Elise Wallace - Amazing Animals: World Record Wildlife: Adding and Subtracting Fractions

0covercover.xhtmlAmazing Animals World Record WILDLIFE Adding and Subtracting Fractions Elise Wallacecover1page0001page0001.xhtml22page0002page0002.xhtml33page0003page0003.xhtml44page0004page0004.xhtmlTable of Contents World Records 4 From Miniature to Monstrous 6 Slowpokes and Speedsters 14 Sneaky Creatures and Standout Stars 20 Animal Champs 26 Problem Solving 28 Glossary 30 Index 31 Answer Key 3255page0005page0005.xhtmlWorld Records Every four years, the Olympics are held. People cheer for the fastest and strongest athletes. They are awarded with gold medals for their hard work. People also cheer for small achievements. People can set world records for blowing the biggest bubblegum bubble. They can build the largest house of cards. There's no task or trick too small. Anyone can become the world's greatest. There are world-record holders in the animal kingdom, too. They deserve to be celebrated! The world is filled with many amazing animals. Some are incredibly big. Others are amazingly small. Some are very fast. Others are very slow. Many animals are unique enough to have a claim to fame. If there were an Animal Olympics, these creatures would surely be gold medalists! Workers at LEGO Italy set a new record for tallest LEGO structure by building a tower that is 35. 05 meters tall.66page0006page0006.xhtmlThree gymnasts accept medals at the 2016 Rio Summer Olympics. Aliya Mustafina of Russia Simone Biles of USA Aly Raisman of USA77page0007page0007.xhtmlFrom Miniature to Monstrous These creatures stomp, scamper, swim, and soar. They range from the world's tiniest creatures to its biggest beasts. Each is a world-record holding animal. Itty-Bitty Bat Tiny enough to perch on a pinky finger, the bumblebee bat is the world's smallest bat species. It is a little longer than 1 inch (2. 5 centimeters) and weighs about as much as a dime. But, don't be fooled by its size. The bumblebee bat is just as skilled as bigger bats! Like other bat species, this tiny creature uses echolocation. It allows the bat to "see" using sound. When on the hunt, bats send out high-pitched signals. These sounds bounce off things around them. The faster a sound bounces back, the closer something is to the bat. This ability helps them find prey. Bumblebee bats are insectivores, which means that they eat insects. Like other bats, bumblebee bats hunt at night. This species lives primarily in Thailand, in limestone caves. Today, bumblebee bats are in danger. They are a vulnerable species. Some tourists have disturbed their habitats. Their caves must be protected for this species to continue to take flight. Thailand88page0008page0008.xhtmlLET'S EXPLORE MATH A bumblebee bat weighs about 7100 of an ounce. 1. Does a bumblebee bat weigh more than or less than 12 ounce? How do you know? 2. Imagine that scientists weigh 2 bumblebee bats. Which estimate best describes the total weight? Explain your reasoning. A. less than 12 ounce B. greater than 12 ounce, less than 1 ounce C. greater than 1 ounce A bumblebee bat emerges from its cave. bumblebee bat99page0009page0009.xhtmlMicro Reptile Micro reptiles are among the tiniest reptiles in the world. One species of chameleon is the smallest known micro reptile on the planet. It is about the same size as a bumblebee bat. The species is called Brookesia micra. It was discovered a few years ago on Madagascar, an African island. Why is it so small? Scientists think that the reptile's size may be a result of its home. They believe that some animals shrink in size hundreds of times when they have small habitats, such as islands. This is called island dwarfism. In such conditions, scientists think some creatures slowly produce smaller offspring. Smaller animals need fewer resources, such as food and shelter. The Brookesia micra was discovered along with three other chameleon species. Of the four species, the Brookesia micra is the smallest. That's why micra is part of its name. The word micra comes from the Greek word mikros, which means small! Also known as leaf chameleons, these reptiles are active during the day. They sleep in trees at night. Like other chameleons, their eyes have special features. One eye can look to the left while the other can look up! 1 inch (2. 5 cm) leaf chameleon1010page0010page0010.xhtmlMale leaf chameleons (left) are smaller than females (right). Madagascar LET'S EXPLORE MATH During the day, leaf chameleons live on the forest floor. At night, they move off the ground into trees. Suppose a leaf chameleon is going to move 5 centimeters up a tree. So far, it has moved 45 centimeter. How many more centimeters must it move? Use the area model to write an equation and find the solution.1111page0011page0011.xhtmlKing Croc Crocodiles are the largest and heaviest reptiles alive. The saltwater crocodile of Australia is 20 feet (6 meters) in length and about 2, 200 pounds (1, 000 kilograms). Its great size makes it a predator to be feared! As adults, these crocodiles are masters of their habitats. But while young, they are vulnerable. They must be closely protected by their mothers. At first, young crocodiles feed on small prey, such as snails, frogs, and insects. As they get bigger and stronger, their diets change. Fish and small mammals are now fair game. Crocodiles are able to travel by both land and water. On land, they walk on all four legs. In the water, they swim by moving their tails back and forth. Like other crocodiles, their eyes are located high atop their snouts. This allows the reptile to submerge itself and still see above the water. Some scientists believe that this species lives as a community like that of a wolf pack. In a group of crocodiles, there may be a dominant creature. This crocodile would likely be the alpha member of the group. He would have special privileges, like first choice of nesting spaces!1212page0012page0012.xhtmlA saltwater crocodile hatches from an egg. saltwater crocodile1313page0013page0013.xhtmlBig Blue The blue whale is an extraordinary creature. It is the biggest mammal of all time! As the world's largest mammal, the whale weighs about 150 tons (136, 000 kg). How heavy is that? Well, their tongues are about as heavy as a full-grown elephant! At birth, blue whale calves are already about 26 ft. (8 m) long. That is longer than the height of a two-story building! For the first year of their lives, calves feed only on their mother's milk. Calves gain about 200 lb. (91 kg) a day during their first year! Blue whales are carnivores. They live mostly on a diet of krill. To eat, they simply open their enormous mouths and take a huge gulp of water. Bristles, called baleen, filter the water without letting krill escape. Blue whales travel alone and in groups. They are thought to communicate with loud groans. Scientists have varying opinions about the range in which blue whales can hear. Some scientists believe that they can hear up to 100 miles (161 kilometers) away. Other scientists believe that they can hear up to 1, 000 mi. (1, 609 km) away. This blue whale is more than three times the size of the boat.1414page0014page0014.xhtmlLET'S EXPLORE MATH Tiny krill make up a big part of blue whale diets. Krill are so small, blue whales eat up to 40 million of them each day! Suppose that two krill weigh 910 gram and 45 gram. 1. Is the total weight of both krill greater than or less than 1 gram? How do you know? 2. What is the total weight of both krill? Write an equation using common denominators to show your solution. 3. How much more does one krill weigh than the other? Write an equation using common denominators to show your solution. 910 45 baleen on a blue whale krill1515page0015page0015.xhtmlSlowpokes and Speedsters The animal kingdom has fast and slow lanes. Some creatures plod along, traveling at oh-so-slow speeds. Other creatures are so fast they can't be caught. Let's explore some of the slowest and the fastest animals on Earth. Sloths Sloths are the world's slowest mammals, and they don't do much other than sleep. They are known to spend up to 20 hours a day snoozing. When they are awake, they move so slowly that their movements can barely be called activity! Because they are inactive much of the time, algae often grow on their fur. Algae are a type of simple, nonflowering plant. It gives sloths' fur a greenish tint. Sloth species are not trying to be lazy. This behavior helps them survive. Sloths have an incredibly slow digestive system, and it can take them weeks to digest a single meal. Because of this, sloths need to conserve their energy. In other words, a slow sloth is a healthy sloth! Sloths spend their days in the trees, hanging from branches. On land, sloths get around by dragging themselves, which is not exactly the speediest way to travel. Sloths are strong swimmers, moving three times faster in water than they do on land.1616page0016page0016.xhtmlLET'S EXPLORE MATH Imagine that scientists study the sleeping habits of two sloths. Sloth A sleeps for 58 of a day. Sloth B sleeps for 56 of a day. 1. Which sloth sleeps a greater fraction of a day? How do you know? 2. How much longer does one sloth sleep than the other? Explain your solution using words, numbers, or pictures. sloth1717page0017page0017.xhtmlFalcon vs. Hummingbird There is some debate about which bird flies the fastest. The peregrine falcon is famously fast. At top speed, this bird flies over 200 mi. (322 km) per hour. But then, there are Anna's hummingbirds. Scientists believe that these little birds might even be quicker than falcons! The Anna's hummingbird has been called "faster than a fighter jet. " How can this be? According to research, these hummingbirds fly about 90 ft. (27 m) per second. That is slower than the peregrine falcon, which flies 229 ft. (70 m) per second. However, scientists argue that this comparison isn't fair since the falcon is so much bigger than the hummingbird. If you look at how fast the two birds move according to their size, the results are a little different. The falcon moves 200 times its body lengths per second. Anna's hummingbird moves a whopping 385 body lengths per second. So, who's fastest? That depends on whom you ask! Anna's hummingbird1818page0018page0018.xhtmlperegrine falcon1919page0019page0019.xhtmlFast and Fierce Feline Cheetahs have long been praised for their speed. They are able to dash as fast as 70 miles per hour (113 kilometers per hour), and they can even go from 0 to 60 mph (97 kph) in only three seconds! This makes the large, spotted cats the fastest animals on land. Everyone knows that cheetahs are fast, but not many people know why. Cheetahs' bodies are made for top speed! They have tough paws that give them traction, or grip, to run across the flat landscape. Their slender limbs help them take long strides and their long tails keep them balanced while they run. Even their organs help them run faster. Their livers and hearts are big organs, giving them the strength they need to push their bodies to the limit. Cheetahs usually do not need to reach top speeds when hunting. Their excellent eyesight helps them to zero in on their next meal. When they catch sight of their prey, it's time to start the chase. After closing in, cheetahs knock down their prey and bite their throats. But after all that hard work, cheetahs need about 30 minutes to recover before they eat. A cheetah closes in on a jackal.2020page0020page0020.xhtmlLET'S EXPLORE MATH Imagine that two cheetah cubs are born at the zoo. One cub is 516 pound. The other is 38 pound. 1. Is the total weight of both cubs greater than or less than 1 pound? How do you know? 2. One of the veterinary assistants calculates the total weight of the cubs with the equation below. Explain why the answer is incorrect and find the correct total weight of the cubs. 516 + 38 = 824 Black lines near a cheetah's eyes help reflect sun glare when hunting.2121page0021page0021.xhtmlSneaky Creatures and Standout Stars Some records are easy to award. The heaviest creatures weigh the most, and the lightest creatures weigh the least. There are also numbers to prove the winners. But it is hard to agree on which creatures are the most colorful or the sneakiest! The winners of this category are subjective, or based on personal opinion. Some people may agree while others may not. Either way, it's hard to deny that these creatures are one of a kind! Lilac-Breasted Roller The lilac-breasted roller is one the world's most colorful birds. It is a sight to behold. The bird has its own unique hues. The roller features turquoise, electric blue, purple, pink, and green feathers. This species may seem rare because of its unique colors, but in Africa, the bird is quite common. It makes its home in many countries in southern and eastern Africa. But, it is the national bird of Kenya. Pictures do not do the bird justice. To truly understand the bird's charm, you must see it fly. While courting, the male birds fly in strange patterns. They "roll" through the air to try to get the attention of females! Kenya2222page0022page0022.xhtmlA lilac-breasted roller flies above Kruger National Park in South Africa. lilac-breasted roller2323page0023page0023.xhtmlPoison Dart Frogs Neon colors aren't often found in nature. Such bright hues are bound to stand out. In the poison dart frog's case, we are lucky that they stand out, because this frog is deadly. Its species got its name because tribes used the frog's poison to coat their arrows for hunting. Dart frogs come in a variety of colors and designs, such as bright blue and neon yellow. Some poison dart frogs are spotted, and others are solid colors. There is likely to be a poison dart frog in your favorite color! The frog's appearance is a form of protection. Its bright colors tell predators to stay away. Poison dart frogs release toxic venom through their skin. Some of the frogs are more dangerous than others. The golden dart frog is very toxic. In fact, the golden dart frog may be one of the most poisonous animals on the planet. It has enough poison to kill 10 adult men! A Colombian man makes a poison arrow for hunting by touching its tip to the body of a golden dart frog.2424page0024page0024.xhtmlblue dart frog green and black dart frog golden dart frog LET'S EXPLORE MATH Imagine that scientists are studying poison dart frogs in the rain forest. Of the frogs they see, 13 are striped, 12 are yellow, and the rest are blue. What fraction of the frogs that they see are blue? Use words, numbers, or pictures to explain your reasoning.2525page0025page0025.xhtmlLeaf-Tailed Gecko The leaf-tailed gecko is a master of camouflage. Like the Brookesia micra chameleon, it is a native of Madagascar. These sneaky geckos are nocturnal. They are awake at night and sleep during the day. They prefer to sleep on tree trunks, where they blend in with the tree bark. Camouflaging allows them to hide from predators. The gecko's skin is rough and looks like the bark of a tree. At night, they hunt for insects-their food of choice. leaf-tailed geckos2626page0026page0026.xhtmlScorpionfish Scorpionfish make their homes in warm waters where there are plenty of coral reefs. Like the leaf-tailed gecko, they have a talent for blending in with their environment. This fish is usually found among the rocks and stones on the seafloor. Because of this, the fish is often called a stonefish. Scorpionfish can come in a variety of colors. Some of them are covered in fins and skin flaps that make them blend in with the coral. The creature got its name because it stings like a scorpion. Their scariest features are their poisonous spines! Scorpionfish use them to protect themselves. scorpionfish scorpionfish spines2727page0027page0027.xhtmlAnimal Champs The animal kingdom is made up of creatures of all sizes, shapes, and colors. They might be large or small, slow or fast. They might be sneaky and bright. Some might blend into the background, while others can't help but stand out. For now, let's honor the current champs. But be aware, there are thousands of new animal species discovered each year. Some scientists estimate that 86 out of 100 land species and 91 out of 100 ocean species have yet to be discovered or named. The discovery of new species means that some of these creatures may make the record books. We just don't know about them yet. Keep your eyes on the world of wildlife for new records to be set and broken.2828page0028page0028.xhtml2929page0029page0029.xhtmlProblem Solving Imagine that scientists at a wildlife sanctuary are studying three sloths. They record the fraction of the day each sloth spends on certain activities. Use the table to answer the questions and summarize the data.