Kids Konnect

Tuesday, 11 December 2007 09:06 - Polar Bears

Tue, 11 Dec 2007 15:06:25 +0100

1. The polar bear is a large white bear found in the Arctic.

2. The polar bear is often regarded as a marine mammal because it spends many months of the year at sea. Its preferred habitat is the annual sea ice covering the waters over the continental shelf and the Arctic inter-island archipelagos.

3. The polar bear is one of the largest meat-eating animals. A meat-eating animal is known as a carnivore.

4. Polar bears feed mainly on ringed or bearded seals. When seals aren't available polar bears will eat other marine mammals like the walrus, narwhal, and beluga whale. The will also eat small rodents, fish, eggs, reindeer, sea birds, ducks, vegetation, kelp, berries, and human garbage.

5. The male adult bears are 8 - 10 feet long and can weigh between 500 - 1700 pounds. The female bears are about half the size of the males.

6. Polar bears have a thick layer of blubber and fur that keep them warm in the cool climate where they live. Their white fur helps them blend into the snowy landscape, helping to protect it.

7. Polar bears can live to be 25 years old.

8. Polar bears can have 1 - 4 cubs, but most of the time they have 2 cubs. The cubs are born from November through January while their mothers are hibernating in a den. A polar bear is pregnant with her babies for 8 months. A female polar bear can have five litters in their lifetime. The cubs will remain with their mother for 2 ½ years.

9. Unlike grizzly bears, polar bears do not claim a territory as their own. . Although many people believe they are aggressive, they are normally cautious in confrontations, and often choose to escape rather than fight.

10. Many people believe the polar bear is at risk of becoming extinct because of global warming. When the ice disappears there is no place for the bears to rest after they finish swimming and searching for food. Many believe by the year 2050, the population of polar bears will decrease by two-thirds. Of the 19 recognized polar bear subpopulations, 8 are declining, 3 are stable, 1 is increasing, and 7 have insufficient data.

Alaska Department of Fish & Game: Polar Bears
Amazing Animals: Polar Bears
Arctic Studies Polar Bear
BBC: Polar Bears
Busch Gardens: Polar Bears
Defender of Wild Life: Polar Bears
Enchanted Learning: Polar Bear Printout
Endangered Species: Polar Bears
FAQ About Polar Bears
Marine Mammal Center: Polar Bears
National Geographic: Most Polar Bears Gone by 2050
National Geographic: Polar Bears
Polar Bear
Polar Bear Cam
Polar Bear International
San Diego Zoo: Polar Bears
Sea World: Polar Bears
Wikipedia: Polar Bear
WWF: Polar Bears

Fast Facts Resources:

Wikipedia

Busch Gardens

National Geographic

Monday, 10 December 2007 13:55 - Grizzly Bears

Mon, 10 Dec 2007 19:55:09 +0100

1. Grizzly bears are powerful animals that can be found in certain areas of Canada and the United States..... Alaska, Idaho, Wyoming, Montana and Washington are the states that are home to the grizzly bear

2. The grizzly bear is also known as the brown bear
3. Grizzly bears can weigh from 300 to 1,500 pounds and stand as tall as eight feet. Male grizzly bears can be twice as big as females, and a cub can weigh 200 pounds by the time it's 1 year old

4. Even though grizzly bears are extremely large they can run up to 35 miles per hour 5. The grizzly bear looks different than other bears because of its long curved claws, humped shoulders, and a face that looks like it's been pushed in. The large hump on their shoulders gives the grizzly the power to dig in the ground and tear apart dead logs to find food 6. Most people think that grizzly bears are brown, but they can range in color from black, blonde, silver, and even white. The tip of the fur is sometimes a different color and that is what gives them a "grizzled" look. 7. Grizzly bears mate in the spring and their babies are born from January to March. The female usually gives birth to two cubs that weigh only 1 pound when they are born. The newborn grizzly bear cubs don't have any fur when they are born, and they are blind. Grizzly bear cubs stay with their mother until they are two or three years old 8. Grizzly bears are omnivores (they eat plants and animals) and find their food with their excellent sense of smell. They like to eat berries, rodents, roots, plant bulbs, cutworm moths, and whitebark pine nuts. They will also eat mountain sheep and goats, deer, moose, and elk. Sometimes grizzly bears will even eat black bears. The grizzly bear spends a lot of time searching for food and eating in the late summer and early fall.

9. This extra food adds an extra layer of fat to its body so it can live in its den for about four months during the coldest weather. During that time the grizzly bear doesn't eat or drink 10. Grizzly bears that live in the United States are becoming a threatened species and need to be protected from extinction

Alaska Department of Fish and Game: Grizzly
BC Adventures: Grizzly Bears
Bear Planet
Defenders of Wildlife: Grizzly Bear
eNature: Grizzly Bears
Enchanted Learning: Grizzly Bear Printout
Expedition Grizzly
Grizzly Bear Habitat
Grizzly Bear Profile
Grizzly Bear Recovery
Grizzly Bears
Grizzly Bears 1
Humane Society: Grizzly Bears
National Geographic: Kids
National Geographic: Wild Cam Grizzlies
Nature.CA: Grizzly Bears
Nature Works: Grizzly Bear
Yellowstone’s Wildlife: Grizzly Bear
Wikipedia: Grizzly Bear
Wildlife Forever – Adopt-a-Bear

Fast Facts Resources Wikipedia Defenders of Wildlife North American Bear Center

Saturday, 08 December 2007 05:56 - Dragons

Sat, 08 Dec 2007 11:56:47 +0100

1. Dragons are creatures from mythology that have magical powers.
2. Many modern authors have used dragons in their stories. J.R.R. Tolkien has Smaug in The Hobbit and J.K. Rowling intorduces dragons that challenge the characters in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire.
3. Dragons are snake or reptile-like creatures that are gigantic and powerful.
4. They can usually fly and breathe fire or ice.
5. They fly using large wings and their bodies are covered with scales, as is their long tales.
6. Many dragons have red, slanted eyes.
7. They can be fierce or they can be kind and helpful. 8. Depending on the culture, dragons can posses many different kinds of powers.
9. Dragons are very popular in China. The phoenix is a dragon that has five claws and was a symbol for the emperors in China.
10. The Latin word draco, as in the constellation Draco, comes directly from Greek drakones. The Dragon is sometimes known by the Nordic word, ormr (Old English wyrm means serpent — draca means dragon).



ABC Teach: Dragons
Animal Planet: Dragons
Chinese Dragons
Dragon Coloring Pages
Dragon History: Ancient Accounts
Dragon Information and Dragon Pictures
Dragon Names
D.R.A.G.O.N.S.
Dragons and Their Astronomical History
Dragons and Winged Serpents
Dragons in Ancient China
Dragons in Ancient China 1
Dragons in Art and on the Web
Dragons in Art and on the Web 1
Dragons in History
Enchanted Learning: Dragons
European Dragon
Famous Dragon Names
Here Be Dragon
PBS: Dragon Tales
The Dragon Stone: Dragon Name Generator
The Serene Dragon
Types of Dragons
Wikipedia: Dragons

Fast Facts Resources:

Wikipedia

Animal Planet

Smithsonian.com

Saturday, 08 December 2007 05:26 - Ducks

Sat, 08 Dec 2007 11:26:41 +0100

1. Ducks are birds that are also called "waterfowls" because they are normally found in places with water like marshes, oceans, rivers, ponds, and lakes. This is because ducks love the water.

Ducks can live from 2-12 years, depending on species.

2. Some species of ducks migrate or travel longs distances every year to breed. Usually they travel to warmer areas or where the water does not freeze so that they can rest and raise their young. The distance may be thousands of miles away.

3. Ducks are found everywhere in the world except the Antarctica which is too cold for them.

4. Ducks are related to geese and swans, but the duck is the smallest of them all.

5. Ducks have shorter necks and wings than other waterfowl, and they also have a stout body. Ducks of different species look different.

6. Some ducks are very colorful like the Perching ducks. Usually, the males or drakes are usually the brightly colored ones while the females (ducks) are usually dull-colored and brown in color so that they can hide and camouflage from their enemies when they are in their nests.

7. Ducks have webbed feet that are designed for swimming. Their webbed feet act like paddles and they waddle instead of walk because of their feet. The duck's feet cannot feel cold even if it swims in icy cold water because their feet have no nerves or blood vessels.

8. The duck has water-proof feathers. A special gland that produces oil is located near the duck's tail. This oil spreads and covers the outer coat of the duck's feathers, making it water-proof. Beneath the water-proof feathers are fluffy and soft feathers that keep the duck warm. Ducks keep their feathers clean by preening. They do this by putting their heads in funny positions and putting their beaks into their body. They preen themselves very often.

9. Most ducks quack, however, the wood duck squeals. The duck's mouth is called a "bill". However, ducks bills come in different shapes and sizes. The shape of the bill and body features will determine how the duck hunt for its food.

10. Ducks usually look for a mate in winter. The males will attract the females with their colorful plumage or feathers. Once the female lays 5-12 eggs, she will start to sit on her eggs to keep it warm so that they can hatch into ducklings. The males on the other hand, will be with the other males. The eggs of most ducks will hatch within 28 days. The mother duck will keep her ducklings together to protect them from predators. Animals like the hawk, snakes, raccoon, turtles, and large fish will eat the ducklings. Ducklings are able to fly within 5-8 weeks. The production of eggs are affected by daylight. When there is more daylight, the ducks will lay more eggs. In the months of July to December when daylight is short, they slow down their production of eggs. Sometimes, they stop laying eggs completely during these months. To prevent this from happening, farmers use artificial lighting so that the ducks have about 17 hours of light a day to produce eggs efficiently.


Basic Duck Care
Breeds of Duck
Creature Feature: Ducks
Different Types of Ducks
Ducks
Ducks at a Distance
Ducks for Kids and Teachers
Ducks Identification
Ducks of the World
Ducks Unlimited
Green Nature: Types of Ducks in the United States
How to Raise a Duck as a Pet
Live Ducks
Raising Ducks
Types of Ducks in the Midwest
Wikipedia: Duck
Wildlife Search: Ducks

Fast Facts Resources

Wikipedia

Ducks Unlimited

Ducks

Friday, 28 September 2007 08:39 - Rodents

Fri, 28 Sep 2007 14:39:01 +0100

ADW: Rodentia: Information

Capybara

Commensal Rodents

Encarta: Rodent

Fact Monster: Types of Rodents

Green Nature: Types of Rodents

InfoPlease: Rodent

Introduction to the Rodentia

Kidport Reference Library

List of Rodents

Pictures and Facts About Rodents

Rodent Clip Art

Rodent Pictures

Rodent Zone

Rodents

Rodents of the Kern River Valley and Environs

Rodents Printout

Wikipedia: Rodents

World’s Largest Rodent: Buffalo Size Fossil Discovered

Wednesday, 19 September 2007 03:37 - Porcupine

Wed, 19 Sep 2007 09:37:04 +0100

1. Porcupines are classified as mammals and rodents. They are also called “quill pigs” which is what their name means in Latin. There are about two dozen species of porcupine.

2. The North American porcupine is the only species that lives in the U.S. and Canada, and is the largest of all porcupines. Porcupines live in the deciduous and coniferous forests of North America and Canada. Porcupines found in North and South America are good climbers and spend much of their time in trees. When not in trees or feeding, porcupines prefer the protection of a den. Dens can be found in rock crevices, caves, hollow logs, abandoned mines, and even under houses and barns. When porcupines are on the ground, they shuffle and waddle along.

3. They are short, fat, and covered with as many as 30,000 spiny quills. All porcupines have quills. Africa’s crested porcupine has quills that are nearly a foot long (30 cm). Porcupines have soft hair, but on their back, sides, and tail it is usually mixed with sharp quills. The quills lie flat, but will spring up if the porcupine is threatened. The porcupine cannot shoot its quills at a predator, but the quills will detach from the porcupine relatively easily. An animal that attacks a porcupine will usually end up with a face full of quills. Quills have sharp tips and overlapping scales or barbs that make them difficult to remove once they are stuck in another animal's skin. Porcupines grow new quills to replace the ones they lose.

4. From the tip of the nose to the end of the tail, a porcupine can be from 33 to 46 inches (80 to 115 cm) long. They can weigh from 12 to 35 lbs (5 to 16 kg).

5. Porcupines make shrill screeches, whines, and low grunts to communicate.

6. Porcupines are nocturnal, which means they are active primarily at night.

7. In the wild, porcupines live from 5 to 7 years, but some have been known to live as long as 18 years.

8. The porcupine lives on plants, shrubs, leaves, dandelions, clover, grasses and wildflowers. They eat natural bark and stems, and have been known to chew on canoe paddles. North American porcupines also eat fruit and springtime buds. Porcupines can swim, so pond weeds, water lilies, and arrowhead are all part of the summer diet. In the winter they will eat the inner bark of trees and evergreen needles. Their favorite trees are hemlock. North American porcupines use their large front teeth to satisfy this healthy appetite for wood. Porcupines are attracted by salt and may chew on any tool handle that has salt left from human sweat.

9. Females maintain a territory where they live, and will defend it against other females; however male territories typically overlap those of several females. The territories of dominant males rarely overlap. Breeding occurs in October and November. Porcupines will carry their babies about 210 days before they give birth. When the female gives birth it is to one baby. The mother will nurse her young for about 4 months. The baby will begin living independently at the age of 5 months. Baby porcupines are called "porcupettes."

10. In spite of this prickly suit of armor, there are some animals that prey on porcupines. The fisher is the most formidable predator, but great horned owls, coyotes, bobcats, mountain lions, and wolves will make a meal out of the porcupine if there's an opportunity.


Alaska Department of Fish & Game: Porcupine
Desert USA: North American Porcupine
Hedgehog
KidsFarm: Porcupines
National Geographic: Porcupines
NativeTech: About Porcupines
Nature Works
Nature.ca: Porcupines
North American Porcupine – Erethizon Dorsatum
Porcupine
Porcupine Photos
Porcupine Printout
Porcupine Quill
Porcupine Sounds
San Diego Zoo
The Humane Society: Porcupines
The Porcupine
Wikipedia: Porcupine

Fast Facts Resources
Wikipedia
National Geographic
American Wildlife Foundation

Monday, 17 September 2007 08:54 - Ostrich

Mon, 17 Sep 2007 14:54:54 +0100

American Ostrich Association
Animal Bytes: Ostrich
BBC: Ostrich
Enchanted Learning: Ostrich
Honolulu Zoo: Ostrich
Howstuffworks: Ostrich
Natural History Notebooks: Ostrich
Nature.CA: Ostrich
North Dakota State University: Ostrich
Nutrition Guidelines for Ostriches and Emus
Ostrich
Ostrich 1
Ostrich and Emu Links
Ostrich Facts
Ostrich Page
Ostich Pictures
Ostrich: Trivia
Ostrich - Wikipedia
PBS: Ostrich
Raising Ostrich Chicks
San Diego Zoo: Ostrich
The Ostrich – Biggest Bird in the World
Wild Watch: Ostrich

Tuesday, 10 July 2007 15:21 - Rhinoceros

Tue, 10 Jul 2007 21:21:06 +0100

African Wildlife Foundation: Rhinoceros

AWF: Wildlife: Rhinoceros
Black Rhinoceros

Black Rhinoceroses 1
Black Rhinoceros Facts
Enchanted Learning: Rhinoceros
Endangered Species: Rhinoceros
Endangered Species: Rhinoceros 1

Encyclopedia Britannica: Rhinoceros
Fun Facts

Indian Rhinoceros
Kid's Planet: Rhinoceros

Kid's Planet: Rhinoceros 1
Nature: Rhinoceros, Resources

Northern White Rhinoceros
Odd-toed Hoffed Mammals
Pictures of Rhinoceroses
Rhino Facts
Rhino Information at Animal Corner
Rhinoceros
Rhinoceros 1
Rhinoceros Cartoons
San Diego Zoo's Animal Bytes: Rhinoceros

What is a Rhinoceros Horn Made of?
White Rhinoceros

Tuesday, 10 July 2007 13:27 - Hippopotamus

Tue, 10 Jul 2007 19:27:07 +0100

ADW: Hippopotamus Animal Bytes: HippopotamusAre Hippos the Most Dangerous Animal?
AWF: Wildlife: Hippopotamus
Behavior of the Hippopotamus
Creature Feature: Hippopotamus
Enchanted Learning: Hippo PrintoutGreat Africian HippopotamusHippo Facts
Hippo Pictures
Hippo Place
HippopotamusHippopotamus 1
Hippopotamus 2Hippopotamus 3
Hippopotamus 4Hippopotamus 5Hippopotamus 6
Hippopotamus and the Tortoise
Hippopotamus Cartoons
Hippopotamus: PoemHippopotamus Profile
I Want a Hippo for Christmas
Mammals: Hippopotamus
Nile HippopotamusPigmy Hippopotamus
Pigmy Hippopotamus 1Pigmy Hippopotamus 2
River Hippopotamus
Science & Nature: Hippopotamus
The Big Zoo - Hippopotamus
Threatened Species: HippopotamusWhoZoo: Hippopotamus
World Almanac for Kids: Hippopotamus

Tuesday, 10 July 2007 12:17 - Geckos

Tue, 10 Jul 2007 18:17:27 +0100


1. Geckos are small to medium-sized lizards. They are found all over the world in warm climates. 2. There are over 1,100 different species of geckos. Several species, such as the House Gecko, will enter houses and climb over the walls and ceilings eating insects. Many people also keep geckos as pets in aquariums. The most common pet gecko is the Leopard Gecko. 3. Geckos range in size from ³/₄ to 14 inches long. 4. The life span of a gecko can be as long as 30 years. 5. Most geckos are nocturnal. 6. The largest gecko is the Tokay Gecko and the smallest is the Dwarf Gecko. 7. Geckos come in a wide variety of colors, patterns and textures. Some geckos can change color like chameleons. 8. Geckos are different from other lizards, because they use vocal chirps to communicate with each other. 9. Although some geckos have claws, most have thousands of hair-like structures on their feet which allows them to stick to and climb slippery and flat surfaces. Most species of gecko have a clear membrane to protect the eyes instead of eyelids. They also lick this membrane to keep it clean. 10. If a gecko accidently loses its tail it has the ability to grow a new one.

Animal Planet: Leopard Gecko
Animal World: Geckos
Classroom Animals and Pets: Leopard Gecko
Crested Gecko
Enchanted Learning: Geckos
Gecko
Geckos
Geckos Unlimited
Gecko Ranch
Gekko Gecko
Global Gecko Association
House Gecko
Kids Encyclopedia: Gecko
Leopard Gecko Care
Leopard Gecko Guide
Leopard Geckos
Madagascar Pictures: Geckos
Photos of Geckos
Smithsonian: Tokay Gecko
Tokay Geckos
Web-Footed Gecko
Wickipedia: Tokay Gecko
Wickipedia: Gecko

Fast Facts Resources

Wikipedia

Geckos Unlimited

Leopard Gecko Guide

Wednesday, 27 June 2007 22:41 - Ants

Thu, 28 Jun 2007 04:41:47 +0100

1. Ants are social insects and most live in colonies which can be extremely large consisting of millions of members…there are about 20,00 different species of ants and they can be found almost anywhere and in every biome.

2. There are three different kinds of ants… the queen, and she has one purpose and that is to mate and spends her entire life laying eggs… the second kind of ant is the male who mates with the queen and they don't live very long… the third kind of ant is the female worker and she cannot produce young but she is the one that builds the mounds and supplies the colony with food.

3. Most ants build some type of mound to live in… many dig their mounds in the dirt or sand…some use twigs to make them stronger… some ants live in fallen logs or trees…most ants build a system of tunnels under their mound which connect rooms, or chambers, they use for specific purposes…some of the chambers are used to store food and some are used as nurseries…the rooms are used as resting places for the worker.

4. The ant's body is made up of three parts… the head, trunk and metasoma, or rear.

5. Each ant has six legs that are attached to the trunk.

6. An ant has eyes that allow them to see extremely well because of the many lenses.

7. An ant's antennae are also very special…they allow the ant to hear, taste, touch and smell…ants use their antennae to touch one another, which is the way they communicate.

8. Ants do not have lungs so they breathe through tiny holes all over their body…the blood inside an ant travels through one long tube that runs from its head to its rear…the nerve cord also runs from the head of the ant to its rear.

9. When ant colonies are moving or when they have found a source of food, ants leave a scent trail for other ants to follow, and this happens when an ant secretes a chemical called a pheromone.

10. Ants have been able to survive on the earth for more than 100 million years…not many other species have been able to adapt as well as the ant in order to survive as long.


All About Ants
Ant: Wikipedia Ants Ants 1 Ants Management Guidelines Enchanted Learning - Ants Gakken's Photo Encyclopedia of Ants
Interesting Facts About Ants
Let's Peep Into the Ant Kingdom
Pest World for Kids - Ants
Stranger Than Fiction - Ants Types of Ants Types of Ants 1 Wikipedia: Ants

Fast Facts Resources:

Wikipedia - Ants
Life Studies - All About Ants
Inteseting Facts About Ants

Tuesday, 13 February 2007 09:19 - Zoos

Tue, 13 Feb 2007 15:19:22 +0100

1. A zoo is a place where all types of animals are confined and displayed for the public to see.

2. Zoos give people an opportunity to observe animals they would never otherwise get the chance to see.

3. In many zoos the animals are also studied and bred. There are hundreds of zoos all over the world, but the first zoo was called the Ménagerie du Jardin des Plantes. It was founded in Paris in 1794.

4. London founded the Zoological Society of London in 1828, and the name was abbreviated to "zoo."

5. The first zoo to open in the United States was in New York. The year was 1860, and it was called the Central Park Zoo.

6. Today, zoos are trying hard to keep animals in enclosures that replicate their natural habitat. The animals seem to do much better in this type of environment and the patrons seem to enjoy seeing the animals in a natural setting.

7. Many zoos also have a petting zoo where children are allowed a close-up look at animals, many of them babies.

8. Zoos create educational programs and tours in order to provide an educational opportunity for everyone.

9. Zoos throughout the world are trying to coordinate efforts to breed endangered species. The information they are learning about these animals will help zoologists preserve the species out in the wild.

10. Most major cities have zoos and many of them work together to care for, study and protect their animals.

Association of Zoos and Aquariums
Austin Zoo
Belize Zoo
Birmingham Zoo
Bronx Zoo
Brookfield Zoo
Buffalo Zoological Gardens
Cheyenne Zoo
Cincinnati Zoo
Cleveland Metroparks Zoo
Dallas Zoo
Denver Zoo
Dickerson Park Zoo
Honolulu Zoo
Indianapolis Zoo
Kruger National Park, South Africa
Milwaukee Zoo
Minnesota Zoo
Montana Zoo
Nashville Zoo
National Zoo
North Carolina Zoo

Oklahoma Zoo
Oakland Zoo
Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo
Philadelphia Zoo Online
Phoenix Zoo
Pittsburgh Zoo
Portland, Oregon Zoo
Reptile Zoo
Rotterdam Zoo
San Diego Zoo
San Francisco Zoo
Santa Barbara Zoo
Shanghai Zoo
Sierra Safari Zoo
St. Louis Zoo
Toledo Zoo
Toronto Zoo
Victoria's Three Great Zoos
Woodland Park Zoo
Zoo
Zoo Nebraska
Zoo in the USA

Fast Facts Resources:

Smithsonian National Zoological Park

USA Zoos

Association of Zoos and Aquariums

Tuesday, 13 February 2007 09:14 - Zebras

Tue, 13 Feb 2007 15:14:19 +0100

1. Zebras are animals that resemble the horse. They walk, trot, canter and gallop like horses, but do not move as quickly. Unlike the horse, zebras have not been domesticated and run wild.

2. They are odd-toed ungulates which means they have an odd number of toes on each hoof.

3. Their eyes are located on the side of their head, and they have excellent eyesight. Because zebras live in the wild, they need to be able to escape predators. Night vision helps them to see in the dark. Zebras also have great hearing and an excellent sense of taste and smell.

4. Three species of zebras live in Africa. The species are the Plains Zebra, which is the most common one, the Mountain Zebra, and the Grevy Zebra.

5. Zebras are a short, stocky animal that is generally about 8 feet long and stands between 4 and 5 feet at the shoulder. They can weigh up to 650 pounds.

6. The have black coats with white stripes and a short, coarse mane that stands straight up in the air. Their shiny coats help control the heat from the sun. The stripes on a zebra are very much like fingerprints. No two patterns are alike. Many zoologists believe that the stripes act as camouflage. The vertical stripes blend into the vertical grasses that grow in its habitat. Even though the strips are white on a black background, the zebras main predator, the lion, is color-blind and when standing in tall grass may not be seen.

7. Zebras live in social groups. The leader of the group is the stallion. The females that live in the group are called fillies. A female zebra can have her first foal by the age of three, and can give birth to a foal every twelve months. Foals are brown in color when they are born and are close to their mothers, but the male foal is also close to its father. The foals leave the group anytime from the time they reach 1 year old.

8. Zebras are Herbivores, which means they eat plants, grasses and roots. This makes them a very successful member of the grassland community.

9. Zebras sleep standing up like horses. They communicate by barking, snorting or whinnying. A zebra's ears communicate if it is feeling calm or tense. If its ears are standing straight up, it is feeling calm. When the zebra's ears are pushed forward, it is feeling tense or frightened.

10. Predators that threaten the zebra are lions and hyenas. Other large cats also hunt the zebra. When the zebra herd is threatened, they will form a circle with all their members facing out. They will kick and bite to defend themselves. The Grevy zebra is considered an endangered species. Zebras are mostly hunted for their skin, but they also struggle because much of the land where they graze has been taken over by farming.



All About Zebras
Animal Bytes: Zebra
AWF: Zebra
Enchanted Learning: Zebras
Etosha National Park: Zebras
Free Zebra Clipart
Grant's Zebra
Grevy's Zebra Herd's of Information About Zebras
National Geographic Trivia about Zebras
Oakland Zoo
Pictures of Zebras on Yahoo
Plains Zebra Zebra Photo Gallery Zebra Zebra 1 Zebra Facts
Zebra Facts 1
Zebra Habitat
Zebras
Zebras & Horses
Zebras of South Africa

Fast Fact Resources

Wikipedia
African Wildlife Foundation
San Diego Zoo
All About Zebras

Tuesday, 13 February 2007 09:07 - Wolves

Tue, 13 Feb 2007 15:07:28 +0100

1. The wolf is the largest member of the Canidae family. The coyote evolved from the wolf over 500,000 years ago. The Gray Wolf and the Red Wolf are the two types of wolves living in North America.

2. Wolves are social animals that live in packs. Packs can have as little as 2 members or as many as 30 members. The average pack size is 6 to 8. Pack Territories vary with location. In the Alaskan or Canadian Wilderness the territory for one pack ranges from 300 to 1,000 square miles while in the continental U.S. the territory is between 25 and 150 square miles.

3. The North American Wolf can weigh between 40 to 175 pounds. Their length varies between 4'6" and 6'6" from muzzle to tip of tail. The height of an average Wolf is between 26 and 32 inches at the shoulder.

4. Wolves have large feet, the average being 4 inches wide by 5 inches long. Wolves have 42 teeth and rounded ears. The wolf has extremely powerful jaws. Their fur color varies from pure white or pure black to tan or gray. The wolf has 2 types of hair, "Guards and "Undercoat". The hair of the wolf is shed in the spring and summer and sheds out in sheets unlike most dogs. The wolf's sense of smell is more than 100 times greater than a human.

5. In the wild, wolves live on the average of 6 to 8 years. In captivity, wolves can live much longer. One wolf lived to be 16 years old.

6. Wolves breed once a year and they have an average litter size is 4 to 6 cubs. The cubs weigh approximately one pound at birth and cannot see or hear. Mortality rates for wolf pups can be as high as 50%. All members of a wolf pack take part in caring for the young.

7. The wolf primarily travels at a 5 mile per hour trot. A wolf can go as fast as 35 miles per hour for a short distance.

8. Wolves are carnivores (meat-eater) that eat beaver, bison, elk, caribou, moose and deer. They also eat small rodents. The wolf does little chewing. They can eat twenty pounds of prey at a feeding. The wolf is an ultimate predator at the top of the food chain and is only threatened by people.

9. Wolves can communicate in many ways. They leave scent marks, make a variety of sounds, facial and body postures and rituals. Wolves communicate with each other more by making sounds and nuzzling.

10. Loss of habitat and being hunted by people are leading factors in the Wolves being on the “Endangered Species List”.

Alaska's Wildlife
Boomer Wolf Web Site
Dire Wolves
Environmental Education for Kids: Timber Wolves
Gray Wolf
Grey Wolf in Wisconsin
International Wolf
KidsPlanet: Defenders of Wildlife... Wolves
Kids: Rendezvous Site: Information on Wolves
National Geographic: Wolves
National Wildlife Federation: Wolves
NOVA Online: Wild Wolves: What's in a Howl?
Red Wolves of Alligator River
Wild Animal Watch: Wolves
Wolf
Wolf Conservation Center
Wolf Diet
Wolf Haven International
Wolf Park Kids!
Wolf Pictures
Wolf Printout
Wolf Shirts
Wolf Song of Alaska
Wolf Web
Wolves
Wolves 1
Wolves 2
Wolves: Guide to Literature
Wolves in North America
Wolves in the Upper Great Lakes
Wolves of the World
Wolves of Yellowstone
Wolves Ontario!
Writing Den

Fast Facts Resources:
Wikipedia
National Geographic: Wolves
International Wolf Center

Tuesday, 13 February 2007 08:58 - Whales

Tue, 13 Feb 2007 14:58:46 +0100

1. Whales are the largest animals that have ever lived on earth and are the largest animals that live in the ocean. Whales are even bigger than the largest dinosaur. It is believed that millions of years ago, whales probably walked upon land. Their back legs disappeared and their front legs became flippers. Blue whales can weigh over 150 tons and be over 100 feet in length. Humpback Whales are also big, weighing up to 45 tons. Flippers of the humpback whale can be as long as 15 feet.

2. Whales are mammals, so they feed milk to their babies and breathe air. Since whales are not fish they do not have gills, so they cannot breathe under water. They must come up to the surface of the water to get air. The air is breathed in and out through their “blowhole,” which is on their back.

3. Whales live in large groups called “herds.” A baby whale is called a “calf.”

4. Blue whales and killer whales can be found in every ocean around the world. Whales “migrate” further than any other animal. They eat during the summer month building up layers of blubber. When the water begins to cool, the whales begin their migration to warmer waters. They do not eat during their migration. All they do is swim and rest for short periods of time. Sometimes, when whales are migrating, they swim very close to the shore and can be seen “blowing” and jumping out of the water. This jumping is called “breaching.

5. When whales sleep, they stay at the top of the water, with their blowhole above the surface. Sometimes, a whale will swim up to the surface of the water and quickly blow air out of their blowhole, making a fountain of watery mist, called a “blow.”

6. There are two different kinds of whales, the baleen and the toothed whale. Baleen whales are also called “toothless” whales. Instead of teeth, they have plates made of baleen in their jaws. Baleen is a very hard and strong substance and can be compared with the same substance that makes up the horns on some animals. Baleen is also called “whalebone.” Sea water passes through the baleen and krill (a kind of plankton) gets caught. Whales can eat as much as two tons of krill a day. The fin, gray, humpback, blue, bowhead, Bryde’s, right, minke, blue, and sei are baleen whales. Humpback whales are baleen whales. Baleen whales have two nostrils, or blowholes. Killer whales and dolphins are both members of the toothed whale group . Toothed whales have teeth instead of baleen. These whales include the beluga or white, bottlenose, narwhal, pilot and sperm whales. Toothed whales eat fish and plants. They have one nostril, or blowhole.

7. Scientists have determined that killer whales can live a maximum of 35 years. They can tell the age of a whale by looking at a cross-section of a killer whale's tooth. Killer whales, like other marine mammals, produce a periodic growth layer on the teeth. By counting these layers, scientists can estimate the animal's age.

8. You can tell an adult male from an adult female by the shape of their dorsal fin. A male's fin is very tall (up to 6 feet tall) and triangular shaped. A female is shorter (3 feet) and curves back toward the dorsal fin.

9. Whales swim by moving their tails up and down and using their flippers, which also help them to turn. Some whales, such as the sei, can swim more than 30 miles per hour.

10. All whales are very noisy. They squeak, moan, groan, and sigh to talk to each other. These underwater sounds can travel great distances. The sounds they make are called “Whale Song.” Whale are the loudest animals in the world.

Aqua Facts: Baby Beluga
Amazing Whales
Beluga Whale
Beluga Whale 1
Blue Whales
Cetacea
Cool Antarctica: Whales
Defenders of Wildlife: Whale
Hawaii: Humpback WhaleMarine Sanctuary
Humpback Whale Pictures
Introduction to the Cetacea: Whales/Dolphins
Killer Whale Adoption Program
Killer Whales
Majestic Presence of the Whale
CNN: Whales stranded off Maine
Nature: Humpback Whales
Nature: Sperm Whales
Oceans Alive
Ocean Alliance
Ocean Link
PBS: Secrets of the Ocean Realm
Pictures of Whales
Pilot Whale
Save the Whales
Sea World: Baleen Whales
Sea World: Beluga Whales
Shedd Aquarium
Sperm Whale
Tales of Whales
Virtual Whales
Whale
Whale Club
Whale Link: Orca FM
Whale Songs
Whale Tales
Whale Watching World Wide
Whales: A Thematic Web Unit
Whales in Literature
Whales of Australia
Whales Online
Whales: National Wildlife Federation
Wild Whales
Zoom: Whales

Fast Facts Resources:

Wikipedia

Exploring the Deep

Enchanted Learning: Whales

Tuesday, 13 February 2007 08:50 - Turtles

Tue, 13 Feb 2007 14:50:27 +0100

1. A group of turtles is called a bale. Historically, turtles have been the symbols of patience and wisdom. In the Hawaiian the word “honu” means sea turtles and represents long life. Turtles have been alive for more than 200 million years. They have been alive longer than mammals, birds, crocodiles, snakes and lizards. The earliest turtles had teeth and they could not pull their heads into their shells, but other than that they were very similar to the turtles that are alive today. Some people believe that the turtles’ shell is what has allowed them to successfully survive for so long.

2. There are many species of turtles. Several species of turtles can live to be over a hundred years of age including the American Box Turtle. There was an adult Indian Ocean Giant Tortoise that when captured was estimated to be fifty years old. It then lived another 152 years in captivity. Age 80 is middle-aged for Galapagos tortoises.

3. North America contains a large variety of turtle species, but Europe contains only two species of turtle and three species of tortoise. Turtles will live in almost any climate warm enough to allow them to complete their breeding cycle. Turtles live on every continent except Antarctica. While most turtles do not like the cold well, the Blanding's turtle has been observed swimming under the ice in the Great Lakes region.

4. Turtles can range in size from the 4 inch Bog turtle to the 1,500 pound Leathery Turtles. Kemp’s Ridley is the smallest and rarest of all sea turtles and is an endangered species as is the leatherback turtle. The Hawksbill turtle has nearly been hunted into extinction because of it’s unique and beautiful shell.

5. The shell of the turtle is what makes it unique. The top domed part of a turtle's shell is called the carapase and the bottom underlying part is called the plastron. The shell of a turtle is made up of 60 different bones all connected together. These bony parts of the shell are covered with plates that make the shell stronger. The turtle’s shell also has nerve endings in it. If you touch the shell, a turtle can feel it. Turtles pull their heads and feet into their shells to protect themselves. Some Box turtles can eat so much that they no longer will fit into their shell. Hingeback and box turtles each have hinges on their shells that actually allow them to completely enter their shell by closing up the openings.

6. All turtles lay their eggs on land. When in the eggs, turtles take about 2 months to incubate and their sex is determined by the temperature. Under 29 degrees they become male, over 29 degrees they become female. Female turtles mate with several males in the ocean and store the sperm inside them, so a single nest may hold babies from different fathers. Only one out of one thousand sea turtles survive after hatching. Baby sea turtles circle their nest once after hatching before heading toward the ocean. Once a male sea turtle hatches and enters the ocean, it will probably not step on land again. A female turtle laying eggs will dig several empty nests to throw off predators trying to eat the eggs.

7. Most turtle species have five toes on each limb with a few exceptions including the American Box Turtle of the Carolina species that only has four toes, and in some cases, only three. Turtles have good eyesight and an excellent sense of smell. Hearing and their sense of touch are both good. Sea turtles excrete salt absorbed in sea water from their eyes, which is why they seem to cry. Many snapping turtles have been known for biting for no reason at all and not letting go.

8. There are differences between a turtle and tortoise. A turtle spends most of its time in water. Turtles have webbed feet for swimming. A tortoise is a land dweller. Its feet are not webbed. Turtles have flatter backs than tortoises. Terrapins are creatures fall in between. They spend time both on land and in water.

9. Some turtles can live for more than a year without food. Hawksbill turtles feast off sea sponges which are highly poisonous to most sea animals, but not to this turtle. A tortoise's diet consists mostly of shrubs and plants.

10. Some aquatic turtles can absorb oxygen through the skin on their neck allowing them to remain submerged underwater for extended periods of time and enabling them to hibernate underwater. The soft shelled turtle uses it's long tip nose and nostrils like a snorkel to breath under water. The green sea turtle can stay under water for over five hours without coming up for air. When in danger the green turtle can swim almost 20 miles an hour to escape. Some land turtles can actually out run a human on level ground. The desert tortoise is probably the slowest of all tortoises. It can only move 2 feet each minute.

All About Turtles Amphibians & Reptiles of Quebec: Turtles
Ask the Aquarium
Atlantic Hawkbill Sea Turtle Caribbean Conservation Desert Tortoise
Desert Tortoise Preserve Diving With Sea Turtles
Eastern Spiny Softshell Turtle
Endangered Species: Sea Turtles
Endangered Species: Green Sea Turtles
EuroTurtle For the Love of Turtles
Enchanted Learning: Turtles Galapagos Tortoise
Giant Galapagos Tortoise
Giant Tortoise
Green Turtle Help Endangered Animals: Ridley Turtles
How You Can Help the Sea Turtle
Kemp's Ridley Sea Turtle Kids' Questions About Turtles
Leatherback Sea Turtles
Leatherback Turtle
Loggerhead Turtle Marine Turtles
National Geographic: Turtles in Trouble
National Parks: Sea Turtles Nesting Sea Turtles
New York Times Learning Network
NOAA Websites: Sea Turtles

Nova Scotia Turtles
Ocean Link: Vancouver Aquarium
Painted Turtle Portraits of the Turtles of Honokowai
Raising Baby Turtles
Red-eared Slider
ScienceMaster: Sea Turtles on the Move
Sea Turtle
Sea Turtle Rescue and Rehabilitation Center
Sea Turtles
Sea Turtles 1
Sea Turtles Fact Sheet Sea World: Sea Turtles
Smooth Softshell Turtles
Snapping Turtles
Spotlight on the Leopard Tortoise
Texas Threatened & Endangered Reptiles & Amphibians
The Great Turtle Race Threats to Marine Turtles Track a Turtle Turtle Puddle
Turtle Tails
Turtle Threats Turtle Time Turtle Trax
Turtles
Turtles 1 Turtles and Turtle Care
Turtles Archive
Turtles as Pets Turtles of the World
World Almanac for Kids: Turtles and Tortoises

Fast Facts Resources:

Wikipedia

Turtle.net

All About Turtles

Tuesday, 13 February 2007 08:43 - Tigers

Tue, 13 Feb 2007 14:43:34 +0100

1. A Tiger is a powerful carnivore, a hunter with sharp teeth, strong jaws, and a very agile body.

2. Tigers do not live in Africa. They live in Asia. Tigers are an endangered species because their habitat is disappearing. It's closest relative is the lion.

3. Tigers can live to 20 years of age in zoos but only 15 years in the wild. Most wild tigers do not live that long. Only half of all cubs survive to independence from their mother at about two years of age. Only 40 percent of these survivors live to establish a territory and begin to produce young.

4. Tigers are great swimmers. The roar of a tiger can be heard over a mile away.

5. Tigers are the largest naturally occurring species of cat. Siberian tigers are the largest of the nine species. Tigers can weigh up to 800 pounds and measure 11 feet from head to tail.

6. Most tigers have more than 100 stripes. Their stripes are much like a fingerprint, because no two tigers are exactly alike. Their coat is also perfect for camouflage.

7. One averaged sized tiger can eat upto 60 pounds of meat at a single time. It is the largest land-living mammal whose diet consists mainly of meat... tigers require large areas with forest cover, water, and prey such as deer and swine. The tiger hunts alone, primarily between dusk and dawn, traveling six to 20 miles in a night in search of prey.

8. A tiger’s canine teeth can grow up to three inches long and are easily capable of crunching through the spine of any creature on Earth. Tigers are highly ferocious and unlike the laid back male lion, it's never wise to turn your back to a tiger even in captivity.

9. A tiger’s saliva is antiseptic, and comes handy when a tiger cleans its wounds.

10. Tigers are largely solitary cats and are most active between dusk and dawn, except for a mother and her cubs, tigers live and hunt alone. Male and female meet only briefly to mate. After a gestation of 100 to 112 days, two to three blind and helpless cubs are born. Cubs weigh just over two pounds at birth and nurse until they are six months old. During the next 18 months, they gradually become independent, and at about two years of age strike out alone to find their own territory. Females may establish a territory adjacent to that of their mother, or even take over part of their mother's territory. Adult females generally produce a litter every two years.