Mary Ann Rogers - Zoo Animals

Zoo Animals

AnAmazing Fun Fact

PictureBook!

MaryAnn Rogers

Copyright 2013 by Mary Ann Rogers. All rights reserved. Noduplication without the express written permission of the author.

TheZoo

Thereare places called zoos that keep animals in enclosed areas that resemble theirnatural habitat, and are open to the public. The word zoo is short forzoological garden, which refers to the study of animals. There are more than1000 zoos worldwide which house many thousands of different animals, rangingfrom domestic to exotic. Some zoos, called aquariums, are for water animals;others specialize in a certain type of animal, and still, some exist for thepurpose of helping endangered animals. Zoos offer people a chance to view andlearn about animals that they might never see otherwise, and these animals havethe opportunity to interact with humans as well. Lets take a look at some ofthem.

Anteater

Anteater

Anteaters are mammals thatare related to sloths. There are three species that range considerably in size.The silky anteater is the smallest species and grows to about a foot long,while the largest, the giant anteater, can grow to almost 6 feet long. Anteatersare sometimes called ant bears. They have a pointed snout and a long, thintongue that can extend longer than its head. This special tongue has thousandsof tiny hooks that aid in consuming large amounts of ants and termites. Theyuse their claws to dig up the mounds and then their tongue grabs as manyinsects as possible! The name anteater has roots meaning Worm Tongue.

BrownBear

The brown bear is a largemember of the bear family that has long, thick fur. Subspecies within the brownbear family include the Kodiak bear, which rivals the polar bear for largestland predator, and the grizzly bear. Brown bears are nocturnal animals, andthey also hibernate, which means they will sleep most of the winter. They willtypically gain several hundred pounds through the summer that their body useswhile in hibernation. The brown bears claws can grow up to 3.5 inches long andthey use them for a variety of things, such as hunting and marking theirterritory by scratching trees.

Chimpanzee

The chimpanzee is a memberof the ape family and is the closet animal relative to humans. Male chimpstypically grow to about 5.5 feet tall; females are smaller. Like humans,chimpanzees live in communities, and are capable of understanding numbers,using sign language and creating tools for hunting. They also communicate usinga variety of calls and actions, such as thumping their chests and hittingtrees, which group members can hear up to 2 miles away. The average chimpanzee typically lives about 50 years inthe wild. However, some chimps that live in zoos have lived to be more than 60years old.

Alligator

There are two species ofalligator, the American alligator and the Chinese alligator, which are nativeonly to America and China. The name alligator comes from Spanish roots meaninglizard. The typical weight of an American alligator is about 800 pounds, andthey can grow to be about 13 or 14 feet long. The longest on record was foundin Louisiana, and measured 19 feet 2 inches long! Chinese alligators are muchsmaller, averaging about 7 feet long. It is believed there are only a few dozenChinese alligators left in the wild. The majority of their population live inzoos.

Seal

Seals, also called Pinnipeds,are characterized as fin-footed marine mammals. Seals have a sleek, fatty,barrel-shaped body that is perfect for swimming, with flippers that help propelthem through the water. They are semi-aquatic animals, meaning they spend agood portion of their lives in the water. Seals can stay submerged for up to 2hours, and scientists have discovered that the animal will at times sleep whilein the water. When a seal dives, a thin membrane covers their eyes to protectthem, and blood stops flowing to most of its organs. The largest seal on earthis the elephant seal, which can grow up to 13 feet long and weigh almost 9,000pounds!

Leopard

Leopards are the smallestfeline in the big cat family, after the tiger, lion and jaguar. They areagile and skillful hunters, and will track down and eat almost any animal. Theycan run at speeds of up to 36 mph, and have the ability to climb trees, evenwhen carrying a heavy carcass from a kill. Some leopards are black, also calledmelanistic, and are known as black panthers. Black jaguars are also calledblack panthers. Leopards have the ability to live in a wide range of habitats,from dry deserts to rainforests. In addition to being fast runners, leopardshave the amazing ability to leap up to 20 feet! They can also jump verticallyup to 10 feet!

Meerkat

The meerkat is a member ofthe mongoose family. They are small mammals, typically weighing less than 2pounds, and live in groups called clans or mobs. They eat primarilyinsects, digging them up with their long claws, and forage for foodcontinually, as their bodies have no fat stores. In African culture, themeerkat is known as a sun angel and is believed to protect villages fromevil. Meerkats live about 12 14 years in zoos, which is about twice as longas those in the wild. They are intelligent animals, and engage in socialactivities. They have been knownto have wrestling matches and foot races with one another!

Chinese Water Dragon

The Chinese Water Dragon isa popular zoo lizard and a fairly friendly reptile; therefore, some people havethem as pets. They are usually green in color, and have strong tails that theyuse for swimming and in self defense. The lizards possess a special gland inbetween their eyes called the pineal gland, also called the third eye. Thissensitive spot helps the creature sense differences in light and threats frompredators. Chinese Water Dragons will also drop from trees into the water toavoid predators. The animal will stay submerged in water for up to 25 minutes!