We need your help! This kangaroo is trying to tell us something but we can’t figure it out! Do you know what it’s thinking?
See if you can come up with the best caption!
Post your ideas in the comment section below.
Super Ranger Veronica
We’re excited to introduce you to a 10-year-old that’s really passionate about protecting animals and their habitats. Meet Super Ranger Veronica! Not only did Veronica start a campaign in support of the Plains bison, but she also formed a club at school and took a trip to see the animals her fundraising efforts helped protect.
It all started when Veronica saw an Earth Rangers’ clip on TV about how she could make a difference in the lives of animals that are losing their homes. Veronica was inspired and, with help from her dad, signed up to become an Earth Ranger. She started a campaign to protect the Plains bison. Picking this animal was pretty obvious since this project is in Saskatchewan, where Veronica lives, and she learned a lot about bison in her social studies class last year.
Thanks to lots of hard work collecting cans and bottles and sharing her campaign with friends and family, Veronica was able to raise donations to help protect the Plains bison! This was Veronica’s first major fundraising experience, and she plans to raise more in the next school year along with her brother Liam.
Creating the Earth Rangers Club
One recess at school Veronica and a small group of friends started doing research on endangered animals. It wasn’t long before a teacher overheard what the group was doing and expressed an interest in turning it into a real school club. A few weeks later, kids were meeting twice a week at recess to make posters and raise awareness about Earth Rangers, the Plains bison and many other featured animals. The students also made a presentation at the yearend school assembly to promote the Earth Rangers club to the student body. At the assembly Veronica was even recognized by the teacher supervisor for all her hard work.
While driving through Veronica’s hometown the Earth Rangers National Tour stopped by her school for a special visit where we met her classmates and shared with them the Bring Back the Wild School Show. After the show, Veronica got an up close encounter with one of our Animal Ambassadors, Echo the barn owl.
Seeing Her Donations in Action
On August 19th, Veronica and her family went out to meet the bison she helped protect at Old Man on His Back Prairie and Heritage Conservation Area, in southwest Saskatchewan. At the visitor centre Sue, from the Nature Conservancy of Canada, told them all about the Plains bison that live in the conservation area and gave them directions to the nearest pasture where they could see them. With a good pair of binoculars in hand, Veronica and her family set out to see the bison her Bring Back the Wild campaign helped protect.
Words from Veronica
Here’s what Veronica said about her bison saving adventure “One person can make a difference. I’m just one little girl that had an idea and it turned into a real club! The day I came home and told my mom that three friends had turned into this big group, it was very exciting.”
Has Veronica’s story inspired you? Start a Bring Back the Wild campaign to protect animals and remember to share with us how you’re taking action to help the environment because you could be our next Super Ranger
Earth Rangers is a non-profit organization that works to inspire and educate children about the environment. At EarthRangers.com kids can play games, discover amazing facts, meet animal ambassadors and fundraise to protect biodiversity.
Polar Bears Have Clear Hair, So Why Do They Look White?
Earlier this year we asked you what colour you think a polar bear is? The answer is pretty surprising! Polar bear hair is actually mostly clear and their skin is black! So how come they look white? We asked some top scientific minds to explain it to us. Their answer takes us deep into the world of what Polar bear hair is made of and on an exploration of optics, which is the science of light and vision.
What Makes Up Polar Bear Fur?
A Polar bear’s coat has two layers of hair: an outer layer, made up of long (5-15cm) guard hairs; and a thick undercoat, made up of shorter hair.
These guard hairs are mostly transparent or clear, but thanks to some special characteristics that work to create cool optical tricks, these hairs appear white. Here are the special characteristics of guard hairs: they are coarse, tapered (gradually come to a point) and have a hollow core filled with air; they are made of a protein called keratin; they have light scattering particles inside them; and have tiny salt particles that sit between each hair.
The Power of Optics!
All of these special characteristics of a Polar bear’s guard hair work with the power of light to make Polar bears appear white. Here’s how:
Luminescence
When the sun’s rays hit off of the Polar bear’s transparent guard hair, some of this light energy travels into the hair and gets trapped. This energy bounces around inside the hollow part of the hair causing a reaction called luminescence, which is an emission of light. This happens every time the beam of light makes contact with the side of the hair.
This luminescence is accelerated by light scattering particles. If you were to look at a Polar bear’s guard hair really closely through a super microscope, you could see tiny little bumps – these are the light scattering particles. As the light bounces around in the hollow guard hair it hits these particles, which disrupts the beam of light causing it to break up into more beams that are sent off in different directions. The beams continue to bounce around, creating more luminescence until they reach another light scattering particle and the process happens all over again. All this bouncing light inside the guard hair causes whitish light to be given off by the hair, helping the Polar bear look white and blend into its Arctic snow and ice environment!
Light scattering particles aren’t only found on the inside of the hairs, there are also particles found on the outside. Polar bears pick up salt particles from swimming or being near the salty ocean water. These salt particles, along with the hairs’ coarse surface, also act as light scattering particles that cause even more beams of light to bounce around creating more luminescence.
UV light
Light travels in waves that scientists call wavelengths. The human eye can only see certain wavelengths of light, like red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo and violet (making up the acronym ROY G. BIV). Each colour has a slightly shorter wavelength than the one that comes before it. This light is part of the visible spectrum, but there are more forms of light that we can’t see. The light that is important for helping us understand Polar bear fur comes after violet. It is called ultraviolet light, something you might know as UV light. UV light has a wavelength that is too short for humans and other mammals to see, but it is still found in sunlight which is one reason you get a sunburn and why having high UV protection in sunscreen is so important.
When sun shines on a Polar bear, the UV in the sunlight shoots down to the base of the guard hair, where it makes contact with the bear’s dark skin. When the UV light hits the skin it produces a whitish colour due to fluorescence.
Keratin protein
Planet Earth is rich with keratin. It is the most common protein in the world and is found in your skin, nails and hair. Just like you, Polar bears have keratin in their hair too. These protein molecules have a slight off-white colour, which further contributes to Polar bear fur appearing white.
So What Colour Are Polar Bears?
Polar bears are white, but their hair is mostly clear! To recap … when light shines on the Polar bear’s mostly clear guard hair, some light gets trapped in the hair and bounces around, creating luminescence. When it hits a light scattering particle on the inside or salt on the outside, the light breaks up even more and gets sent in all different directions. This light scattering gives off more white-coloured light due to luminescence. UV light also gets transmitted along the guard hairs onto the bear’s dark skin, causing florescence and don’t forget about the keratin protein whose molecules give off a slight white colour. Each of these elements brings you the white Polar bear you know and love.
Now that we know why Polar bears look white, we’re sure you are wondering why some Polar bears might look a little yellow or slightly brownish. Interestingly, with changes in habitat, their fur as it ages over the year, and the time of year, there can be slight differences in their fur’s colour, which helps them blend into their environment. In the late fall and winter, when Polar bears lose their old fur and grow new hair, they tend to appear more white than several months later in the summer when their hair can take on a yellowish tinge from wear on the fur. Those living on ice far away from open water appear whiter than bears that spend a lot of time swimming. On the other hand, Polar bears on land where there is little or no snow have slightly light brown fur.
Polar bears are amazing animals that are so well adapted to their Arctic home! Today, Polar bears are facing threats and their incredible hair and optical tricks aren’t enough to save them. They need your help! Start a Bring Back the Wild campaign and take action to help save the Polar bear.
References:
http://wiki.answers.com/Q/What_color_is_the_polar_bear’s_skin
Tributsch et al. 1990. Light collection and solar sensing through the polar bear pelt. Solar Energy Materials 21:219-236).
If you think animals are amazing, the Earth Rangers Podcast is for you!
Join Earth Ranger Emma as she travels the world on a quest to solve some of nature’s greatest mysteries! With top ten countdowns, animal guessing games and epic animal showdowns, this is a journey you won’t want to miss!
Top Ten Scariest Spiders
There is something about spiders that makes people’s skin crawl; maybe it has to do with all those hairy legs? To get in the spirit of spooky Halloween, we are diving into the world of the top ten scariest spiders. After looking at this top ten list you may think that all spiders are scary but remember they rarely bite and very few are dangerous. Spiders are also really important to the environment because most eat other insects, which help control pest populations. If you do see venomous spiders, like the ones in this list, remember to stay away! Although they rarely bite it’s much safer to not test their mood.
Spider Family: New World Tarantula (Theraphosidae)
These spiders are known for being really big and really hairy. Some are excellent climbers and live in trees, while others are found primarily on the ground. Estimated number of species: 939
Scariest Spider in this Family: Goliath Birdeater Tarantula (Theraphosa blondi)
Size: Leg span of 30cm.
Location: Northern Amazon rainforests of South America
Scary details: This is the world’s biggest tarantula and the heaviest spider, weighing in at about 170g. They have really big fangs and barbed hairs or bristles that they can flick at predators. However, they aren’t much danger to humans. When they are feeling threatened, they will send out a warning noise by rubbing the bristles on their legs. If you miss the warning and do end up getting bitten, the Goliath Birdeater Tarantula’s venom isn’t very toxic to humans.
Sources: P.D. Hillyard. The Private Life of Spiders. London: New Holland Publishers, 2007: page 69
http://eol.org/pages/1182372/details
http://www.smugmug.com/gallery/16582998_dHjbS#!i=1249290217&k=wRuKg
Spider Family: Jumping spiders (Salticidae)
These spiders, found all over the world, are known for their wicked jumping skills and their remarkable eyesight. These survival traits are so amazing that jumping spiders are considered one of the most evolved families of spiders. Estimated number of species: 5468
Scariest Spider in this Family: Zebra spider (Salticus scenicus)
Size: Has a body length of 5-7mm
Location: These spiders are found in Europe, northern Asia and North America
Scary details: The idea of a spider jumping at you is pretty scary. Zebra spiders can jump about 20x their own length which sounds terrifying, but being just 7mm, that means they can only jump about 14cm. After putting that into perspective, these guys don’t seem so scary after all. Besides, how can someone be scared of a face like that?
Sources: http://www.arkive.org/zebra-spider/salticus-scenicus/image-A12958.html
P.D. Hillyard. The Private Life of Spiders: page 34-35
Spider Family: Huntsman spiders (Sparassidae)
These spiders get their name from their speed and hunting skills. They tend to live in warm temperate regions. They do not build webs, but forage for food instead. Estimated number of species: 1123
Scariest Spider in this Family: Giant Huntsman Spider (Heteropoda maxima)
Size: Over 4.6cm in body length and has a 25-30cm leg span
Location: Laos
Scary Details: This spider has the widest leg span in the world which is enough to give anyone the creeps. While human encounters do occur, these spiders aren’t necessarily aggressive unless you disturb their nest or are considered a threat. They also give you a warning before biting.
Sources: Peter Jaeger. A new species of Heteropoda (Araneae, Sparassidae, Heteropodinae) from Laos, the largest huntsman spider? Zoosystema 23.3 (2001): pages 461-465.
http://zipcodezoo.com/Key/Animalia/Sparassidae_Family.asp
Spider Family: Wolf spiders (Lycosidae)
These spiders are amazing hunters and have really good eyesight. They rely on camouflage for protection and many live and hunt on the ground. Estimated number of species: 2388
Scariest Spider in this Family: Tarantula wolf spider (Lycosa tarantula)
Size: Can grow to 3cm in body length
Location: southern Europe, especially around Italy
Scary details: During the 17th century, a bite from this spider was believed to cause “Tarantism,” a potentially fatal disorder that caused restlessness and excitability. However, now it is widely believed that tarantism was due to a relative of the black widow. The tarantula wolf spider rarely attacks humans and their bite is no more painful than a bee sting.
Sources: http://zipcodezoo.com/Key/Animalia/Lycosidae_Family.asp
MobileReference. First Aid Guide and Home Doctor for Smartphones and Mobile Devices. Mobi Health Series (2007): “Lycosa tarantula”
Spider Family: Wandering spiders (Ctenidae)
These spiders don’t catch prey in webs, rather they ambush prey on the ground. Estimated number of species: 468
Scariest Spider in this Family: Brazilian wandering spider (Phoneutria nigriventer)
Size: Body length is about 3-5cm with a leg span of 12-15cm.
Location: Southern South America
Scary details: These spiders are fast, highly venomous and aggressive. Unlike most other spiders, they won’t run when threatened. In fact, 60% of all spider bites in parts of Brazil are caused by this P. nigriventer. Venom from this spider is lethal so steer clear of this species.
Sources: http://www.minaxtarantulas.se/articles/brazilian-wandering-spider-phoneutria-nigriventer-keyserling-1891-in-terrarium/
Dr. Robert S. Anderson, et al. Insects and Spiders of the World: Volume 10. New York: Marshall Cavendish, 2003: pages 580-582
P.D. Hillyard. The Private Life of Spiders: pages 117-119
Spider Family: Actinopodidae
These spiders are found in South America and Australia. Estimated number of species: 40
Scariest Spider in this Family: Mouse Spiders (Missulena)
Size: 10mm-35mm in body length
Location: Mainland Australia
Scary Details: These spiders look like the Sydney Funnel-web spider and can be just as toxic. However, they are not aggressive. Although they are often seen around mainland Australia, bites are rare. If bites do happen, funnel-web spider anti-venom has been proven as an effective cure.
Sources: http://australianmuseum.net.au/Mouse-Spiders/
http://zipcodezoo.com/Key/Animalia/Actinopodidae_Family.asp
Spider Family: Recluse spiders (Sicariidae)
This family is known for being venomous. They are found around the world in warm climates. Estimated number of species: 125
Scariest Spider in this Family: Six-eyed sand spider (Sicarius hahni)
Size: Body length of 9-19mm and a 50mm leg span
Location: Western half of southern Africa
Scary Details: This spider is a cousin of the brown recluse spider and can be just as toxic. It hides under the sand and waits for its prey to come too close. Currently there isn’t an anti-venom for the six-eyed sand spider, but there are very few recorded bites and they seem highly unlikely to bite humans. These spiders are very shy and timid. Rather than attack, it will run away and hide under the sand if it is disturbed.
Sources: http://www.biodiversityexplorer.org/arachnids/spiders/sicariidae/sicarius.htm
http://eol.org/pages/181/details
P.D. Hillyard. The Private Life of Spiders: pages 116-117
Spider Family: Funnel spiders (Hexathelidae)
Some species belonging to the Hexathelidae family are found in South America, Africa, but most live around Asia Pacific. Their name comes from the shape of their web. Estimated number of species: 105
Scariest Spider in this Family: Sydney funnel-web spider (Atrax robustus)
Size: Can have a 35mm body length
Location: Within a 160km around Sydney, Australia
Scary Details: The Sydney funnel-web spider is aggressive and venomous. Males have really strong fangs and are more likely to bite (which is uncommon among spiders). Juvenile and female spiders, on the other hand, are far less toxic than males. Like the Brazilian Wandering Spider, a bite from this spider can be lethal.
Sources: http://australianmuseum.net.au/Sydney-Funnel-web-Spider
http://eol.org/pages/8789/details
http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Atrax_robustus/
P.D. Hillyard. The Private Life of Spiders: pages 117-119
Spider Family: Nephilidae
They are known for their amazing, not to mention massive, webs that sometime span several feet in width. Estimated number of species: 61
Scariest Spider in this Family: Golden Silk Orb-weaver (Nephila clavipes)
Size: Usually grow to be 7.5cm in body length
Location: Around the southern United States, Argentina and Peru. This is the only member of this family found in the Western Hemisphere, the rest live in the South Pacific.
Scary details: These spiders build their webs with strong silk and are often found from 2 to 8 feet above the ground, so be careful when walking in Golden Silk Orb-weaver territory or you might stumble into one. Thankfully, while this spider is venomous, it is not lethal to humans. Like the tarantula wolf spider, their bite is comparable to a bee sting!
Sources: http://bugguide.net/node/view/2023
http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Nephila_clavipes/
Spider Family: Cobweb spiders (Theridiidae)
While many spider webs are beautifully designed and patterned, the cobweb spider is an exception to the rule. Their webs are known for looking tangled and unorganized. Estimated number of species: 2350
Scariest Spider in this Family: Black widow spider (Latrodectus mactans)
Size: Body length is about 9mm, with a 25-35mm leg span
Location: Mostly around the United States, but some are found in southern Canada, Mexico and South America
Scary details: This spider might be small, but it packs a powerful bite. Its venom is believed to be 15x more toxic than a rattlesnake’s. Thankfully, Black widows are timid and not aggressive. Its first defence method is to drop out of its web and pretend to be dead.
Sources: http://bugguide.net/node/view/26336
http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Latrodectus_mactans/
Which spider to you think is the coolest?
Top Ten African Animals That You’ve Never Heard Of
What animals do you think of when someone says “Africa”? Most people imagine lions, zebras and maybe a rhino or two but what about the greater kudu, the dwarf mongoose or the African civet?
Earth Rangers has teamed up with Lewa Wildlife Conservancy to shine a spotlight on some of the lesser-known animals that live in Africa. The conservancy is located in northern Kenya, with over 62,000 acres of protected land and is home to tons of animals, including the species on this top ten list.
Greater kudu (Tragelaphus strepsiceros)
Size and weight: Males can measure 195-245cm (6.4-8ft) and weigh up to 315kg (694lbs)
Habitat: Savannah, woodland, avoids open grasslands and forests
Status: From least concern to endangered depending on the location in Africa
Interesting facts
1. They might look big and clumsy but they are actually swift and excellent jumpers. They can clear a fence 2m (6.6ft) high!
2. They have long necks that they use to reach food on high branches. The giraffe is the only animal that beats their impressive reach.
3. Only the males have horns, which take a spiral shape and can grow up to 100cm (over 3ft)
References: http://www.arkive.org/greater-kudu/tragelaphus-strepsiceros/image-G29989.html#text=All
Grey Crowned crane (Balearica regulorum)
Size and weight: Adults measure 100-110cm (3.3-3.6ft) from head to tail with a 180-200cm (5.9-6.6ft) wingspan. They weigh 3-4kg (6.6-8.8lbs)
Habitat: Wetlands and open grasslands
Status: Vulnerable
Interesting facts
1. They aren’t picky eaters; they will feed on insects, lizards, amphibians, fish, grasses and seeds. This has helped them adapt to changes to the landscape made by humans. In fact, they are often found around agricultural lands and man-made wetlands.
2. Thanks to their long hind toe, they are one of only two species of crane that perch and sometimes build nests in trees. Staying in trees helps these cranes avoid predators on the ground.
3. On average, they lay 2-3 eggs at a time. This is the largest average egg clutch of any crane.
References: http://www.arkive.org/grey-crowned-crane/balearica-regulorum/#text=All
http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Balearica_regulorum.html
African civet (Civettictis civetta)
Size and weight: Head and body length is 67-84cm (2-2.8ft) with an extra 34-47cm (1-1.5ft) for the tail. They can weigh anywhere between 9.5-20kg (20-44lbs), which is a huge range in size!
Habitat: Lowland, highland, forests, swamp, open savannah (with thickets or long grass for shelter)
Status: Least Concern
Interesting facts
1. Each African civet has a different pattern of brown and black spots on their coat. This colour combination provides excellent camouflage in the forest.
2. They produce a secretion that used to be a very important ingredient in perfume. Today, these additives in perfumes are made from synthetic alternatives.
3. They have a very broad diet that includes millipedes, small mammals, and crabs. Unfortunately as their habitat increasingly overlaps with humans they have been known to rummage through trash to find a meal. This flexibility in diet allows them to adapt to a wide range of habitats.
References: http://www.arkive.org/african-civet/civettictis-civetta/image-G67875.html#text=All
Beisa oryx (Oryx beisa beisa)
Size and weight: Can be 90-120cm (3-4ft) at the shoulder. Males tend to be bigger, weighing about 175kg (390lbs).
Habitat: Dry plains and scrublands
Status: Near threatened
Interesting facts
1. Both sexes grow horns but the females’ tend to be longer. Usually horns grow to about 73cm (2.4ft) but they can grow up to 110cm (3.5ft).
2. They have to make an effort to keep their spear-like horns away from each other while walking and lying down so that they don’t hurt other members of their herd.
3. They are well adapted to the dry habitats that they live in. They regulate their body temperature and have a great capacity to conserve the water that they get from the plants they eat.
References: www.ferris.edu/card/animals/Herbivores/Beisa-Oryx.pdf
Elizabeth Cary Mungall. Exotic Animal Field Guide: non-native hoofed mammals in the United States. Texas A&M University Press, 2007. Pages 165-166
Guereza colobus (Colobus guereza)
Size and weight: They can grow 90-150cm (3-5ft), with over half belonging to the tail. They weight 3-15kg (6-33lbs).
Habitat: Closed forests
Status: Subspecies tend to be least concern, but one is endangered (Colobus guereza ssp. percivali)
Interesting facts
1. “Colobus” comes from the Greek word for “mutilated”, referring to the fact that these monkeys have no thumbs.
2. Like cows, these monkeys have stomachs that are divided into pouches, usually three or four. They prefer to eat young tender leaves but their specially designed stomach allows them to digest food other monkeys can’t, like mature or toxic foliage.
3. These monkeys rarely come down from the trees. Instead, they travel by jumping from branch to branch, sometimes leaping as high as 15m (50ft) in the air. The hair on their shoulders and their long tail help them keep balance and act as a parachute, slowing them down as they land on a branch.
References: http://www.iucnredlist.org/details/5143/0
http://www.awf.org/content/wildlife/detail/colobusmonkey
Maurice Burton and Robert Burton. International Wildlife Encyclopedia: Chickaree – Crabs. Marshall Cavendish, 2002. Pages 501-503
African wild dog (Lycaon pictus)
Size and weight: Measuring head and body, they grow to 85-141cm (2.8-4.6ft). They can weight 18-34kg (40-75lbs)
Habitat: Plains, bushy savannahs, woodlands, upland forests, semi-deserts, mountainous areas
Status: Endangered (current population estimated at 5500 individuals)
Interesting facts
1. Like the African civet, each of these dogs has a unique coat but they also stand out because of their interesting toes. While all other canid species have five toes, the African wild dog only has four.
2. One of the African wild dog’s most striking features are their ears. Their large and round ears are not only perfect for hearing calls over large distances, they also are important for heat loss and temperature regulation.
3. They are very efficient hunters capable of reaching speeds of up to 55km/h (34mph), which allows them to chase down their prey. They hunt in packs, led by the alpha male, and are capable of taking down huge animals, like wildebeest that weigh up to 250 kg (550lbs).
References: http://www.arkive.org/african-wild-dog/lycaon-pictus/image-G118934.html#text=All
http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Lycaon_pictus.html
Lelwel hartebeest (Alcelaphus buselaphus lelwel)
Size and weight: Measuring head and body, they grow to 160-215cm (5-7ft), with an extra 30-70cm (1-2.3ft) for the tail. They can weigh up to 218kg (480lbs).
Habitat: Savannahs and grasslands
Status: Endangered, fewer than 70,000 in 2008
Interesting facts
1. They might look large and bulky, but like the Greater kudu, they are actually nimble and really fast. When they really need to, they can reach speeds of up to 70km/h (43mph).
2. They have a very long and narrow head, which is perfectly suited for grazing on grass and avoiding eating the stems and stalks.
3. These animals live in herds, but the number of animals depends on the amount of fresh grass available. Sometimes there can be 20 in a herd and at other times they can number in the hundreds or thousands.
Reference: http://www.iucnredlist.org/details/816/0
http://www.arkive.org/hartebeest/alcelaphus-buselaphus/image-G29734.html#text=All
Somali ostrich (Struthio camelus molybdophanes)
Size: Males can grow to an average height of 220cm (7.2ft)
Habitat: Plains and dense bush habitats
Status: Least concern
Interesting facts
1. Ostriches hold all kinds of bird records. They are the biggest bird in the world, have the biggest eyes of any land vertebrate (about the size of a tennis ball), and they lay the largest eggs of any bird. They are also the fastest two-legged animal in the world, reaching up to 70km/h (43mph).
2. Ostriches are also the only bird to have two toes. One of these toes has a claw that can grow up to 10cm (4in).
3. You can tell a Somali ostrich from a Common ostrich by their appearance and habitat. Somali ostriches are found in scrub areas, not open plains, and they live by themselves or in pairs instead of small flocks. They have darker plumage, with a blue-grey neck and legs instead of pink, and they are missing the white ring at the base of their neck that is seen in the Common ostrich.
Reference: http://www.arkive.org/ostrich/struthio-camelus/#text=All
Nigel Redman, Terry Stevenson, John Fanshawe. Birds of the Horn of Africa: Ethiopia, Eritrea, Djibouti, Somalia and Socotra. A&C Black, 2009. Page 34
Clive Roots. Flightless Birds. Greenwood Publishing Group, 2006. Page 26
Dwarf mongoose (helogale parvula)
Size and weight: They measure 18-26cm (7-10in) with an extra 12-20cm (5-8in) for the tail. They weigh around 275g (10oz).
Habitat: Savannah, woodlands, mountain scrub brush country
Status: Least concern
Interesting facts
1. Dwarf mongooses co-exist with rough-scaled plated lizards (gerrhosaurus major), which live in the mongooses’ homes and eat their dung. They also have a symbiotic relationship with red- and yellow-billed hornbills. These birds eat the insects that the dwarf mongoose disturbs, and in return the hornbills will warn the mongoose when predators are approaching.
2. In many other species, the alpha male is dominant, but for dwarf mongooses, it is the female that is in charge. The group is made up of her relatives and they will stay together until she dies.
3. They are the smallest member of the mongoose family
Resources: http://www.awf.org/content/wildlife/detail/dwarfmongoose
http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Helogale_parvula.html
Lee Gutteridge. The South African Bushveld: A Field Guide from the Waterberg. 30° South Publishers, 2008. Pages 92-93
Klipspringer (Oreotragus oreotragus)
Size and weight: They can grow 75-115cm (2-4ft) and weigh 8-18kg (18-40lbs)
Habitat: Rugged, rocky areas with short vegetation
Status: Least concerned, but endangered in Nigeria and Central African Republic
Interesting facts
1. Klipspringer pairs are monogamous; they stick together until one of the pair dies. They are rarely seen apart and spend the majority of their time within a few metres of each other.
2. They are the only antelope to walk on the tips of their hooves. This gives them extra grip so they can climb smooth surfaces and hop from rock to rock.
3. They have a very dense coat made up of hollow hairs. When they are threatened, sick or hot, their fur stands up which makes them seem bigger than they actually are.
References: http://www.arkive.org/klipspringer/oreotragus-oreotragus/#text=All
Lex Hes. The Complete Book of Southern African Mammals. Struik, 1997. Page 263
What other animals live in Africa? Go crawling for critters online or at your local library to discover more amazing animals. And don’t forget to leave a comment to share what African animal is your favourite.
Earth Rangers is a non-profit organization that works to inspire and educate children about the environment. At EarthRangers.com kids can play games, discover amazing facts, meet animal ambassadors and fundraise to protect biodiversity.
Super Ranger Emily and her Super Sash!
During March Break, 2012, Earth Rangers was at the Royal Ontario Museum where we met some fantastic audiences that came to see the Bring Back the Wild™ show. One day we had an awesome visitor named Emily, who stood out from the crowd thanks to a cool homemade sash that she covered in all the Earth Rangers buttons she had earned. Not only is she a proud Earth Ranger, she has all the buttons to prove it! Here’s what Emily has to say about being an Earth Ranger.
My name is Emily, I am 10 years old. I like anime, music, webkins and I am an Earth Ranger. My Dream one day is to one day become an obstetrician (a doctor who helps deliver babies) but I also want to help animals in any way I can.
I heard about the earth rangers when they were at Ontario Place during the summer and I learned so much about all the animals I like learning and reading about.
But then I began to get scared that all the animals that I love could be gone in a few years and it saddened me to know that all these animals are suffering and not many people know or care so I decided to become an earth ranger and help spread the word and raise awareness to help the animals of the world!
So that’s when I had my Parents and my sister, bring me door to door, and start campaigning in my neighborhood. And I will continue to campaign until I help all the animals I can.
Emily is really passionate about helping people and the environment and that’s why she became an Earth Ranger! Great job Emily and keep up the amazing work protecting animals.
Are you helping to protect the environment? Tell us your story and you could be the next Super Ranger!
Earth Rangers is a non-profit organization that works to inspire and educate children about the environment. At EarthRangers.com kids can play games, discover amazing facts, meet animal ambassadors and fundraise to protect biodiversity.
Who’s Faster, Olympian Usain Bolt or a Cheetah?
The world is a buzz with the Olympics and world record holder Usain Bolt. While Usain Bolt might be the fastest human, he doesn’t hold a candle to Sarah, an 11-year-old cheetah living at the Cincinnati Zoo. She broke the running record in July, making her the world’s fastest mammal!
To put her speed into perspective, Usain Bold ran the 100metre dash in 9.63 seconds while Sarah ran it in 5.95 seconds. She reached a speed of just under 100km/h. Now that’s one fast cat!
http://cincinnatizoo.org/blog/2012/08/01/cincinnati-zoo-cheetah-sets-new-world-speed-record/
Earth Rangers is a non-profit organization that works to inspire and educate children about the environment. At EarthRangers.com kids can play games, discover amazing facts, meet animal ambassadors and fundraise to protect biodiversity.
Meet the Friends for Wildlife!
Many of us love animals and sometimes it can be hard to try and find ways to help protect the planet’s amazing creatures. Natalie and Haley experienced that frustration and that’s why they founded Friends for Wildlife and became Earth Rangers to help Bring Back the Wild™. Here’s a letter from Natalie and Haley about how they are helping animals thanks to a little hard work and some tasty beach cakes!
Dear Earth Rangers:
Hi! It’s Friends for Wildlife Natalie and Haley speaking. We love animals and we love to help them but we don’t like seeing them becoming extinct. We also don’t like seeing them hurt or in pain. This is what happened on our school yard. A deer tried to jump over a picketed fence and injured her stomach.
We heard of the Bring Back the Wild program through our school. Last summer we started fundraising by selling cakes on our street. We baked and decorated beach cakes to fit the summer season. After fundraising for a day, we created a commercial to send to family and friends. Everybody was so generous. Some people even donated extra money to support the cause!
We think that kids around the world should think about these words: we are friends with you so why can’t you be friends with animals too?
These words are FFW’s slogan. It means that we want equality for animals too. We also feel that Earth Rangers is a great organization because it encourages everyone to help different animals not just the animals they know like cats and dogs but animal like pine martens, ring-tailed lemurs and black and white tegu.
We are beginning to plan our next summer fundraiser. Hopefully it will be just as successful as our first one. Our goal is to raise more than our first fundraiser.
From,
Haley and Natalie
Thanks Haley and Natalie for sharing with us your thoughts on animals and what inspired you to help protect them. Whether you form a group like Friends for Wildlife or you go solo, every action you take makes a difference and you too can protect animals and help Bring Back the Wild™!
Earth Rangers is a non-profit organization that works to inspire and educate children about the environment. At EarthRangers.com kids can play games, discover amazing facts, meet animal ambassadors and fundraise to protect biodiversity.
Frog Gets A Prince’s Name
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!
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!
Environmental Glossary
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.
