WORLD PENGUIN DAY!!

WORLD PENGUIN DAY!!!

We’re celebrating World Penguin Day with some fun facts and picture about the fabulous flightless birds! We’re wearing our orange tufts to look like Macaroni Penguins, our favorites!

• There are 18 species of penguins in the world.
• All penguins live in the Southern Hemisphere.
• Only 8 species of penguins actually live in cold climates.

  

 

 

 

 

 

• The Emperor Penguin is the largest species.
• The Fairy Penguin is the smallest species.
• Penguins live in colonies.
• Penguins are marine birds. They spend 75% of their life at sea.

   

 

 

 

 

• Penguins have up to 70 feathers per square inch.
• Penguins have excellent hearing.
• Emperor Penguins can stay under water for up to 15 minutes.

  

 

 

 

 

• Fossilized penguins have been found that are 58 million years old.
• Penguins do not have teeth. They have barbs on their tongue and throat.
• Penguin wings are called flippers.

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tell us why you love penguins!!

WATERY WEDNESDAY # 67

WATERY WEDNESDAY # 67

 We’re taking the E &E boat to New Zealand today to meet a fast and fabulous mammal on the Watery Wednesday! So practice your bad accent and let’s get moving on today’s adventure!  

MEET THE HECTOR’S DOLPHIN!

   Range/Habitat: New Zealand/ ocean

   Diet: Carnivore: fish, squid

   Length/Weight: 4-5 ft/ up to 125 lbs

   Conservation Status: endangered

 

Fun Facts:

•          Hector’s Dolphins are one of the smallest dolphins on earth.
•          They live in small schools.
•          Hector’s dolphins are grey with black fins, tails and flippers.
•          Hector’s dolphins are very social.
•          They have short beaks.
•          Hector’s dolphins are the only dolphin native to New Zealand.

 

Hector’s dolphins are gorgeous! The look like small orcas to us! What do you think?

  

SUPER SURPRISE THURSDAY #66

SUPER SURPRISE THURSDAY #66

Check out the picture, read the clues and give it a guess on what animal it is!

• I live in the ocean.
• I can only be found in the waters off Australia.
• I can not breathe fire.

WHO AM I?

WATERY WEDNESDAY # 66

WATERY WEDNESDAY # 66

 We’re going to the coasts of Southern California to meet a small fish with a big reputation! Grab your beach towel and let’s head off on today’s adventure!

MEET THE CALIFORNIA GRUNION!

   Range/Habitat: Eastern North Pacific/ oceans, coasts

   Diet: Carnivore: plankton

   Length/Weight: up to 7 ½”/ up to 3 5/8 oz

   Conservation Status: common

 

 

Fun Facts:

• California grunions are members of the silverside family.
• California grunions live close to the shore.
• They swim in large schools.
• California grunions strand themselves on beaches at night during mating season.
• They have a blue-silver stripe down each side.

These little fish cause quiet the splash during their mating season! People come from all over to see this spectacular feat of nature! Would you make the trip to see them?

 

FEATHERY FRIDAY # 65

FEATHERY FRIDAY #65

We’re going to Southwest Asia today to meet one nifty bird with one big beak! Grab your backpack and sunscreen and let’s head out on today’s adventure!

 

MEET THE DALMATIAN PELICAN!

   Range/Habitat: Southeast Europe-South Asia/ coasts, wetlands, oceans

   Diet: Carnivore: fish

   Length/Weight: 5 ¼- 6ft/ 22 -29 lb

  Conservation Status: common

 

 

Fun Facts:

• Dalmatian Pelicans are the largest pelican in Europe.
• They have large broad wings.
• Dalmatian pelicans eat about 2 ½ lbs of fish a day.
• Dalmatian pelicans have large orange-red pouches.
• They are known to hunt in groups. They force schools of fish into shallow waters so they are easier to catch.

Pelicans are one of our favorite birds! Those giant pouches are not only functional but make them look quite comical! They just make us smile! How about you?

  

WATERY WEDNESDAY # 65

WATERY WEDNESDAY # 65

 We’re taking the E & E sub to the waters off of Europe to meet a small shark! We love those cartilaginous fish and they come in all shapes and sizes! Hop aboard and let’s go on today’s adventure!

MEET THE SMALL SPOTTED CATSHARK!

   Range/Habitat: Eastern North Atlantic- Mediterranean/ ocean

   Diet: Carnivore: fish, mollusks

   Length/Weight: up to 3 ¼ ft/ 6 ½ lbs

   Conservation Status: common

 

 

Fun Facts:

• Small Spotted Catsharks are also known as the Lesser Spotted Catshark.
• Small spotted catsharks are the most common shark in Europe.
• They have smooth skin.
• They have spots to help them camouflage in with the ocean floor.
• Female small spotted catsharks lay eggs called mermaids purses.

 

These little sharks are great! We love that shark eggs are called mermaid purses! Hehe- can you imagine a mermaid with a purse!? We giggle every time we think of it!

  

REPTILIAN TUESDAY # 65

REPTILIAN TUESDAY # 65

We’re off to some of the most famous islands on planet earth; where Charles Darwin himself discovered and honed his theory of evolution! Today’s reptile isn’t what most would call pretty, but man are they cool! So let’s head out to meet…

MEET THE MARINE IGUANA!

   Range/Habitat: Galapagos Islands, coast-oceans

   Diet: herbivore: algae, seaweed

   Length/Weight: 4-5 ft/ 1-3.3 lbs

   Conservation Status: vulnerable

 

 

Fun Facts:

• Marine Iguanas colors vary by the island they live on.
• They have large flat tails to help them swim along the rocky coasts.
• Marine Iguanas have razor sharp teeth to eat seaweed and algae.
• Marine iguanas sneeze to get rid of excess salt.
• They sun themselves on lava rocks after being the cold ocean waters.

Marine Iguanas may be one of our most favorite animal of all times! They are so prehistoric looking and wonderful! Plus what could be cooler than having the ability to sneeze salt?

 

 

WATERY WEDNESDAY # 64

WATERY WENESDAY # 64

 We’re taking the E & E sub out to the coral reefs of Indonesia today! Anyone notice a theme this week? Apparently our travel budget is getting smaller and we have to stay in one area! J We’re on the lookout for a small, funny looking fish on this adventure so keep your eyes peeled!

MEET THE BOXFISH!

   Range/Habitat: Pacific-Indian Oceans/ coral reefs

   Diet: Carnivore: invertebrates

   Length/Weight: up to 18”

   Conservation Status: common

 

 

Fun Facts:

• Boxfish have rigid outer skeletons.
• Boxfish are squared in shape.
• They are also called the long-horned cowfish.
• They have two hornlike projections on top of their head.
• Boxfish swim very awkwardly because of small fins.
• Boxfish have large eyes on top of their eyes.

 

Ooooooo… Boxfish sure are funny looking. We wish they had only one horn so we could rename them the unicorn fish. Hahahahaha!

 

 

WATERY WEDNESDAY # 63

WATERY WENESDAY # 63

 We’re taking the E & E sub out to meet a large round fish! As always our little sub has plenty of room for everyone so let’s head out on today’s adventure!

MEET THE OPAH!

   Range/Habitat: Tropical-temperate oceans worldwide

   Diet: Carnivore: small fish, squid

   Length/Weight: up to 6 ft/ up to 110 lbs

   Conservation Status: common

 

 

Fun Facts:

• Opahs are also known as moonfish.
• Opahs have bright red fins.
• They have oval shaped bodies.
• Opahs do not use their tail fins to swim, but instead use their pectoral (top) fin.
• They are toothless.

Opahs are really neat looking fish and wow, are they big! It is so cool that they use that top fin to swim too!

SUPER SURPRISE THURSDAY # 61

SUPER SURPRISE THURSDAY # 61

Read the clues, Guess the Animal and Share your Answer!

Who Am I?