%%USERNAME%%    %%ACCWORDS%% %%ONOFF%% |
 |
Written as an unique A-B-C book. I plan is to do a coloring contest for illustratrations. |
| To the reader: This book is dedicated to students everywhere in honor of The Almighty, Creator of all things and all life. It is meant to give children of all ages a TINY peek at how great a variety of creatures that were created and given to us. Each one of us, in the same way, is uniquely and wonderfully made, just like each one of these creations. This book was created as an unique A - Z book of amazing critters, not the same old simple ABC book for beginning readers. Having searched to find a variety of interesting and exciting facts about each entry, with intent to make it fun to enjoy discovering while you read or hear these pages read aloud. It is my hope that children of any age will also gain a lifelong love of reading and a foundation for a lifetime love of learning. When you see this mark (*) then you know the word before it is in this book’s content dictionary. To Teachers: Included to assist in meeting educational standards are Geographical facts and maps Content weights and measurements Content dictionary and pronunciation guides As well as fun information and animal facts to assist your instruction to align with standards based education. This is a written as a low to medium level, high interest text. Legend kmh = kilometers per hour mph = miles per hour m = meter ” = inches ’ = feet - ft g = grams cm = centimeters mm = millimeter oz = ounce Content Dictionary A.K.A. - the abbreviation or acronym* for Also Known As (like a nickname) Acre - (a׳-ker) a unit of area used to measure land in the United States Acronym - (ăk׳-rә-nim) a symbol or word formed by using the 1st letters of a group of words: such as United States of America - USA or U.S.A. Adopted - (ә-dopt׳-ed) chosen to live with and be cared for by someone Agility - (ә-jil׳-ә-tē) able to move quickly and freely- like a gymnast is agile Algae - (al׳-jē) a type of plant that lives in water and no true roots, leaves or stems Annually - (an׳-yōō-әl-lē) happening once per year Aquatic – (ă-kwă′-tĭk) creatures that live in the water Aracnid (ә-rak׳-nid) spiders & other critters having 2 body segments and 4 pairs of legs Arthropod- (är׳-thrә-pŏd) insects having a segmented body & four pairs of legs Baleen - (bә-lēn׳) cartilaginous (cartilage not bone) teeth-like plates Blow - (blō) exhaled stream of air and water Bog - (bŏg) soft, waterlogged ground, swamp Breaching - (brēch׳-ing) leaping completely out of the water Camouflaged – (kăm׳-ə-flăj) to be hidden from enemies, disguised Carnivorous - (kär-niv׳-әr-әs) meat-eating Coarse - (kōrs) wiry like, wiry hair Copepods - (kō׳-pә-podz) any small oar-footed crustaceans Crest - (krest) top of the head Crustacean – (krә-stā-shŭn) having a skeleton or shell on the outside of the body Dubbed - (dŭbd) given a new name Ecosystems - (ĕk′-ō-sĭs-tәm) physical environment considered to be a unit - supporting parts of a whole Enacted - (ĕn-ăkt׳-әd) put into effect, begun Enormous - (ē-nộr׳-mәs) very big, huge Exploiting – (ĕks׳-ploit-ĭng) using another for selfish purposes Extensile - (ĕx-stĕn׳-sil) able to be stretched out Forage - (for׳-ij) to search for food Hemoglobin - (hē׳-mә-glō'-bәn) red blood cells Herbivore / Herbivorous - (hûr-biv׳-әr-әs) plant eating Incubated - (ǐn׳-kyә-bāt-әd) use body heat to keep eggs warm until they hatch Injustice - (ǐn-jus׳-tis) not fair Insectivorous - (ĭn-sĕk-tĭv′- әr әs) organisms that feed on insects Intricate – (ĭn׳-trĭ-kĭt) having many complex parts, steps or elements Iridescent - (ǐr-ә-dәs׳-әnt) brightly colored Mandible - (măn׳-dә-bәl) jaw or lower beak Membrane - (mәm׳-brān) a thin layer of tissue covering surfaces or separating organs of an animal or plant Nocturnal - (nŏk-tûr׳-nәl) sleeps in the daylight Omnivorous - (ŏm-nǐv-әr-әs) eats plants and animals Pale – (pāle) light color Parthenogenic - (pär-thә-nō-jĕn׳-ik) being both male and female - unisexual Photophores - (fō-tō-förz) an organ producing light made from a certain bacteria Pigment - (pĭg׳-mәnt) any substance used for coloring Plumage - (plōō-mĭj) having feathers Prehensile - (prĭ-hәn׳-sĭl) used for grabbing or seizing, to wrap around objects Projections - (prә-jĕk׳-shәns) something that thrusts outward Reprieve - (rē-prēēv׳) a break or rest Retracts – (rē-trăkts) to pull back or inside Rituals - (rĭch׳ – ōō -әl) prescribed, detailed order of ceremony or acts performed regularly and faithfully Sargasso - (sär-gas׳-ō) a certain species of marine algae or seaweed Savoring - (sā׳-vәr-ing) enjoying, making it last Segmented - (sĕg׳-mәnt-әd) having divided parts of a whole Shrill – (shrĭl ) making a sharp, high pitched tone Silica - (sĭl׳ĭ-kә) a white or colorless crystalline compound found in the soil or rocks Stowaway- (stō׳-ә-wā) one who hides aboard a ship to gain free passage Streamlined - (strēm׳-līnd) a body made to resist being slowed down Talons - (tăl׳-әns) like claws Temperament - (tĕm׳-prә-mәnt) manner of thinking, behaving or reacting Terrestrial – (tәr-rĕs′-tre-ăl) creatures that live on land Tolerating - (tǒl׳-ә-rāt-ĭng) to put up with something you don’t like Transparent - (trăns-pár׳-әnt) like clear glass Tubular - (tōō׳-byә-lәr) like a tube- round with a hole in the center Venomous - (vĕn׳- ә-mәs) poisonous Whimpering - (hwĭm׳-pәr-ĭng) crying, whining Withers - (wĭth׳-erz) the high part of the back, located between the front shoulder blades Xanthophyll - (zăn׳-thә-fĭl) brown algae (al-jee) – see above Table of Contents Aardvark Bearded Dragon Cicada Daddy Long Legs Eagle Fin Whale Gecko Hummingbird Ice Fish Jaguar Kakapo Lantern fish Marmot Nurse Shark Okapi Panda Quarterhorse Red-legged Booby Sage Grouse Tailor bird Underwings Venus Fly Trap Woodpecker Xanthophyll You Zephyr Lilly Unique and Wonderful A---------Aardvark My name means ‘earth pig’ Please don’t confuse me with an anteater I truly am a mammal but have very little hair The little bit I do have is a dull brownish grey to a pink color I measure between four and six feet long And stand about 24” tall, weighing between 85-145 lbs I have a long pointy nose at the end of a short neck connected to a big humped-back I eat termites and other bugs called grubs with my 12 inch sticky tongue YUM, YUM I have no front teeth & my back teeth keep growing my whole life My long tubular* ears fold and close which allows me to poke my head into small holes looking for food I don’t like mud pies in my ears, DO YOU? My long, thick, spoon shaped claws make digging easy and fast I can not see very well but my senses of hearing and smell make up for that My hind legs have five claws each and are shorter than my front legs which, have only four claws each Being nocturnal* keeps me awake at night Since my tail drags I am not very hard to track In captivity, I only live about 23 years A few years less than when I’m free in my homeland of Africa Lions, leopards and even people have killed and eaten me for dinner You might not say YUM, YUM to that either! B----- Bearded Dragon I am naturally a native of Australia And come in colors of gray, brown or orange Adopted* into a human habitat not my own I look small and harmless But beware, my weapons are hidden Pet me toward my tail and you’re safe Toward my head and you are poked by my spines or scales I’m a bearded dragon, dubbed* Flapjack In my man-made kingdom I allow two dogs and two cats We’ve reached a peace treaty (Barely tolerating* each other actually) But then…a new dog invaded my space He answered to the name of “Lucky” Though my skin changes color in self-defense Lucky was on to my disguise in an instant I was minding my own business I tell you, when… Lucky decided a closer look was in order and Trotted over to check me out He sniffed… wondering I think if I would be tasty Maybe Lucky just wanted to play but I wanted no part of it Instinctively I transformed into a dagger, stiff and rigid Then I offered a scent mere humans can not smell Lucky’s nose wrinkled up and he quickly retreated, tail tucked Whimpering* like I had hurt him…the poor thing Lucky slinked away fast and kept his distance I too, quickly scampered the opposite direction We each decided we’d keep an eye on the other From opposite corners, our stares split the air If a move was made we both were keenly aware As we were savoring a few moments reprieve That human thought it funny to place me on that sleeping dog’s back I’ll simply ignore that injustice The new treaty enacted that day kept my kingdom intact Peace and tolerance were restored on the home-front That is; Until, the next critter comes along trying to take over my kingdom. C----------Cicada A Whole Lot of Bugs Cicada I am About a million per acre* Which, is about as big as your city block Cicada I am Hidden underground I live Munching on tree roots all day and night I stay hidden until my seventeenth birthday Then I crawl out and sprout wings To find a mate Cicada I am Whose idea was this? There must be a secret reason for this strange behavior Humans may never know why I was created this way I only get to fly and mate for a week or two before I die Just digging and eating the rest of my life away underground Humans don’t give me a thought until I come out singing Cicada I am Although, some call us locusts and Some legends say that we eat children… DO NOT believe everything you hear! We don’t even bite humans, they probably taste nasty! No telling how many plants we may gobble up though We are only about 3.8 cm long (2 inches) And can be found in any part of the world’s warmer climates You’ll hear us singing in the late summer trees in the USA at least D----------Daddy long-legs Some have named me Harvestman And may be found in many warmer climates Some people think I am a spider but I am an arthropod* or arachnid* Which means, I have a horny segmented* body and jointed legs My long legs make me seem much larger than I am With my eight long jointed legs Even though it is said we’re very poisonous You have NO need to worry I do not bite people like spiders can Our mouths are too small to bite through human skin If you disturb me I give off a bad odor instead P.U. I like to eat small or dead insects and fallen fruit Some of my relatives live in the tropical regions There they all make their home in one bush and can cause the bush to shake violently whenever you disturb them … don’t be fooled, it is NOT the wind! That would sure scare me away, wouldn’t it you also? E------------Eagle (bald) An Eagle is the national bird of the United States and symbolizes North America’s freedom They live all over North America It is not uncommon for some female species to be larger than the males, As is true about the female bald eagle, she is 35” to 37” long Her wingspan varies from 79 to 90 inches across While the male bald eagle has a body length between 30” to 34” With a wingspan ranging from 72 to 85 inches Northern birds are quite a bit larger than their southern relatives An average lifespan is probably about fifteen to twenty years However, one captive eagle at West Stephentown, NY lived to be at least 48 years old Mated Bald eagles remain together until one dies. No divorces here! Bald eagles weigh from ten to fourteen pounds Their skeleton weighs about half a pound But their feathers weigh twice that much! Their body temperature is about 102 degrees Fahrenheit These guys have long, sharp talons* One on the back of each leg and sharp beaks helping them eat their food Which may be a cute little bunny rabbit but, we all have to eat something, right? Besides, it helps keep the bunnies from over-populating the world! F----Fin Whale We are an enormous* sleek-bodied, and streamlined* whale The second largest animal on earth Our closest relative, the blue whale, is the largest. We’re named for our dorsal fin, which is approximately 60 cm high (about 2’) We will grow to a length of 18 to 25 meters (59 to 82 ft) and weigh 30 to 80 tons, that’s heavier and longer than your biggest trucks Newborn calves are quite large also, weighing more than 2 tons and are up to 6m (20 ft) in length We travel in schools of up to 100 whales Traveling the world over, we are most common in the southern hemisphere We don’t like to swim in ice water! Do you? Our favorite meal is tiny, shrimp like crustaceans called krill Don’t you think it’s funny that one of the largest feeds on one of the smallest! Like other baleen* whales, we also eat squid and a variety of fish including anchovies and herring Because of our streamlined* shape, we are fast swimmers, reaching speeds of over 30 kmh (19 mph) Like most whales, fin whales have dark gray or brownish black backs and white bellies The right side of our head, jaws, and baleen is white and the left side of our head is slate black Maybe it’s that way to trick other fish to think we are swimming sideways. The fin whale’s blow* is tall and narrow Shooting about 4 to 6 m (13 to 20 ft) high; (about the 2nd floor of a building) How’s that for “blowing your top?” We get our exercise by wrestling with each other, by slapping the water vigorously with our large tails and by breaching* These activities build strength and agility* but also prepare us for self-defense G----------Gecko, I’m a member of a family of small, harmless lizards You can find me mainly in tropical regions Certain species of my family make a loud clicking noise that sounds like saying “gecko” That’s how we got our name We are the only lizards that make any sound other than hissing Geckos are often seen at night running upside down on the ceilings of homes Some geckos can cling to smooth surfaces because each toe has a disk made of scales with many tiny brush-like projections,* which create friction with the surface Some of us have sticky feet and can hang by only one foot It’s amazing that we don’t track in dirt...Moms like that! Geckos vary in body length from 1.5 - 25 cm (1½ - 10 inches) We often have broad, flattened heads and thick, stumpy tails Most species have immoveable eyelids with a transparent membrane* covering them which are kept clean by a thick, sticky tongue Most geckos feed at night on insects and are attracted to common household pests Maybe that’s why in some places we are believed to bring “good luck” Females usually lay two white, hard-shelled eggs Most geckos are tan, brown, or grayish Except for the day geckos of Madagascar and other parts of Africa those relatives are bright green with spots of orange or yellow The tree geckos of New Zealand are green or yellowish with pale* markings Geckos are not venomous,* although, in some regions they are feared as poisonous The banded gecko is the most widespread North American species The Eurasian Mediterranean gecko is known to be a stow-away* on ships and trucks The Tokay of Southeast Asia is a large gecko with three different loud calls This species is often sold as a pet even though they have an unpleasant temperament* and are capable of delivering a severe bite There are over 900 species worldwide Some are parthenogenic* H----------Hummingbirds There are over 300 species of hummers living in the Americas Our smallest cousin is the bee hummer of Cuba Most of us are about 8 cm (3”) tall and weigh less than 2 grams (less than 1 oz) We can fly in any direction, up, down, sideways, even backward without turning around We’re the only bird able to do these tricks! We’re able to fly very fast but can stop suddenly and land as light as a small feather Our tiny feet are used only for perching, we don’t even push off to fly If one of us hummers wants to travel even two inches, we must fly Ruby-throats are notable for their long-distance migration, Annually flying non-stop across the Gulf of Mexico, a minimum distance of 800 km (500 mi) Because we migrate very long distances, we’ve been known to hitch a ride on larger birds The ruby-throat is the only hummer found east of the Mississippi River Our heartbeats and breathing rates are fast, and our body temperatures are high You’ll never see a fat hummer even though we must eat every 10 minutes, all day long, on a diet of sugar we get from the nectar of flowers and tree sap To build strong muscles we get protein from tiny insects and pollen We have beaks like tiny straws where our tongues take up nectar at about 13 licks per second Males are slightly smaller than females, being about 5.5 cm (about 2.17 in”) long and weighing only 1.95 g (about 0.07 oz) We male hummers are very serious about guarding our territory Our brightly colored and iridescent feathers make us proud Most of us have metallic green plumage The male’s throat is often glittering red, blue, or emerald green We tend to build small cup-shaped nests covered with lichens and spider webs Two white eggs are laid, and incubated* only by the female I------------Icefish, These guys live only in the Antarctic Ocean. They have no hemoglobin*, which makes their blood transparent They look pale and have large hearts that hearts weigh as much as the heart of a small mammal Don’t confuse us with noddlefish, (that is not noodle like macaroni - it’s like a nod) Which are also called Icefish, and found in warmer Asian waters Icefish produce natural antifreeze in order to survive in that freezing water Scientists are studying their blood to treat human blood disorders Whalers came to call them crocodile fish because of their large toothy mouths They feed on krill, copepods* and other fish. They are still quite a mystery to scientists and they like it that way J------------Jaguar We’re talking-the animal, not the car, we are the largest and most powerful member of the American cat family. We big cats are found mostly in the dense forests of Central America and Brazil We’re also found in the southern United States and all the way to northern Argentina in South America A full grown jaguar is about 112 to 185 cm long (44 to 73 in) See, we have big, bigger and biggest just like humans If you include the tail, we add 45 to 75 cm in length (18 to 30 in) Standing we are about 60 cm high at the shoulder (2 ft) You will know us by our coats which are a rich yellow to rusty-red A few of us are black, with black spots, each consisting of a circle of spots surrounding a central spot. We have a very large head and body But our legs are fairly short and thick which makes us skilled climbers We’re probably the only cats that like water and are excellent swimmers We’re not picky eaters either, most any bird, or terrestrial,* or aquatic* animal will do You may fear us but we rarely attack humans…you don’t taste that good! In the pre-Columbian civilizations of Peru and Central America, we were worshiped as gods Many jaguars will mate in any season. The gestation period is only 93 to 105 days, The Mom gives birth to one to four cubs, (not kittens) Cubs remain with the mother only until about the age of two. Jaguars have been known to live up to 22 years in captivity. K--------Kakapo I am a rare, flightless parrot From the North and South islands of New Zealand And considered endangered Kakapos are nocturnal so I am also known as the owl parrot I am about 50 cm long (about 20 in) I’m the heaviest parrot, weighing in at 8 pounds (3.5 kilograms) My plumage is dull green with bars of dark brown and streaks of yellow My wings are useful only for gliding or for balance while running A kakapo lives on the ground hiding in holes under rocks or tree roots during the day and comes out at night to forage* I feed on leaves, fruits, and seeds Not your typical bird! I mean I can’t even fly! They classify me as a bird mainly because of my feathers & wings. You’ve probably wished you could fly But, it’s not meant for just everyone, ya know! L ------ Lanternfish We are Lanternfish, & yes, we are like an underwater light any of over 200 different deep-sea fishes with light-producing organs on our head or body. which give off green, yellow, or red light, scientists call these photophores*) some have headlights, others taillights or ground lights but each species is unique. Lanternfish are found in all oceans from the Arctic to the Antarctic. We usually live in the middle ocean depths between 300 and 1200 m (1000 to 4000 ft). Some of our cousins like to migrate toward the surface nightly, and return to the darkness below at daybreak Most of us Lanternfish are small and measure 6.5 to 10 cm (2.5 to 4 in) in length. We have large eyes, but we’re not like most deep-sea fishes because We are attractively colored, maybe gray, brown, silvery white, or even bluish including many who wear iridescent* colors. We Lanternfish feed on small prawns and other crustaceans* But we, ourselves, serve as an important food source for larger fish also M-------Marmot I am a Marmot, considered to be a rodent though I believe, I’m of the “Mickey Mouse” genealogy! Not of the filthy dumpster diver families You will find me in North America, Europe, and Asia My snout is blunt, my ears short, with a short, bushy tail But I’m very quick on my short legs The cry of the marmot is a shrill* whistle. My fur is quite coarse* I make my home underground in burrows Preferring to hibernate during the winter My sleep time varies with the severity of the climate Marmots are herbivorous* and will eat your garden if given the chance European marmots are found in the high peaks of the Pyrenees and Alps Mountains The marmot of Eastern Europe and Asia is called a Bobac Eastern North American marmots are called woodchucks or groundhogs Have you heard our popular tongue twister? It goes like this; “How much wood could a woodchuck chuck, if a woodchuck could chuck wood?” Say that fast ten times! I’m gray or brown, with a tan-ish color stomach And grow to be about 0.6 m (2 ft) in length, with a bushy tail up to 0.25 m (0.82 ft) long. A cousin found in Northwestern North America is called; The Whistler, or Hoary Marmot, they are larger and white and gray in color Another of our cousins found from southwestern Canada to New Mexico Is called a Yellow-bellied Marmot which does not mean that he is a coward He simply has a yellow tummy N-------Nurse Shark We are also called the Cookie-cutter shark One of nearly 375 species of sharks identified by scientists living today We range in size from the dwarf dogfish, less than 20 cm (8 in) in length to the massive whale shark which can reach lengths of more than 15 m (50 ft). No matter where we live sharks play an extremely important role in our ecosystems* Sharks regulate ecosystem populations by hunting and killing other animals especially the weak or diseased When hunting or feeding almost one-third of our brain is devoted to the sense of smell Cookie-cutter sharks leave chunky round holes in our prey, which usually survive, about like you do when you fall & scrape a knee Using special lips modified for sucking and a movable tongue that retracts* to form a suction we attach to the side of our prey then presses our sharp teeth into their flesh then use a twisting motion to cut and remove a round plug of flesh We may be small but Nurse sharks pack a mean bite! And prey on large animals like whales, dolphins, tuna and sharks It is said that we have even bitten into submarines! We act like vacuum cleaners, sucking up bottom-dwelling fish Like shrimp, squid, octopus, and shellfish from holes and crevices If you’re like me, I wonder why we have the name “nurse.” O-------Okapi I am a forest giraffe, a member of the giraffe family Mistakenly, I was once thought to be a relative of horses or donkeys Then my cloven hooves gave me away! (cloven means two-toed) I am found mainly in the hard to reach rain forests of western Uganda I lived a very private, secluded life until discovered in 1901 AD. Humans like to be nosey I think! I am said to be the latest mammal found, and considered rare, but not enough is known yet about us to classify us as threatened or endangered My short, stout body ranges from 150 to 170 cm (5 to 5.5 ft) high at the shoulders And I’m 200 to 213 cm (6.5 to 7 ft) in length My cute tail is 30 to 42 cm (12 to 17 in) long and ends in a tuft Weighing in at 200 to 250 kg (460 to 550 lb) Male Okapis have two small, skin-covered bony knobs on the forehead My long, flexible blue-black prehensile* tongue is used to rip leaves from branches We’re the only mammal able to clean our ears with our tongues! (EWWW GROSS…don’t you try that at home) I have large, dark eyes and large, wide ears My short, soft hair is reddish brown to black I like my large, white stripes on my back legs and flanks,* similar to a zebra. Visually blending into my surroundings, I’m difficult to spot. I feed during the day, usually just before dawn and after sunset Each male generally inhabits a territory of about 6 sq km (about 2.3 sq mi) We usually live alone, except when mating After mating, the female lives in isolation until she gives birth to one calf 14 to 15 months later. P------- Panda (Giant) A common name for an uncommon bear Once thought to be a raccoon relative, but is all bear We are found in areas of western China. We resemble other bears in general appearance Except for the black patches over our eyes, ears, and legs and a black band across the shoulders, all other bears are one color We sound more like a sheep rather than a roar like other bears Females weigh about 80 kg (about 180 lb), and males weigh about 100 kg (about 220 lb). Our young are born three to six months later weighing only 85 to 140 g (3 to 5 oz). Two cubs may be born, but only one survives. The rumor about us having a so-called sixth front toe is not true, it is not a digit or claw but an enlarged wrist bone which is used as a thumb for grasping food We live in bamboo forests at high elevations and eat mainly bamboo This can be a problem because many bamboo species flower at the same time then die shortly afterward, this sometimes leads to starvation When that happens, we may feed on gardens, crops, and even chickens But, we are little threat to people except in close encounters. We do not hibernate like other bears either But do take my winter shelter in dens or hollow trees Young pandas are in danger of survival and cry loudly for help requiring great care from their mother to avoid extinction Q-------Quarterhorse The name does not mean that we are one forth of a horse! A Quarter Horse is a breed of riding and sprint-racing horses The first all-American breed, the mount of a cowboy We usually stand about 142 to 163 cm (about 56” to 64") Real cowboys measure us by how many hands high we are at the whithers* (usually 14 to 16 hands-fingers pointing toward the wall, palm away from you) Cowboys needed a big strong horse! Our backs are short and straight, our chests are wide and deep and our shoulders long and muscular A long, flexible neck supports our short, broad heads We have a wide forehead, large, alert eyes, and ears set wide apart The quarter horse comes in almost any color. But, if you want to have a registered Quarter horse, No white markings are allowed above the knees, except on the face Human settlers in17th-century Virginia imported stock from which the English Thoroughbred descended They bred those horses with the Chickasaw pony descendants from wild Spanish horses The result was the useful quarter horse for farm work, logging, light harness work and racing We take our name from the length of the first racetracks on the American frontier which were a quarter-mile long and straight. Because of our quick start and speed, we soon became popular for working cattle The quarter horse often is used as a pack animal for camping and hunting trips in mountain country of the American Wild West. It also is used as a mount for calf-roping and bulldogging at rodeos, barrel racing, parades, and recreational riding. R-------Red-legged Booby Stop laughing at my name! That’s enough already! Sailors chose my name, I didn’t! Sailors called us boobies because we liked to land on ships and allowed ourselves to be easily caught My legs are red and my feet are webbed like a duck’s feet I am large seabird and live on tropical islands around the world. Many of us are about 28” long (71 cm) We nest in large colonies near the ocean’s shore and raise only 1 or 2 chicks per season Our survival is threatened because you humans are exploiting* anchovies, our favorite food source S------- Sage Grouse Grouse is just another word for a large plump bird we are about 26” - 30” in length We are most famous for our intricate* courtship dance rituals* A certain traditional area (like a stage) is commonly used for generations The males strut around puffing out air sacs in their white chests, Fan their long, pointed tails out with wings spread out and heads held high Flashing bright yellow patches of plumage over their eyes Then we run around trying to win the females’ attention That may sound a bit like teenagers’ activities, right? Humans seem to think it’s quite comical to watch our mating dance! After mating, the females incubate* the 6-9 olive-green eggs for 25 – 27 days Then teaches the hatchlings what & how to eat, and how to avoid enemies Sage, our main food during winter, is abundant on the high plains of Western North America, where we call home Our digestive system doesn’t like hard seeds, but we may eat insects Our habitat has become threatened by farmland clearing and overgrazing So PLEASE, HELP PROTECT US T-------Tailorbird I guess I got my name because of my nest building skills Using my needlelike bill I weave leaves together and pull the leaves to form a cuplike pocket for a nest Then I line the nest with grass or other soft items My wife lays 3 to six eggs in my creation Living in the forest undergrowth throughout southeastern Asia and Africa provides a comfortable home There are many species of warblers but, I may be the only bird with sewing skills I’m fairly small and grow to about 13 cm (about 5 in) in length You can’t really see physical differences between the males and females Both are slender and have long, thin, pointed bills Our soft, thick plumage is green or dull gray on the back, and whitish or yellow on the underside We eat mostly small insects which are in abundant supply. I’ve never heard of a bug shortage, have you? U-------Underwing Moth Big ones, brown ones, gray ones, small ones Some as big as your head! Our colors only show in flight because our underwings are hidden by our front wings. When in flight we show bold patterns in orange, yellow, red, or white Underwing is a common name for over 200 species of uncommon moths, mostly found in the eastern United States All moths start their life cycle as a hairy, worm-like larva called a caterpillar... But you probably knew that already! The caterpillar eats at night and rests during the day, We are well camouflaged* against the twigs or bark on which we rest When our growth is complete, after about one month, we emerge as an adult moth. We try to rest on trees that match our natural color Our brightly colored underwings serve as protection When disturbed, the sudden brilliant flash of color may startle or confuse the predator, Just long enough for an extra moment to escape The bright hind wing colors may also deflect an attack away from the moth’s body, resulting in wing damage but not death. During the summer, the female deposits her hardy eggs into crevices where they’ll wait to hatch the following spring. V-------Venus Flytrap We are a native plant of North and South Carolina, in the USA We feed mostly on insects and other small animals. We’re found in or near bogs*, and grow to a height of about 30 cm (about 12 in). Our flowers are small and white. The lower portion of our leaves is like a blade. The outer edge of each leaf is modified to form a trap. Each leaf is divided into two halves, wearing long, sharp spines. The center of the leaf wears trigger hairs to spring the trap! When insects or other small creatures attracted by the sweet fluids on my leaves touch the center of the leaves, it activates the trigger hairs. That causes the leaf to snap shut around my trapped prey! Dinner’s ready! After digestion by glands within the leaf, the leaf reopens, ready for seconds! Insectivorous/Carnivorous plants live all over the world, but, because of people's fascination, they’ve collected too many of us, so, now we’ve become endangered and are grown in greenhouses for protection. W------- Woodpecker I am called that because I was created to do just such a silly job. Peck wood! My job is to tap my beak against trees all day There is a good reason for it though - I keep the bug and insect populations down! My long, extensile* tongue with a hard, spear-shaped tip. allows me to eat the tree sap for dessert! It’s a nasty job eating bugs...but, somebody has to do it! Don’t you try tapping your nose on a tree all day! I am able to cling to the trunks of trees by using my toes, with long sharp claws, and my tail feathers also help balance me! Woodpeckers are found in many parts of the world except Australia and are part of a family of over 200 species of birds I’m sometimes called a Flicker or Sapsucker. I come in sizes from about 45 cm to about 53 cm long. I am usually black, with a red crest,* a white line down my long neck, with a white flash in the wings. The most familiar woodpecker is a small, black-and-white species, called the Downy Woodpecker which lives in much of North America and Eurasia X--------Xanthophyll My name seems a bit tricky to pronounce so here is a clue It sounds like zan - tho- fill …I know, I know, I also wondered why an “x” sounds like “z” and “ph” like “f” when it’s so simple to say. I am one of about 10,000 species of these mostly single-celled algae* We live in freshwater or marine water, (A.K.A. ocean water) all over the world. Xanthophyll is the algae with yellowish brown pigment, or color which masks the green of the chlorophyll* that is also present Brown algae are mainly marine algae and known as seaweeds or kelp Like the free-floating Sargasso* weed. There are about 1500 species of this type of algae known to humans Most xanthophylls have cell walls containing silica* or calcium. You may be surprised to learn that these seaweeds are harvested to become an ingredient in ice cream, some daily vitamin pills or iodine. It’s really healthy for you to eat too - the seaweed not the ice cream silly! Ice cream is just for fun…and to taste good with birthday cake! Y-------You YOU, each one of YOU Are made so perfectly and wonderfully That every hair on your head is numbered and Every freckle on your body, every wrinkle, every cell All are measured and counted by God He wanted YOU to be just as YOU are From the color of your eyes and hair To the size of your toes and nose He chose YOU for your parents and family To have the brothers and sisters you have OR to have none of them! Be happy with what IS Because there will always be some Who wish they had what YOU have! Believe me now or when you have grown This fact is so true…just you wait and see! If YOU believe that Jesus is Lord and savior He even has a special name just for YOU in heaven It matters not; what other name people may call YOU. Because YOU will receive a name that NO ONE ELSE has ever had! That is how unique and wonderful each of YOU truly is. Z-------Zephyr Lily I know, you were thinking we would have to do zebra, right? It was quite a job to find a different “z” word, but not impossible! A Zephyr Lily is one member of a common family of flowers You may have seen them in yards or parks These plants look like large, long blades of grass, Except during their blooming season When you will see tall stems of flowers scattered throughout the tall grass-like blades. Some lilies bloom in spring, others in late summer or fall Many are bright yellow or orange and shaped like certain ice cream cones. Most species live from the U.S Gulf Coastal Plain to southern Argentina. In warm climates they can be grown outdoors Easter Lilies are one example which are harvested in the wild in the southern United States. You’ve likely seen the bright white blooms in the springtime near Easter One Zephyr Lily, called the Atamasco Lily, grows wild as far north as Pennsylvania. It produces grass-like leaves up to 30 cm (12 in) long. Its delicate flowers are white or sometimes pink marked with purple veins making a beautiful potted plant. Just for Fun Names for Animal Young Bear Cub Beaver Pup, kit, kitten Bird Nestling Bobcat Kitten, cub Buffalo Calf, yearling, spike-bull Camel Calf, colt Canary Chick Cat Kitten Cattle Calf Chicken Chick chimpanzee Infant Cod Coling, scrod Condor Chick Deer Fawn Dinosaur Hatchling Dog Pup, puppy, whelp Duck Duckling Eel Elver Eagle Hatchling Elephant Calf Fish Fry Frog Polliwog, tadpole Giraffe Calf Goat Kid Goose Gosling Guinea foul Keet Hawk Eyas Horse Foal, yearling, colt (male), filly (female) Kangaroo Joey Lion Cub Louse Nit Owl Owlet partridge Cheeper, chick penguin Fledgling, chick Pig Soat, piglet rabbit Bunny, kitten rhinoceros Calf seal Pup, whelp, cub Sea lion Pup Shark Cub sheep Lamb, lambkin squirrel Pup Swan Cygnet tiger Cub, whelp turkey Poult, Chick, turtle Chicken walrus Calf whale Calf wolf Whelp, Cub, pup zebra Colt, foal Bibliography http://encartareg.msn.com/registration/oemonline/oemstart.aspx?lang=a&brand=hol&... http://www.abcteach.com/abclists/animalbabies.htm |
View Portfolio
Visit Notebook
Send Gift Points
Awards
Badges
Send Email
Community Newsfeed
General Discussion
Sponsored Items
Book of Trinkets
Static Items
Books
Groups
Interactive Stories
Audio
Campfire Creatives
Community Notes
Crossword Puzzles
Documents
Folders
Images
In & Outs
Madlibs
Photo Albums
Polls
Product Reviews
Quizzes
Survey Forms
Web Pages
Word Searches
