Sea Animals - Interesting Facts

Hello Everybody, today I am going to talk about sea animals, Some of them are Sea Horses, whales, and jelly Fishes

SEA HORSES

 Seahorse is the name given to marine fishes. They are also called -  "Hippocampus" comes from the Ancient Greek hippos meaning "horse" and kampos meaning "sea monster".

Seahorses are fish. They live in water, breath through gills.

However they do not have tail fins and have a long snake-like tail. They also have a neck and a snout that points down.

Eyesight

Seahorses have excellent eyesight and their eyes are able to work independently on either side of their head. This means they can look forwards and backwards at the same time! This is particularly useful as they hunt for food by sight.

Snout

Seahorses have long thin snouts enabling them to probe into nooks and corners for food. When they find food they suck it up through their snouts like a vacuum cleaner. Their snouts can expand if their prey os larger than the snout. They are not able to chew and have to disintegrate the food as they eat it.

Tail

Seahorses have a prehensile tail. This allows them to grip onto eel grass and other weeds and prevents them from being washed away by strong currents and waves.

Color

Seahorses can change color very quickly and match any surroundings in which it finds itself. They have even been known to turn bright red to match floating debris.Seahorses are poor swimmers.

Species

There are between 30 and 40 species of seahorses worldwide.

Habitat

Seahorses live in shallow weedy areas especially eel grass beds. In winter they move into deeper waters to escape the rough weather.

Threats

Seahorses are under threat worldwide because of being used in traditional Chinese Medicine, they are used for decoration and pet trade

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SEA TURTLES

     

       

• Turtles are reptiles.
• Turtles have a hard shell that protects them like a shield, this upper shell is called a ‘carapace’.
• Turtles also have a lower shell called a ‘plastron’.
• Many turtle species (not all) can hide their heads inside their shells when attacked by predators.
• Turtles have existed for around 215 million years.
• The largest turtle is the leatherback sea turtle, it can weigh over 900 kg! 
• Sea turtles lay eggs on land.
• Sea turtles live a long time. Around 70-80 years.
• Many sea turtles can hold their breath for over 30 minutes.
• Leather-back sea turtles have been known to dive over 1000 feet deep in the ocean.
• Sea turtles don't need to drink water. They can live off of the water they get from their food.
• Sea turtles sometimes look like they are crying. These tears are from special glands that allow them to get rid of extra salt they get by living in salt water oceans.
• Some turtles lay eggs in the sand and leave them to hatch on their own. The young turtles make their way to the top of the sand and scramble to the water while trying to avoid predators. 

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JELLYFISHES

•  Jellyfish live in the sea and are found in all oceans.
• Jellyfish look a little like umbrellas.Jellyfish can be large and brightly colored.
• They can often be transparent (see-through) or translucent (semi-translucent).
• Some can be very hard to see, nearly invisible to the human eye.
• Although the word is mentioned in their name, jellyfish are not fish.
• A group of jellyfish is called a ‘bloom’, ‘swarm’ or ‘smack’.
• Large blooms can feature over 100000 jellyfish.
• Jellyfish don’t have brains.
• Jellyfish use their tentacles to sting. Most are harmless to humans but stings from  some species, such as the box jellyfish, can be very painful and sometimes kill.
• Jellyfish eat plankton. Some sea turtles eat jellyfish.
• Some jellyfish can glow in the dark, they have bioluminescent organs, which emit light. This light may help them in a number of different ways, like attracting prey or distracting predators.
• Jellyfish can clone themselves. If a jellyfish is cut in two, the pieces of the jellyfish can regenerate and create two new organisms. Similarly, if a jellyfish is injured, it may clone(copy) itself and potentially produce hundreds of offspring.

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WHALES

• Whales are mammals.
• This means that whale calves grow inside their mothers until they are born. Besides, they are nursed and taken care by their mothers until they reach certain age.
• Whales breathe air as we do.Therefore, they need to reach the surface of the ocean to breathe because they cannot breathe underwater.
• To breathe, whales have a blowhole in the top of their heads.
• When they reach the surface, they take air in through this blowhole.
• There are two types of whales, Baleen Whales and Toothed Whales.
• Baleen whales feed from krill and plankton.
• Krill are shrimp-like creatures which are very important ocean creatures.
• Toothed whales eat several kind of fish, like tuna, cod and salmon among others and some small mammals like seals.
• The Blue whale is the largest animal in the world.
• Even more, it is the largest animal that has ever existed, even larger than the largest dinosaur ever found. The blue whale is a baleen whale.
• Some baleen whales sing.
• Particularly the blue whales and the humpback whales are well known for singing.
• Some Whales can stay underwater for as long as 90 minutes.
• Whales do not sleep as we do.To rest, whales sleep only half brain so they remember to take air in, otherwise they would drown.

Dolphins are also whales

• Compared to other animals, dolphins are believed to be very intelligent.
• Dolphins are carnivores (meat eaters).
• Female dolphins are called cows, males are called bulls and young dolphins are called calves.
• Dolphins live in schools or pods of up to 12 individuals.
• Dolphins often display a playful attitude. They can be seen jumping out of the water, riding waves, play fighting and occasionally interacting with humans swimming in the water.
• Dolphins communicate with each other by clicking, whistling and other sounds.
• Some dolphin species face the threat of extinction
• Dolphins have been observed teaching young how to use tools. They cover their snouts with sponges to protect them while foraging.
• Dolphins are very intelligent animals.
• Dolphins have several highly developed forms of communication. They have a “signature whistle” which allows other individuals to recognise them They are known to stay and help injured individuals, even helping them to the surface to breath.
• Dolphins, whales, and porpoises do not chew their food. They swallow it whole!
• The world’s largest whale is the blue whale, which can grow to 100 feet long and weigh up to 300,000 pounds!
• Their tongues can weigh as much as an  elephant!  Blue whales are the largest mammals on Earth.
• A long, long time ago, dolphins used to be land animals!
• All of the fun squeaks and whistles you hear a  dolphin make actually come out of their blowholes! They do not  make sounds with their mouths.

Want to read stories about interesting sea creatures?: Visit- www.swarnainthemagicalforest.com

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Pharynx and Larynx

Pharynx  

The pharynx (plural: pharynges) is the part of the throat that is behind the mouth and nasal cavity and above the esophagus and the larynx, it is the tube going down to the stomach and the lungs.  The pharynx is part of both the digestive and respiratory systems. For the digestive system, its muscular walls function in the process of swallowing, and it serves as a pathway for the movement of food from the mouth to the esophagus 

Larynx

 The larynx, commonly called the voice box, is an organ in the top of the neck, it is involved in breathing, producing sound, and protecting the trachea from food going into it. It is situated just below where the tract of the pharynx splits into the trachea and the esophagus.  

Art - What is ART? How is it of use to us?

Art

Art is something that is created with imagination and skill. It includes human activities like creating visual, auditory or performing artworks.

An art is meant to be appreciated for its beauty or emotional power.

Art, is simply a form of communication. The artist can convey whatever he wishes or means by the materials, techniques, and forms he uses. He can also convey the meaning by the ideas and feelings it creates in its viewers.

 Art is an act of expressing feelings, thoughts, and observations. 

Apart for this art has scientific, historical and religious significance.

For example: We came to know about the cave man’s life by the cave paintings made by him. Arts from the past (painting, statuses etc.) let us know how societies thought, associated, moved, ate, lived. 

Paintings of gods and myths are shown on many temples and religious places.

Pictures in story books invokes interests in children and help in generating interest in education.

Uses of Art.

It will get attention of people to the topic or cause shown in the artwork.

It may spark a discussion about the art form and bring about change or awareness

It may be used to inspire action or strength by generating strong feelings.

Or it can be simply used to lighten the mood and generate a happy feeling.

Types of Art:

Art can be visual- like paintings, sculptures, architectures etc, plays etc.

Auditory- music and musical instruments.

Modern forms of art include graphic on computers, abstract paintings etc

               

FUNCTIONS OF FLOWER

FUNCTIONS OF FLOWER

A flower, sometimes known as a bloom or blossom, is the reproductive structure found in flowering plants. Flowers are the part of the plant that is responsible for making the seeds. The flower has both female parts, called the pistil, and male parts, called the stamens. They work together to fertilize the plant and produce seeds. The petals, using their color, scent and nectar attract insects such as butterflies and bees to the plant to pollinate them.

Flowers like rose and Jasmine are important ingredients of perfume. Flowers have also long been used by humans for their beauty, color and fragrance in rituals, religion, medicine etc.

How do Insects Breath - Spiracles!

Spiracle

Spiracles are openings on the surface of some animals, which usually lead to respiratory systems.

The spiracle is a small hole behind each eye that opens to the
mouth in some fish. In the primitive jawless fish the first gill opening immediately behind the mouth is essentially similar to the other gill opening.

Insects and some more derived spiders have spiracles on their exoskeletons to allow air to enter the trachea. In the respiratory system of insects, the tracheal tubes primarily deliver oxygen directly into the animals' tissues. The spiracles can be opened and closed in an efficient manner to reduce water loss. 


Air enters the insect's body through valve-like openings in the exoskeleton. These openings (called spiracles) are located laterally along the thorax and abdomen of most insects—usually one pair of spiracles per body segment

How do insects breathe?

Instead of lungs, insects breathe with a network of tiny tubes called tracheae. Air enters the tubes through a row of holes in the body walls called spiracles. Since the biggest bugs have the longest tracheae, they should need the most oxygen to be able to breathe.

Many water-dwelling insects have tracheal gills, which are layered extensions of their bodies that enable them to take more oxygen from the water. These gills are most often located on the abdomen, but in some insects, they are found in odd and unexpected places.

Mount Kilimanjaro

Mount Kilimanjaro

This is the highest mountain in Africa. It is located in the country of Tanzania. It is famous for being the highest mountain in Africa and is one of the ‘Seven Summits’ of the World. IT is part of mountain range called East Africa Rift Valley Mountains

The mountain is part of the Kilimanjaro National Park and is a major climbing destination.

The mountain has been the subject of many scientific studies because of its shrinking glaciers and disappearing ice fields. Scientists believe this could be due to human activities and global warming.

The peaks of Kilimanjaro is covered with glaciers and snowcaps, although these have reduced in recent years. Around 80% of the snow has disappeared in the last 100 years.

Kilimanjaro is the highest active or dormant volcano outside South America.

Kilimanjaro is a large volcano and is composed of three distinct volcanic cones:

1.   Kibo: the highest, it is dormant and could erupt again, it measures over 15 miles wide;

2.   Mawenzi: at 5,149 metres (16,893 ft);

3.   Shira: the shortest at 4,005 metres (13,140 ft).

Mawenzi and Shira are extinct, while Kibo is dormant and could erupt again.

The last time Kilimanjaro erupted was over 150,000 years ago.

Around 1000 square kilometers of Kilimanjaro is forest.

Elephants and buffaloes can be found on the lower levels and foothills of Mount Kilimanjaro. Other animals which are common are:

• The first people to climb Mount Kilimanjaro were Hans Meyer and Ludwig Purtscheller on October 6th, 1889.

Two rivers named Lumi and Panganis flow from Kilimanjaro.

Useful Links

• https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Kilimanjaro
• https://www.worldwildlife.org/blogs/good-nature-travel/posts/ten-interesting-facts-about-mt-kilimanjaro

Class Project On insects -

Grade Three Class Exhibition on Insects

Interesting Insects and Facts

Bees

Bees are one of the most intelligent insects in the animal world. Not only do they have their own means of communication, they also have extraordinary navigation skills.

They perform a series of movements called a “waggle dance” to tell each other where food is located or which spot is best for building a new colony. Their dance is extremely advanced, and can convey different things. 

Locusts

Locusts are one of the most efficient pilots in the insect world. These winged creatures, can fly great distances. They can fly steadily even in the winds and temperature become unfavorable. This thing enables them to fly up to 80 kilometers in one day without requiring a rest.

Dung Beetle

Dung beetles collect animal wastes, roll it up into a ball, and use it for several purposes. Now, what’s amazing is that dung beetles have the incredible ability to roll their “dung balls” in a straight line even at night by using the “entire starry sky”. Dung beetles are great recyclers and incredible astronomers.

Voodoo wasps

Voodoo wasps are called such because of their “magical” ability to turn their prey or enemies into “zombies. Once the insects become zombies, voodoo wasps can control them.

Voodoo wasps lay their eggs inside the bodies of young caterpillars. The larvae inside the caterpillars feed on the caterpillars and it also acts as the cocoon’s bodyguard, protecting it from various predators.