Term
| How do quills protect the African Crested Porcupine? |
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Definition
| Their quills act as guard hairs and form a "skirt". When threatened the skirt can be erected making the porcupine appear 2-3X larger. |
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Term
| Can Porcupines shoot their quills? |
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Definition
| No, they do not shoot their quills, however they can fall out easily when they are raised. They are barbed so they easily get embedded into another animal's skin. |
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Term
| How do Porcupines control the growth of their teeth? |
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Definition
| Porcupines are rodents, so their teeth grow continuously. To keep their teeth from growing out of control, they constantly eat. |
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Term
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Definition
| A carapace is the dorsal(upper or back) convex part of the shell structure of a turtle. The underside or ventral side is the plastron. |
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Term
| How is the African Spurred Tortoise adapted for living in the Sahara Desert? |
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Definition
| The African Spurred Tortoise has many adaptations for surviving in the desert environment. Their thick skin prevents moisture loss. They are active in the morning and evening spending the hottest part of the day underground. Their diet of succulent plants provides them with water. They coat their skin with mud to cool off. |
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Term
| Why are African Spurred Tortoises important to the desert ecosystem? |
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Definition
| Their underground burrows also provide shelter for other animals. |
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Term
| What does someone need to keep in mind if they are considering an African Spurred Tortoise as a pet? |
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Definition
If you want an African Spurred Tortoise as a pet, keep in mind How big they will get (Males can weigh 125-150 lbs and be 3 ft in length, while females can weigh 65-75 lbs and reach 2ft in length).
How big the habitat or living area an animal of this size would need,
How long they can live they can live (80-100 yrs),
What their diet consists of and how much they would eat, and
How their burrowing would affect your property and could you prevent escape. |
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Term
| What is the difference between a turtle and a tortoise? |
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Definition
| One major difference between turtles and tortoises is Turtles spend most of their live in the water while tortoises are land dwellers. |
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Term
| How does the Alligator Snapping Turtle attract its prey? |
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Definition
| The Alligator Snapping Turtle uses a natural lure which is a bright red, worm shaped piece of flesh attached to its tongue. When displayed bt the motionless turtle on a river bottom, the lure can draw curious fish and frogs into the turtle's mouth which then snaps shut. |
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Term
| What makes the Alligator Snapping Turtle different from other snapping turtles? |
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Definition
| Alligator Snapping Turtles have 3 distinct rows of spiked raised plates on their carapace while other snapping turtles have a smoother carapace. |
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Term
| What are some differences between an alligator and a crocodile? |
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Definition
Some differences between an Alligator and a Crocodile are:
Alligators have a "U" shaped snout and Crocodiles have a "V" shaped snout.
When their mouths are closed Only the top teeth of the Alligator are visible, their 4th loser tooth fits into a socket in the upper jaw.
The 4th tooth in the Crocodiles jaw is exposed.
Alligators usually prefer freshwater.
Crocodiles prefer coastal, brackish and salt water habitats. |
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Term
| Why are American Alligators still listed as an endangered species |
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Definition
| Once listed as endangered the American Alligator has made a remarkable comeback but are still listed as endangered due to their resemblance to the American Crocodile and shared distribution. American Alligaors are found throughout the Southeastern US and American Crocodiles are found in the southern tip of Florida. |
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Term
| How does temperature affect an alligator clutch? |
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Definition
The temperature of an Alligator nest determines the sex of the offspring.
If the nest is below 86*F most of the hatchlings will be female.
If the nest is above 93*F most will be male.
Nest between 86*F and 93*F have a similar number of male and female hatchlings. |
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Term
| Explain the dangers of Alligators to Humans. |
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Definition
| Alligators can attack humans. Most attacks are a result of a gator losing its fear of man due to hand feeding. |
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Term
| How can humans live safely near Alligators? |
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Definition
| Humans can safely live near alligators by taking wise precautions such as not feeding them, not harassing them, not approaching a nest or group of baby gators. |
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Term
| How did Barred Owls get their name? |
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Definition
| Barred Owls are named for the horizontal bars on their breast feathers. |
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Term
| What is unique about owl ears? |
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Definition
| Owls' ears are located with the right ear higher than the left ear capturing sounds from above and below increasing sound reception. |
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Term
| Can Owls move their eyes? |
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Definition
| No, Owls' eyes look forward in a fixed position and can not move from side to side as the human eye can. To see peripherally, the owl must turn its entire head. |
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Term
| How far can an Owl turn its head? |
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Definition
| Owls have 14 neck vertebrae allowing them to turn their head 270 degrees. |
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Term
| How are Owls adapted for silent flight? |
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Definition
| Most owls have unique comb like feathers that allow for silent flight. The leading edge is "fringed" so that the feathers do not make noise when they move and rub together. |
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Term
| Why are Bearded Dragons called "Bearded Dragons"? |
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Definition
| Bearded Dragons got their name from their ability to flare out their spined throat region when it is threatened or being territorial. |
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Term
| Why do Bearded Dragons have the ability to change color? |
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Definition
| Their ability to change color from light to dark helps them regulate body temperature. Color Changes can also be used for concealment when threatened. |
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Term
| What is the difference between a kangaroo and a wallaby? |
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Definition
Kangaroos are larger (6-7 ft tall)than Wallabies (3-3.5 ft tall).
Kangaroos are browsers (eat mostly leaves) and Wallabies are grazers (eat mostly grass).
Kangaroos are more social the Wallabies. |
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Term
| Where are Bennett's Wallabies found in the natural environment? |
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Definition
| Bennett's Wallabies are found in the grasslands of Southeastern Australia and Tasmania. |
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Term
| Describe Wallaby gestation. What is a baby Wallaby called? |
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Definition
| Wallaby gestation is 30 days. A baby wallaby is called a joey. After birth the joey makes its way to the mother's pouch where it continues to develop for about 280 days. Delayed implantation can occur since the female can become pregnant as soon as a joey is born. This embryo will remain dormant until the first joey permanently leaves the pouch. |
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Term
| Are Wallabies social animals? |
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Definition
| Wallabies usually live alone except for females and their offspring. |
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Term
| Describe 2 adaptations that help Wallabies survive in their environment. |
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Definition
| Wallabies use their large flat teeth to grind grasses and plants for food. Wallabies have delayed implantation which ensures the mother is in the best health to carry the embryo and care for her young. Wallabies regulate their body temperature by licking their hands and forearms to cool down. Bennett's Wallabies are most nocturnal of the kangaroos and wallabies, being most active during the coolest times of the day (dawn and dusk). |
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Term
| How do Lemurs resemble other primates? |
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Definition
| Like other primates, Lemurs have an opposable thumbs for grasping and binocular vision. |
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Term
| What ecological role do Lemurs fill in the Madagascar environment? |
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Definition
| Lemurs feed on seasonal fruits and as they travel throughout their environment the undigested seeds are dispersed in their manure within 2-3 hours. The seeds then sprout to replenish the vegetation that sustains Madagascar's unique inhabitants |
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Term
| How do Lemurs use their tails? |
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Definition
| Lemurs use their tail for stability as they move on all fours through trees. Their tails is not prehensile. Lemurs also use their tail as a visual signal when threatened, to wave its scent through the air and to attract females. |
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Term
| In what way do lemurs communicate territory with others? |
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Definition
| Lemurs rely on their sense of smell as a way to communicate. They have special scent glands on their wrists and bottoms that leave scent trails on branches to mark their territory. |
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Term
| Are Lemurs social animals? |
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Definition
| Lemurs are social and the groups have clearly defined male and female hierarchies. Most communities number 2-5 individuals but can reach 16. |
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Term
| What is a Jacobson's organ? |
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Definition
| The Jacobson's organ is an olfactory sensory organ located on the roof of the mouth. |
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Term
| How does a Jacobson's organ aid animals that have it? |
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Definition
| The Jacobson's organ picks up scent particles from the air for identification. |
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Term
| What is the purpose of the Blue Tongue Skink's blue tongue? |
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Definition
| The Skink's blue tongue is used to startle and ward off predators. |
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Term
| What advantage do reptiles have that are able to release their tails? |
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Definition
| Lizard's have the ability to release their tail in defense. The release tail will continue to move for several minutes giving the lizard time to escape. The tail will later regenerate. |
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Term
| Why are boas considered primitive snakes? |
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Definition
| Boas are considered primitive snakes because they have 2 vestigial or remnant hind limbs. These vestigial limbs appears as spurs on either side of the cloaca. |
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Term
| Why do boas have heat sensing pits on their faces? |
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Definition
| Boas are nocturnal hunters and use these heat sensing pits to find warm blooded prey at night. |
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Term
| Why are boas important in their habitat? |
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Definition
| Boas are very important in controlling rodent populations which in excess can have serious negative effects on their environment. |
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Term
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Definition
| Pythons are constrictors and don't have fangs therefore they are not venomous. |
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Term
| Describe how a constrictor feeds? |
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Definition
| Constrictors grasp their prey with back curving teeth which do not allow the animal to escape. Then they wrap around their prey squeezing it and tightening each time the prey exhales until the animal suffocates. The prey is then swallowed whole. |
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Term
| How are snakes able to swallow prey much larger than its mouth? |
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Definition
| Snakes can "unhinge" their jaws allowing its mouth to become 4X larger than its head. |
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Term
| How are King Snakes able to prey on rattlesnakes? |
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Definition
| King Snakes have a tolerance to rattlesnake venom to kill and consume them. |
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Term
| Why do snakes have bad eyesight? |
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Definition
| Most snakes have poor eyesight due to the positioning of the eyes on the sides of their heads making it difficult to focus. |
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Term
| How do female scorpions care for their young? |
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Definition
| All Scorpions are viviparous. They give live birth to as many as 35 young which thre mother carries on her back for several weeks and provides them with food. |
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Term
| Are all scorpions dangerous to humans? |
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Definition
| There are over 1,100 identified species of scorpion, only 30 are considered dangerous to humans. |
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Term
| How can you tell how venomous a scorpion is? |
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Definition
| You can tell how venomous a scorpion is by their pincers. The bigger more bulbous the pincers the less venomous. The long thin pincers the more venomous. |
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Term
| How does a Screech Owl protect itself from danger? |
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Definition
| When a Screech Owl spots danger, it will draw up its body to create a thin narrow profile and remain motionless to avoid detection. |
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Term
| How can you help with Screech Owl habitat loss? |
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Definition
| Construction of nest boxes is a simple way to help Screech Owls maintain healthy population numbers. |
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Term
| How do Fennec Fox's large ears help the animal in its environment? |
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Definition
| The Fennec Fox's large ears help dissipate excess body heat on hot days in the desert. They also aid in their extraordinary hearing helping them locate prey buried underground. |
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Term
| The Fennec Fox is the only carnivore in the Sahara desert. How is it adapted for living in this harsh environment? |
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Definition
The Fennec Fox's large ears help dissipate heat.
Their sandy color reflects heat and provides camouflage.
Thick fur on their feet insulates against hot sand and provides traction in loose sand.
Thick fur insulates on cold desert nights.
Kidneys are adapted to restrict water loss.
They take moisture from their food.
Extensive burrowing may cause dew to form so they can drink it.
They are nocturnal, staying cool in their burrows during the day. |
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Term
| How are Fennec Foxes important to their environment? |
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Definition
| Fennec Foxes are important small hunters helping control pest populations such as rodents and locusts. Over population of rodents poses a direct threat to the environment and agricultural crops. |
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Term
| Why are millipedes called Millipedes? |
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Definition
| Millipedes got their name because they have the appearance of having a thousand legs. The name comes from the Latin for Thousand-Feet. |
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Term
| Do Millipedes really have 1,000 legs? |
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Definition
| Millipedes have 200-300 legs. With each molt they gain a segment with 2 pairs of legs. |
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Term
| Why are millipedes important? |
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Definition
| Millipedes eat dead plant material lying on the ground. They are nutrient recyclers meaning they make "soil" |
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Term
| How do millipedes protect themselves from predators? |
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Definition
| When millipedes are threatened by predators, they can excrete a foul-tasting and smelling fluid specialized stink glands. |
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Term
| What animal can be found on every continent including Antarctica? |
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Definition
| Cockroaches can be found on every continent. |
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Term
| Why do Hissing Cockroaches hiss? |
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Definition
| Hissing Cockroaches hiss as a means of communication. They hiss during courtship and mating, when threatened and when males get aggressive with other males. |
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Term
| How can you tell the difference between male and female Hissing Cockroaches? |
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Definition
Male Hissing Cockroaches have large horns behind the head and females have only small bumps.
Males have hair on their antennae and females lack this hair. |
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Term
| Why are Cockroaches important? |
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Definition
| Cockroaches play an important role in recycling the earth's dead and decaying plant and animal matter. |
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Term
| Why are Frogs sensitive to minute changes in their environment? |
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Definition
| Frogs have porous skin and respond quickly to changes in the environment, they are sensitive to minute changes in the ecosystem. |
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Term
| What is the difference between a frog and a toad? |
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Definition
| Frogs need to live near the water, toads do not. Frogs have smooth slimy skin while toads have dry rough textured skin. |
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Term
| Describe the range of the Speckled Mousebird. |
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Definition
| Speckled Mousebirds range from East to Southeast Africa. They inhabit woods, edges of evergreen forests, scrubland, gardens, villages, orchards, hot lowlands and cool highlands. |
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Term
| How do Roseate Spoonbills collect food? |
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Definition
| Roseate Spoonbills swish their spoon shaped bills back and forth in the water to find small invertebrates, fish and crustaceans. |
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Term
| How do male Spoonbills attract females? |
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Definition
| During breeding season, the male uses gifts of nesting material to attract the female. |
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Term
| Are Roseate Spoonbill populations threatened? |
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Definition
| Roseate Spoonbills are not listed as threatened or endangered, but in Florida they are considered a species of Special Concern. |
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Term
| What threats do Roseate Spoonbills have in the natural environment? |
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Definition
| The main threats to the Roseate Spoonbill populations come as a result of habitat loss. |
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Term
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Definition
| The pink color of the Roseate Spoonbill comes from the food they eat. |
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Term
| What is the distribution of the Roseate Spoonbill? |
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Definition
Roseate Spoonbills are found in the marshlands of:
Southern US
West Indies
Central America
South America |
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Term
| How are tarantula eggs protected as they incubate? |
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Definition
| The female tarantula makes a silk egg capsule to protect the eggs from predators and environmental conditions. |
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Term
| Describe a Tarantula's diet. |
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Definition
Tarantulas eat:
Small Snakes
Small Birds
Lizards
Insects
Spiders
Millipedes
Centipedes |
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Term
| How do humans use Tarantulas? |
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Definition
Tarantulas are used in cosmetics in Indonesia.
They are eaten as food in Thailand, Central Africa and South America.
Hair from the Tarantula's abdomen is harvested for itching powder. |
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Term
| What is the Tarantula's biggest threat in the natural environment? |
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Definition
The Tarantulas's biggest threat is habitat destruction.
Another threat is the rapidly expanding market for Tarantula as pets. |
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Term
| Why are 3 Banded Armadillos important to people in their native range? |
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Definition
| 3 Banded Armadillos are hunted for its meat and is an important food source in some areas. |
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Term
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Definition
| Armadillos eat insects including ants, beetles, grubs and will supplement their diet with fruit, berries and vegetation. |
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Term
| How are Armadillos adapted for their diet? |
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Definition
| Armadillos use their long sticky tongue to eat ants in much the same way as their anteater relatives. |
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Term
| Can the 3 Banded Armadillos roll itself into a ball? |
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Definition
| The 3 Banded Armadillo is the only Armadillo that can roll completely into a ball. |
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Term
| Why does the 3 Banded Armadillos roll into a ball? |
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Definition
| The Armadillo rolls into a ball as protection from predators. |
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Term
| How does the Umbrella Cockatoo's coloration aid it in its environment? |
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Definition
| The Cockatoo's coloration allows them to blend in with the flowers in the trees. |
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Term
| Why are Cockatoos and other Parrot species considered vulnerable? |
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Definition
| Cockatoo and other parrot species numbers in the wild have declined due to habitat loss and illegal trapping for pet trade. |
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Term
| Why are Umbrella Cockatoos known as "Velcro birds"? |
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Definition
| Umbrella Cockatoos are known as Velcro birds because they are so affectionate and bond closely with their owners. |
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Term
| What do Umbrella Cockatoos eat? |
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Definition
| Umbrella Cockatoos eat seeds, fruit, nuts and berries. |
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