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Top Ten Ugliest Animal Babies

Earth Rangers

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April 7, 2011

It is pretty amazing how adults and their babies can look so different from each other. Take a look at this list of top ten ugliest (but adorable) animal babies.

#1 Robin (Turdus migratorius)

robin chick — Robin Chick. Photo Credit: galawebdesign

Baby name: Chick

The numbers: Baby robins weigh about 5.5 g.

Fun fact: Chicks are fed by both parents and eat 35-40 meals a day!

Growing up: Baby robins leave the nest when they are 13 days old and become fully independent at 4 weeks.

http://www.hww.ca/hww2.asp?id=25

#2 Barn Owl (Tyto alba)

Baby name: Owlet

The numbers: Barn owls lay 2-18 eggs.

Fun fact: The father brings food for the whole family but only the mother feeds the babies.

Growing up: Owlets have their first flight 50-70 days after hatching but they will return to the nest. They will stay close to home until they are 7 to 8 weeks old.

http://www.eol.org/pages/914939

#3 Giant Panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca)

baby giant panda — Giant panda cubs. Photo Credit: Milgrammer Lucy Reynell Zurich, Switzerland

Baby name: Cub

The numbers: Giant panda cubs weigh 85 to 140 grams.

Fun fact: Mothers enjoy playing with their young. They have even been known to wakeup a sleeping infant so that they can play together.

Growing up: Cubs are born with their eyes closed, opening them after 3 weeks. By the time they are 3-4 months old cubs are able to move on their own but they stay with their mom for up to 18 months.

http://www.eol.org/pages/328070

#4 Aardvark (Orycteropus afer)

aardvark mom and baby — Aardvark cub with mom. Photo Credit Scotto Bear

Baby name: Cub

The numbers: A newborn weighs between 1.8 and 2 kg.

Fun fact: Normally only one aardvark is born at a time, but occasionally a mom will have twins.

Growing up: Baby aardvarks stay in the burrow for several weeks before heading out with mom for a nighttime food run. At 6 months the aardvark will dig its own burrow. Even though they have moved out the young cub will still stay close to mom for a few more years until they are ready to find a mate.

http://www.eol.org/pages/327830

#5 Turkey Vulture (Cathartes aura)

baby turkey vulture — Turkey vulture chick

Baby name: Chick

Fun fact: Turkey vultures will stake out a nesting site in a sheltered area like a hollow log or old building and they will use little or no nest for laying their eggs.

Growing up: The eggs hatch after 30-40 days and the young become independent after 80-90 days.

http://www.eol.org/pages/1049010

#6 Stump-Tailed Macaque (Macaca arctoides)

baby stump tailed macaque — Stump-tailed macaque infant

Baby name: Infant

The numbers: Females have babies every 2 years.

Fun fact: Baby Stump-tailed macaques live in groups with moms helping to care for each other’s young. Special attention is given to the infants of high-ranking moms. Young macaques also inherit this rank from their mothers, taking up their position in the group.

Growing up: Infants are weaned after 9 months and become independent at 1.5 years

http://www.eol.org/pages/323946

#7 Tapir (Perissodactyla tapiridae)

baby tapir — Tapir calf. Photo Credit: Frank Wouters

Baby name: Calf

Fun fact: Tapirs are born with striped markings but they disappear by the time they are 6 months old.

Growing up: Young tapirs are weaned after 10-12 months.

http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Tapiridae.html

#8 Warthog (Phacochoerus africanus)

Baby Warthog — Warthog piglet. Flickr credit: Mediatejack, jacky w

Baby name: Piglet

The numbers: There are usually 1-7 piglets in a litter.

Fun fact: Newborn warthogs cannot keep themselves warm instead they rely on mom and a comfy burrow to keep their body temperature just right.

Growing up: Piglets stay in the den for 6-7 weeks before heading out with mom.

http://www.eol.org/pages/328332

#9 Walrus (Odobenus rosmarus)

Baby name: Calf

The numbers: Baby walruses are 113 cm long and weigh around 63 kilograms.

Fun fact: Dads don’t stick around instead groups of mothers raise their young together. The calf (baby) and cow (mom) form a very strong bond.

Growing up: A calf is weaned after 2 years and is able to find a mate of its own after 5-7 years.

http://www.eol.org/pages/328627

#10 Flamingo (Phoenicopterus ruber)

baby flamingo — Flamingo Chick. Photo Credit: Steve, Washington DC

Baby name: Chick

The numbers: When they hatch flamingo babies weigh 85-102 grams.

Fun fact: Mating flamingos build their nests out of mud. The mound is twelve inches high and circular with a lower centre for the egg.

Growing up: The eggs hatch after 28-32 days and the chicks are ready to fly about 65-90 days later.

http://www.eol.org/pages/913221

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.

Coastal mangrove forests store more carbon than almost any other forest on Earth

Earth Rangers

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April 6, 2011

9

Coastal mangrove forests store more carbon than almost any other forest on Earth

A team at the U.S. forest services and some university scientists looked at 25 mangroves and found that these coastal forests are super important holders of carbon. Carbon emissions play a big part in global warming, by protecting trees that store it up we can help keep the planet cool!

http://www.fs.fed.us/psw/news/2011/110403_mangroves.shtml

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.

Some butterflies defend their territory through flying contests

Earth Rangers

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April 1, 2011

44

Some butterflies defend their territory through flying contests

Some species of male butterfly find a female by staking out a nice sunny spot to wait for Miss right to fly by. These sunny spots become the butterfly’s territory and they will defend it against intruders with a flying duel!!!

What’s a Flying Duel?

To defend their territory a male butterfly will have a flight contest with the intruding male. The butterflies will circle each other in flight until one eventually flies away from the area, leaving the winner to take up their spot in the sun. These battles can last up to 90 minutes, according to one study that looked at the speckled wood butterfly. So be careful where you step next time you are out in a sunny garden, you might find yourself in a butterfly’s territory and be forced to duel!

http://www.alphagalileo.org/ViewItem.aspx?ItemId=99536&CultureCode=en

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.

Top Ten Most Amazing Migrations

Earth Rangers

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March 30, 2011

62

As the weather starts to get colder, you may notice that your favourite animals are missing. While some may be hibernating, many being a trip to warmer climates. This is a list of ten amazing migrations.

#1 Arctic Tern (Sterna paradisaea)

Why I’m a chart topper: I have the longest migration of any animal.

How far I travel: 71,000 kilometres a year, this adds up to 2.4 million kilometres over my 30 year lifespan.

Where I go: I fly from Greenland and the Arctic to Antarctica; from one end of the world to the other!

www.arctictern.info

#2 Humpback Whale (Megaptera novaeangliae)

Why I’m a chart topper: I have the longest migration of any mammal.

How far I travel: One female humpback whale travelled more than 9,800 kilometres.

Where I go: I move from the tropics and head north to my feeding grounds. Not all of us travel together; pregnant whales and those who had calves in the previous year go north first.

www.eol.org/pages/328575
www.nature.com/news/2010/101012/full/news.2010.532.html

#3 Sooty Shearwaters (Puffinus Griseus)

sooty shearwater bird flight — Sooty Shearwaters. Photo Credit: Mike Baird

Why I’m a chart topper: I have the second longest migration.

How far I travel: 65,000 kilometres

Where I go: I travel from my breeding grounds in New Zealand and Chile north to feeding grounds covering around 724 to 1096 kilometres a day.

www.terranature.org/sootyshearwatermigration.htm

#4 Monarch Butterfly (Danaus plexippus)

monarch butterfly flower — Monarch butterfly

Why I’m a chart topper: My migration cycle is longer than my life span so no one butterfly makes the entire round trip.

How far I travel: 3,100 kilometres

Where I go: I arrive in Canada in June, then in September (two to three generations later) I head south to Mexico.

www.monarchwatch.org
www.cbif.gc.ca/spp_pages/butterflies/species/Monarch_e.php

#5 Dragonflies mainly the Globe skimmers (Pantala flavescens)

dragonfly globe skimmer — Globe skimmer dragonfly. Photo Credit: J.M. Garg

Why I’m a chart topper: I have the longest known insect migration.

How far I travel: 14,000 – 18,000 kilometres

Where I go: I head out from India to the Maldives, Seychelles, Mozambique and Uganda, using the wind to help me along. I go through 4 generations for the complete migration cycle. Just like the monarch no one dragonfly completes the migration on their own.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/earth/hi/earth_news/newsid_8149000/8149714.stm

#6 Chinook Salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha)

Why I’m a chart topper: I swim upstream to spawn where I was born.

How far I travel: 3,000 kilometres

Where I go: After hatching I spend time in fresh water from three months to a year. I migrate to the Pacific Ocean, then head back home to the river I was born in to spawn.

www.pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/fm-gp/species-especes/salmon-saumon/facts-infos/chinook-quinnat-eng.htm

#7 Adélie Penguins (Pygoscelis adeliae)

Why I’m a chart topper: I have the longest migration of all of the penguins.

How far I travel: 17,600 kilometres

Where I go: I follow the sun from the breeding colonies to winter feeding grounds.

antarcticsun.usap.gov/science/contenthandler.cfm?id=2230

#8 Semipalmated Sandpiper (Calidris pusilla)

Why I’m a chart topper: We fly non-stop over the Atlantic Ocean. The migration is so tough that some young don’t even migrate north until their second year.

How far I travel: 3,000 kilometres

Where I go: In mid-May I take off from South America heading north towards my breeding grounds in the sub-arctic of Canada and Alaska. In July I head back south again.

www.hww.ca/hww2.asp?id=74

# 9 Wildebeest or Gnu (Connochaetes)

wildebeest migration herd — wildebeest migration

Why I’m a chart topper: I am continually on the move in search of grass and water, following the cycles of rainfall to help guide me. Migrating can be very dangerous with lots of predators, that’s why the young travel on the inside of the herd, to help protect them.

How far I travel: The Serengeti population of wildebeest is a huge nomadic group that migrates 1,600 kilometres each year.

Where I go: Beginning in January and February we move from the Serengeti plains west towards Lake Victoria.

www.awf.org/content/wildlife/detail/wildebeest
http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Connochaetes_taurinus.html

#10 Red Crab of Christmas Island (Gecarcoidea natalis)

Why I’m a chart topper: Our trip is synchronized so all of us move across the island together. There are so many of us that sometimes sections of roads have to be closed to allow us to get through.

How far I travel: 5 kilometres, traveling up to 12 hours over 5 days.

Where I go: At the beginning of the wet season (October/November) I head out from the forest to the coast to breed. The males arrive at the sea first followed by the females who soon outnumber them. As tiny babies (only 5 mm across) we travel back from the sea to the forest, a trip that takes about nine days.

www.environment.gov.au/parks/christmas/visitor-activities/migration.html

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!

Fairy-Wrens seem nice by taking care of other birds’ chicks but they have ulterior motives

Earth Rangers

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March 25, 2011

19

Fairy-Wrens seem nice by taking care of other birds’ chicks but they have ulterior motives

Fairy-wrens aren’t just pretty; they are also seen as one of the kindest and most giving members of the animal kingdom. Fairy-wrens got this honored title because they will help care for other bird’s young. These helpful acts have lead people to believe that the fairy-wren loves to care for others. New research has shown that these birds may actually be helping care for their friends and neighbors’ babies not just to be the nice guy on the block. By helping raise other fairy-wrens’ young they improve their chances of inheriting the breeding territory, giving them a better chance of raising their own young in the future.

http://www.monash.edu.au/news/show/fairy-wrens-the-accountants-of-the-animal-kingdom

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.

Monarchs and Mimics

Earth Rangers

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March 9, 2011

23

Can you tell which one of these two butterflies is a Monarch (Danaaus plexippus) and which one is a Viceroy (Limenitis archippus)? This is a tricky question because one of these butterflies is a mimic!

monach butterfly — Photo credit: Noah Cole

viceroy butterfly — Photo credit: Noah Cole

Mimics are creatures that copy another species, they often take on disguises as a way to hide from predators. Monarch butterflies are poisonous to many animals because of the milkweed plant that they eat, many scientists believe this is why the Viceroy copies their toxic friend’s look. By mimicking (or looking like) the Monarch the Viceroy is sending a warning sign to animals, like a hungry bird, saying ‘hey don’t eat me I may be poisonous’. With all of this confusion how do you tell these butterflies apart? If you look closely, at the photos, you will see that the Viceroy butterfly has a black horizontal bar on its hind wings while the Monarch butterfly doesn’t. (If you are still stumped the first photo is of the Monarch the second is the Viceroy). You can also tell these lookalikes apart by their flying styles; while the Viceroy holds their wings flat the Monarch keeps their wings in a V shape above their body.

Try showing these images to your friends and family and see if they can tell the difference between a Monarch and a Viceroy.

http://www.eol.org/pages/159832

http://www.eol.org/pages/2682739

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.

Zombie Ant Attack!

Earth Rangers

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March 7, 2011

59

The Atlantic rainforests of Brazil are a hotspot for biodiversity but they are also one of the most threatened ecosystems. 92% of this rainforests original coverage has already been lost. One of the reasons it is so important to protect this rainforest is the amazing species that call this place home, like a zombifying ant fungus!

Researchers have recently discovered a group of four kinds of fungus that can take over an ant’s body, controlling their behavior and turning them into zombies… spooky. After this fungus takes control of an unsuspecting ant it scopes out a sweet spot to spread its spores killing the poor zombie in the process.

http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2011-03/plos-fns030111.php

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.

Swimming Like a Crocodile

Earth Rangers

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March 3, 2011

19

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!

http://www.eol.org/pages/1739

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.

Bat-Eared Fox

Earth Rangers

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March 1, 2011

54

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

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.

The World’s Smallest Monkey

Earth Rangers

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February 28, 2011

50

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.

pygmy marmoset, monkey, callithrix pygmaea — Photo credit: Malene Thyseen

http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Callithrix_pygmaea.html

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.