Crocodiles are built for splashing in the water; they have flaps of skin that keep water out of their nose and ears. Their eyes are also protected thanks to a transparent membrane that lets them see underwater, it’s like having built in goggles and nose plugs for swim class!
What do you get when you mix a bat with a fox? A bat-eared fox of course!
The bat-eared fox (Otocyon megalotis) gets its name from those huge ears that are 114-135mm long. These foxes like grassy areas, their populations can be found in two spots, one roams from Ethiopia to Tanzania, the other from Southern Angola to South Africa. These foxes dig super secret dens that have many different entrances and chambers with long tunnels connecting them together. They use these hideouts along with their excellent speed and dodging abilities to get away from predators. Bat-eared foxes eat mostly insects and small rodents, according to one study they get 80% of their diet just from termites and dung beetles!
http://www.eol.org/pages/328698
The Pygmy marmoset (Cebuella pygmaea) is the smallest monkey in the world. They live in the Amazon of South America, hanging out in the forest looking for tree sap or gum to eat. On average these little monkeys weigh 124 grams, which is about the size of a kitten.
http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Callithrix_pygmaea.html
The hippopotamus protects its skin by secreting a pink oily substance, yuck! This slimy mess keeps the hippos’ skin from drying out and protects them from the affects of the sun.
http://www.eol.org/pages/311532
You may have heard of the Venus flytrap (Dionaea muscipula) and its carnivorous eating habits, but did you know that there are other plants that hunt? In fact, the bladderwort plant (Utricularia) is 100 times faster than the Venus flytrap.
The bladderwort plant lives in fresh water and is such a successful hunter that it doesn’t grow any roots. This plant catches its prey by using tiny capsules, which have doors on them that are lined with very sensitive bristles. If a small water creature touches the bristles “smooosh” goes the door and the prey is tightly sealed inside. The bladderwort then secrets acids to digests its prey and within two hours the plant is ready to reset the trap to try and catch another tasty snack.
http://www.asknature.org/strategy/001274b75a7dd4f8fc46a5a4a0446489#changeTab
http://www.ncbnaturalis.nl/en/press/pressreleases/semporna-may-have-richest-marine-biodiversity-world/
Human homes and shells may have more in common than you think. Like most houses the structure of a shell is supported by interlocking bricks. Abalone seashells have two layers, the outside brittle part and an extra strong inner area that is made out of mother of pearl, called nacre. The nacre is made up of 95% chalk and is held together by 5% protein. This doesn’t sound very tough but when it is laid out in a brick pattern it is able to protect creatures from anything that might pierce the shell.
http://www.livescience.com/11696-seashells-strength-interlocking-bricks.html
If you ever thought that the only difference between the North and the South Poles are their locations on the map then this article is for you! We have put together a “how to guide” so if you find yourself lost at one of these poles you can tell whether you are in the Arctic (North pole) or Antarctica (South Pole).
Now that you have landed at one of the poles the first thing you should do is check the temperature, pull out that thermometer that any trusty adventurer has with them and see just how cold you really are. The Arctic is the warmer of the two with an average temperature of -34, while Antarctica’s average temperature is -49 (degrees Celsius). Brrrr! Let’s hope you brought your hat and mitts!
Time to explore your surroundings, take a look at the land and water and see if you can tell where you are. The Arctic is a frozen ocean surrounded by land while Antarctica is the opposite –
land, including mountain ranges and lakes, surrounded by an ocean. Antarctica also has 90% of the world’s ice, while the Arctic has thinner ice and is more sensitive to climate change.
Now that we know the temperature and landscape you might want to see what animals will be keeping you company. The Arctic is home to polar bears while Antarctica is home to penguins, if you see both at the same time you are probably at the zoo!
Time for the really bad news, if you are trying to huddle with the penguins in harsh temperature of -49 then you are probably in Antarctica and your chances of a rescue just got a little trickier. That’s because Antarctica can be a lonely place, no one lives here nor does anyone control it. Although research groups visit this area it isn’t occupied by any country, instead it is governed by the Antarctic Treaty. Things would be different if you were at the other pole, there are 4 million people living in the Arctic Circle and many countries split it, including Canada, The USA, Russia and Norway.
http://www.livescience.com/11362-north-south-poles-10-wild-differences-440.html
This interesting looking creature is an Aye-aye (Daubentonia madagascariensis), if you haven’t seen one in your neighborhood it is probably because they can only be found on the island of Madagascar.
They may look funny but they are especially designed for finding food. Their large ears give them excellent hearing, which they use to help them find larva in the trees. They also have really slender hands with curved nails and an extra long middle digit that is used for digging out larva and piercing the skin of fruit.
http://www.eol.org/pages/324407
It looks like climate change may be hitting where it hurts! Climate change has begun to affect our chocolate stock. Although there are other social issues at work, one of the biggest concerns is ecological.
The Ivory Coast and Ghana, the largest cocoa producers, are suffering from low crop yields as a result of temperatures rising, soil depleting and unpredictable rainfall. You can help by looking for products labeled ‘sustainable’ or ‘organic’ when you go to the grocery store to get your chocolate fix. These forms of farming try and leave the surrounding environment and the community healthy so that they can keep growing cocoa for years to come!
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/life/valentines-day/savour-that-chocolate-while-you-can-still-afford-it/article1904608/page1/
Shhhh! We are trying to listen to the plants, yup that green thing outside has developed ways to communicate. In particular, they are able to tell which plants are living nearby. Many trees do not grow well around their relatives, leaving scientists confused about how plants know who their neighbors are.
Research now offers some answers, showing that young trees react to the microorganisms in the soil near their roots. The presence of these microorganisms in the ground lets the young saplings know their mature relatives are growing nearby, which decreases their chances of survival. The sagebrush is a little different; although it communicates it does so to keep its relatives close by. The sagebrush communicates by emitting chemicals into the air that land on other plants. These chemical cues help fend off insects and give this plant a better chance of survival if they are growing near other sagebrushes.
http://discovermagazine.com/2010/nov/14-the-secret-social-life-of-plants
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