grow to 1.5m long (about 5 feet)
Status: Least concern to Near Threatened
What makes it unique?Their snouts!
Their snouts are long and lined with teeth which they use to slash their prey. About half way down their snouts are very sensitive catfish-like whiskers called barbels that Sawsharks use to find prey hiding out on the bottom of the sea floor.
Interesting fact: There is only one other fish that has long blade-like snouts: the saw fish. These two fish look very similar but you can tell the difference because sawsharks have barbels and the saw fish does not.
These sharks are big! But what makes them so big is the fact that about half of their size is made up by their tail. They use it as a whip to disorient, stun and even kill their prey!
What makes it unique?Their appearance and the way they catch their food!
When Wobbegongs lay on the sea floor they look just like seaweed-covered rocks, which comes in handy for catching food. They lay still, waiting for some prey to swim by, then they pounce! Wobbegongs have special gills that allow them to stay still, while other sharks need to move in order to breathe.
Maurice Burton and Robert Burton, The International Wildlife Encyclopedia: Volume 1. New York:Marshall Cavendish, 1970: Page 2954.
Location: Tropical and Subtropical parts of Atlantic and Pacific
Size: Up to 3m (about 9 feet 10 inches)
Status: Vulnerable in Brazil, Colombia and US waters
What makes it unique?The way they eat!
Nurse sharks spend their days sleeping on the bottom of the sea but when the sun goes down, they go searching for food. Hunting at night allows them to sneak up unsuspecting sea creatures that are fast asleep. Like the Saw shark, they have barbels that they use to feel around on the sea floor to find the prefect snack. Nurse sharks’ can literally suck their prey out of their hiding spots because they can hoover around the floor like a vacuum.
Model of a Goblin Shark with its jaw extended. Photo Credit: Peter Halasz
Location: Parts of the Pacific, Indian and Atlantic Oceans but very rare
Size: about 3.8m (over 12 feet and 5 inches)
Status: Least Concern
What makes it unique?Their protruding jaws!
When swimming casually, these sharks look pretty much like any other shark. All that changes when they go to take a bite… their jaw shoots out and they snap up their prey with their long sharp teeth. With their jaws fully extended, they truly look like monsters from the deep.
Photo From FlickrDrawing of a Frilled Shark's Tooth
Location: Found in most of the world’s oceans but it is very rare
Size: Up to 1.5m (4 feet 11 inches)
Status: Near Threatened
What makes it unique? Their bodies!
Frilled sharks have lizard-like features and snake-like bodies. Their gills meet on the underside of their throats so it looks like they have frills. Inside their wide mouths there are over 300 sharp three-pronged teeth. These definitely aren’t sharks you would want taking a bite out of you!
Hi, my name is Nasim and I am 11 years old. I LOVE animals so much. My family has travelled to many cities to see as many animals as we can. My favourite animal is the 
Bees have a BIG responsibility because they are the most important group of pollinators on Earth. 
Fungi are one of the most important 
It might make you sad when one animal eats another one, but the so-called ‘circle of life’ is very important for keeping populations at a manageable size. When natural predators go missing, its prey can reproduce uncontrollably. The sea otter is an excellent example of this; it feeds on 
When 
a) Water
a) Leave your electronics on
a) Make your lunch litterless by using reusable containers
a) Kitchen
a) Walking
Fill in the blanks
a) Buy products with cat pictures on them
a) Tall plants
a) Shark fin soup
