Newsletter Team

                          Thorny devils

                           The animal that look dangerous but is harmless to us humans

                                                               By: Alonso rios

Do you like lizards like I do? What about strange and fascinating ones? If you do then I have a fascinating animal for you! Thorny devils, scientifically known as “moloch horrdius.” have the spikes as sharp as knives, and the skin of a leaf. There are four things I want to talk about these amazing creatures. Their fake head, where they live, their spikes, and where they got their name from. So, let's dive into the world of amazing creatures.

Starting off with their native habitat, The thorny devil or maybe known as “moloch horrdius” are native to australia. Devils are well-adapted to their hot,harsh environment. In extreme temperatures, they bury themselves in the sand to protect themselves from the sun. Then they use channels on their skin, located between their scales,to draw moisture from the damp sand and transport it to their mouth like a straw! Also another thing about the thorny devil is that their population is unknown.

Moving on, let's talk about their skin!! Now you might think their skin is only useful for camouflage but it's more useful! For example they can change color to help them regulate their body temperature and metabolism! In the cooler mornings, the lizards are a drab brown, becoming a lighter yellow as the temperature rises and they become more active. The lighter coloring likely helps them reflect the sun and prevents them from overheating. 

Moving onto a more creepy and fascinating note. The thorny devil can also inflate their chests to make themselves look larger when faced with a threat. When they are out in the open they are either looking for food or mates.They also have a very slow and jerky walk, which is thought to confuse predators.This is because moving slowly and intermittently may help the lizards from activating a predator’s chase-and-attack response, which can happen when they spot quick-fleeing prey.

Last but not least you might wonder where did the thorny devil or maybe known the moloch horridus get their name?Thorny devils are named after a human sacrifice god. Their scientific name, Moloch horridus, was inspired by John Milton’s poem “Paradise Lost,"which references the Canaanite god Moloch — a bloodthirsty figure that requires child sacrifices. The Latin word horridus means rough, dreadful, wild or frightful. 

Thorny devils are misjudged because of their appearance and name But in reality they are lovely creatures. And I hope you feel the same after reading this article. 

Pangolins

The creature you never knew you needed

By Hunter Sims

Do you like Armadillos like I do? What about Anteaters? If you said yes then I have the perfect animal for you! Pangolins, sometimes referred to as “scaly anteaters” have the shell of an armadillo, and the body and tongue of an anteater. There are three things I want to cover about these cuties, their endangerment level, their appearance and relatives, and their way of surviving. So, without further ado let’s dive in

Starting on more of a sad note, the pangolin is critically endangered. This is due mostly to them being the most illegally trafficked mammal on earth! They are trafficked so much due to their scales being of high demand in the field of traditional medicine. They are eaten as a delicacy in Vietnam and China and they are even turned into boots and belts. This is highly unfortunate and I hope they don’t go extinct. However, only time will tell.

Moving on, let’s talk about their relatives and adaptations. Now you might think that their closest relative is the armadillo or the anteater. Surprisingly enough though, it’s the Mongoose! Moving on to its most obvious adaptation, It’s scales. They use them for protection from birds and other mammals. When it sleeps it curls into a tight ball, exposing none of its body. It also has claws useful for digging and fighting off predators. And on top of all that, it can run on its hind legs.

On to its way of survival. You may have noticed that I did not mention its tongue in the last section. That’s because I was saving it for this one. Its diet consists of mostly termites, which are dug out and slurped up with its claws and tongue. The pangolin is commonly hunted by Lions, Pythons and birds of prey. To defend itself, it rolls into a tight ball leaving nothing vulnerable.

Pangolins are extraordinary creatures all around. They are cute (at least to me.), cool and by far my favorite animal, and I hope they’re yours now too.

Well frogs are good for the earth because they limit the insect population. Multiple species of frogs have disappeared since 1980.Back then frogs would go extinct about every 500 years. Amphibians are faced with multiple environment problems such as infectious diseases, and also pollutions. The things that are also the cause is invasions of of new species.

If we do not hurry up then there will not be any more amphibians in the world. Even more of these are because of humans and what we have done to the earth. Some of these things are because of climate change, over harvesting, and food trading. Also frogs are safe because they eat mosquitos and mosquitoes cause malaria, tularemia, and zika virus and even more diseases like these.

Frogs are also known for their role as environmental indicators. Frogs are important because they eat billions of insects a year and that helps with agriculture experiments to study different plants and animals. They also are a major food source for snakes, birds, and fish.

Frogs have been believed to have been roaming the earth for at least 200 millions years ago. The world's largest frog is the goliath frog and they can go up to 15 inches and 7 pounds. The world's smallest frog is called the Cuban tree toad. There are about 6,000 species of frogs in the world. Wild frogs' life span is unknown but frogs in captives can live up to 20 years.

Frogs can see in the dark because they have night vision and are very sensitive to movement. Frogs have bulging eyes that allow them to see in front of them and to the side also partially behind them. Did you know that frogs were the first land animal with vocal cords. Also Virginia has 28 species of frogs.