Educational Documents Aligned with TWA s Distance Learning Videoconferencing programs. For information about Distance Learning or the other programs TWA offers please contact Elanor Dean (edean@texas-wildlife.org) Table of Contents Animal Skull Investigation... (2) Bat Crossword 1... (4) Bat Crossword 2... (5) Bat Masks... (6) Bat Names & Faces...(8) Monarch Life Cycle...(9) Blending Butterflies...(10) Awesome Opossums...(13) Skunk Activity...(15) Prickly Porcupines...(17) Creatures of the Night Crossword...(19) Let s Talk Turkey Anatomy...(21) Let's Talk Turkey......(23) Urban Encounters Food Web...(24)
Name: Animal Skull Investigation CASE # 123 Wrap-up for Junior Investigators Herbivore: Carnivore: Omnivore: Insectivore: An animal that eats mostly plants An animal that eats mostly meat An animal that eats both plants and meat An animal that eats mostly bugs YOUR ASSIGNMENT: Read the list of Texas wildlife suspects below and think about what each animal might eat. Write H next to animals that are Herbivores Write C next to animals that are Carnivores Write O next to animals that are Omnivores Write I next to animals that are Insectivores Coyote Armadillo Rattlesnake Pronghorn Antelope Skunk Bobcat Badger White-tailed Deer Porcupine Opossum Mountain Lion Raccoon Mexican Free-tailed Bat Texas Wildlife Association
Name: Animal Skull Investigation CASE # 123 Wrap-up for Junior Investigators Herbivore: Carnivore: Omnivore: Insectivore: An animal that eats mostly plants An animal that eats mostly meat An animal that eats both plants and meat An animal that eats mostly bugs YOUR ASSIGNMENT: Read the list of Texas wildlife suspects below and think about what each animal might eat. Write H next to animals that are Herbivores Write C next to animals that are Carnivores Write O next to animals that are Omnivores Write I next to animals that are Insectivores C Coyote I Armadillo C Rattlesnake H Pronghorn Antelope O Skunk C Bobcat O Badger H White-tailed Deer H Porcupine O Opossum C Mountain Lion O Raccoon I Mexican Free-tailed Bat Texas Wildlife Association
Choose your answers blind caves chiroptera colony echolocation endangered fox insects insectivorous mammal nocturnal one pollinate pup sonar thousand Across 1. An animal that is active at night is called. 2. All bats can see; no bats are. 3. The scientific name for bats, which means hand-wing, is. 4. A kind of bat whose face looks like a dog is a flying. 5. A bat that feeds on insects is called. 6. Most mother bats produce only (how many) baby a year. 7. Many bats spend part of the year living in. 8. Echolocation used by bats is a kind of. Down 1. The process of navigating and locating food using sound is called. 2. A bat is a. 3. Nectar bats flowers, just like hummingbirds. 4. An animal that is disappearing is said to be. 5. There are more than a (how many) kinds of bats. 6. A baby bat is called a. 7. About 70% of all bats eat. 8. A group of bats living together is called a. Answers Across: 1. nocturnal; 2. blind; 3, chiroptera; 4, fox; 5, insectivorous; 6, one; 7, caves; 8, sonar. Down: 1, echolocation; 2, mammal; 3, pollinate; 4, endangered; 5, thousand; 6, pup; 7, insects; 8, colony.
Choose your answers caves sound blind night hand mammal one pup endangered bats fly insects Across 1. Bats are the only kind of mammal that can. 2. An animal that is disappearing is said to be. 3. Most mother bats produce only (how many) baby each year. 4. A bat is a. 5. Most bats are active only at. 6. Many bats use to navigate and find food. Down 1. Most bats in the world eat. 2. are the only mammals that truly fly. 3. A baby bat is called a. 4. A bat s wing is very similar to our own. 5. All bats can see, no bats are. 6. Many bats spend at least part of the year living in. Answers Across: 1. fly; 2. endangered; 3. one; 4. mammal; 5. night; 6. sound. Down: 1. insects; 2. Bats; 3. pup; 4. hand; 5. blind; 6. caves.
Materials: Heavy paper Crayons or color markers Scissors Hole punch Elastic band or Popsicle stick Bat Mask Activity California leaf-nosed bat Background Information One of the most fascinating aspects of bats is their facial anatomy. The great diversity of face types is due to differences in lifestyle and diet. For example, some bats that feed on nectar need long, thin faces to insert into flowers, while insect-eating bats have shorter muzzles and stronger jaws to chomp down on insects. Copy the mask on heavy paper or card stock, cut out the bat face, punch holes on both sides and attach elastic band to keep it in place. Or, you can glue Popsicle-type sticks to the inside bottom of the mask so the child can hold it in front of his or her face. Children can use their imaginations when coloring the masks. California leaf-nosed bat This bat is called a gleaner because it snatches crickets, grasshoppers, beetles, moths and other insects off leaves or the ground as it flies above the desert floor. It has larger eyes than most insectivorous bats. Its huge ears, which give it excellent hearing, enable it to hear even the footsteps of walking insects. The California leaf-nosed bat lives in the western United States and Mexico.
California leaf-nosed bat
Bat Names and Faces There are more than 1,250 different kinds of bats in the world and they come in all sorts of shapes and sizes. Color these unusual bat faces, then match them with their names. 1 Chapin s Free-tailed Bat (Africa) Known for its punk look. 2 Tomes Sword-nosed Bat (Central and South America) A Latin American bat with a long, pointed leaf on its nose. 3 Hammer-headed Fruit Bat (Africa) A fruit bat with a very distinctive head. 4 Spotted Bat (United States) A very colorful bat, this one is black with white spots and large, pink ears. Answers: 3, 1, 4, 2
Monarch Life Cycle Caterpillar (5 Instars) There are 5 larval stages referred to as instars and the caterpillar will shed its skin (molt) between stages. This process will take approximately three weeks. Once the egg hatches, the caterpillar will eat its eggshell and then begins to eat the milkweed leaves. This makes the caterpillars poisonous to potential predators The caterpillar will then find a sheltered location like a branch, attach with a spot of silk it spins on the branch, and create its chrysalis. Egg Chrysalis A Monarch will lay up to 500 eggs (one egg per leaf) on the underside of the milkweed leaves. After emerging from the chrysalis, it must hang from the branch for several hours to dry out its wings before the butterfly is able to fly. Adult The monarch will remain in the chrysalis for approximately one week before emerging as a butterfly. Images Florida Center for Instructional Technology
Blending Butterflies Written by Jennifer Page Adapted by Texas Wildlife Association Objective: To explore and simulate camouflage in animals. Materials: Butterfly pattern Coloring pencils or Crayons Background Information: Traits are inherited and some traits make it easier for living things to survive and reproduce. Camouflage is a trait that makes it very hard to see an animal in its natural habitat. Camouflage is an important factor in animal survival, allowing the animal to hide from its predators. Camouflage is also a trait beneficial to predators, allowing the predator cover while hunting its prey. An animal that is best camouflaged in its environment has the best chance to survive, reproduce, and pass its color pattern on to its offspring. The colorful patterns may be the result of genetic diversity or mutation. Examples of camouflage: Concealing Coloration - Using coloration to hide against a background of the same color. Many desert animals have tan or muted coloring that blends in with the sand that surrounds them. Desert Bighorn Sheep and Texas Horned Lizards are great examples of camouflaged desert animals. Disruptive Coloration - This type of camouflage breaks up the solid outline of an animal with spots, stripes, or other patterns that resemble the animals habitat. When a white - tailed deer fawn is born, it has white spots on its back, allowing the fawn to hide on the ground among the grasses. A fawn s spots look like rays of light peaking through the trees. Disguises - When animals or parts of their bodies resemble objects in their environment. The insect called the walking stick looks like a small tree branch or twig. Counter Shading - When the coloration of the upper parts of an animal is darker than its underside. This causes the effect of sunlight to be counteracted. Most whales are counter shaded. If you look up at a whale, you would see a light color, just as if the whale was not there it blends in with the sky. If you look down on a whale, you see darkness like the ocean floor. Mimicry - When an animal copies, or mimics, a color or form of something else. Many butterflies use mimicry to survive. Hairstreak butterflies have false antennae and spots on the back of their wings. Birds will peck at the wrong end trying to grab the head, allowing the butterfly to get away. Procedure: Day 1 ---- 1. Write your name on the back of your butterfly. 2. Design a butterfly so that its camouflage allows it to hide somewhere in the classroom. 3. Make the butterfly as invisible as possible. 4. Tape the butterfly in its hiding spot. Day 2 ---- 5. While sitting in your seat, count the number of butterflies you can see.
Blending Butterflies Student Worksheet Data: Total # of butterflies in classroom # of butterflies seen Questions: 1. What type(s) of camouflage were used to disguise the butterflies in the classroom? 2. Which type of camouflage was the best at hiding the butterflies? 3. Why do you think this type of camouflage made it difficult to see the butterflies? 4. For each type of environment listed, describe a possible type of camouflage. Explain why this type of camouflage would help an animal survive to reproduce. Environment Type of Camouflage Explanation OCEAN RAINFOREST DESERT PRAIRIE
Female opossums, called Jills, carry their young, called Joeys, in a pouch. Opossums are the only m _ in North America. Virginia Opossum Opossum paws are like human hands. They have 5 fingers on their front feet and 5 fingers on their hind feet, one of which is a t. Opossums have more teeth than any North American mammal. An adult opossum has teeth. An opossum s tail is prehensile. They use it to grasp on to limbs while climbing in trees. Opossums CAN or CANNOT hang from their tails for long periods of time.
Female opossums, called Jills, carry their young, called Joeys, in a pouch. Opossums are the only marsupials in North America. Virginia Opossum Opossum paws are like human hands. They have 5 fingers on their front feet and 5 fingers on their hind feet, one of which is a thumb. Opossums have more teeth than any North American mammal. An adult opossum has 50 teeth. An opossum s tail is prehensile. They use it to grasp on to limbs while climbing in trees. Opossums CAN or CANNOT hang from their tails for long periods of time.
Skunks have various methods to deter predators, first they will s their feet, grunt, and then turn their tail towards the predator, all before spraying. Their last resort is to bite the predator. Striped Skunk Skunks are nocturnal; they are primarily active at n. Skunks are omnivores; they eat small mammals, insects, reptiles, fruit, eggs, garbage, and carrion (dead animals). Skunks spray, very accurately, up to 10 feet to keep their p away! TPWD
Skunks have various methods to deter predators, first they will stomp their feet, grunt, and then turn their tail towards the predator, all before spraying. Their last resort is to bite the predator. Striped Skunk Skunks are nocturnal; they are primarily active at night. Skunks are omnivores; they eat small mammals, insects, reptiles, fruit, eggs, garbage, and carrion (dead animals). Skunks spray, very accurately, up to 10 feet to keep their predators away! TPWD
Porcupines eat leaves and twigs. Another term for plant-eater is h. Porcupines are nocturnal; this means they are active during the NIGHT or DAY. North American Porcupines are arboreal. This means they CAN or CANNOT climb trees. North American Porcupine Porcupines are born with quills, but they are soft like hair. Porcupines CAN or CANNOT shoot their quills at a predator. Porcupines are members of the r _ family. Track Image British Colombia Adventure Network
Porcupines eat leaves and twigs. Another term for plant-eater is h e r b i v o r e. Porcupines are nocturnal; this means they are active during the NIGHT or DAY. North American Porcupines are arboreal. This means they CAN or CANNOT climb trees. North American Porcupine Porcupines are born with quills, but they are soft like hair. Porcupines CAN or CANNOT shoot their quills at a predator. Porcupines are members of the r o d e n t family. Track Image British Colombia Adventure Network
Creatures of the Night: Trick or Treat Crossword Mark Hicks De Marque Inc. University of Missouri Press Across 1. Ringtails and opossums eat both meat and plants. This means they are. 3. Rats and ringtails use their tail to when moving along narrow ledges and branches. 5. Rats have on their face to help them sense and feel their way through tight places. 7. These animals consider leftover food in our trash and pet food that is left outside to be a tasty. 9. Rats, ringtails, and opossums are all mostly active at night, which makes them. 10. The area where these animals live and find food is known as their. 12. The Virginia is a large cat sized animal with grey fur, a triangular head, and a pouch. 14. Opossums have a tail that they use to hold objects. Down 2. Tapetum lucidum is a layer of tissue that causes. Nocturnal animal eyes appear to glow if you shine a light at them in the dark. 4. All of these animals have special that allow them to see at night time and live in an urban habitat. 6. The is a nocturnal mammal related to the raccoon. 8. Sometimes these animals can you by getting into your garbage and eating your pet s food. 11. A Norway Rat is a kind of like mice or squirrels. 13. Opossums are the only in North America. This means the female has a pouch in which she carries her young.
Creatures of the Night: Trick or Treat Crossword W H I S K E R S T R E A T R H A B I T A T C A K I L O M N I V O R E S B A L A N C E I P I N O C T U R N A L G D A A T Y S H E I R O P O S S U M N D A S E P R E H E N S I L E N S T U P I A L Mark Hicks De Marque Inc. University of Missouri Press Across 1. Ringtails and opossums eat both meat and plants. This means they are. 3. Rats and ringtails use their tail to when moving along narrow ledges and branches. 5. Rats have on their face to help them sense and feel their way through tight places. 7. These animals consider leftover food in our trash and pet food that is left outside to be a tasty. 9. Rats, ringtails, and opossums are all mostly active at night, which makes them. 10. The area where these animals live and find food is known as their. 12. The Virginia is a large cat sized animal with grey fur, a triangular head, and a pouch. 14. Opossums have a tail that they use to hold objects. Down 2. Tapetum lucidum is a layer of tissue that causes. Nocturnal animal eyes appear to glow if you shine a light at them in the dark. 4. All of these animals have special that allow them to see at night time and live in an urban habitat. 6. The is a nocturnal mammal related to the raccoon. 8. Sometimes these animals can you by getting into your garbage and eating your pet s food. 11. A Norway Rat is a kind of like mice or squirrels. 13. Opossums are the only in North America. This means the female has a pouch in which she carries her young.
LET S TALK TURKEY Label the Tom Turkey using the words below: Beard Spur Caruncles Tail feathers Snood Wing feathers Use the feather below to make your Turkey Call. Track image Purdue University
LET S TALK TURKEY Snood Caruncles Beard Tail feathers Wing feathers Label the Tom Turkey using the words below: Beard Spur Caruncles Tail feathers Snood Wing feathers Use the feather below to make your Turkey Call. Spur Track image Purdue University
LET S TALK TURKEY Objective For students to create a turkey call which mimics the sound of a female Wild Turkey (hen). Materials Not Provided Plastic drinking straw Masking tape Scissors Leather lace or yarn (optional) Plastic pony beads (optional) Feathers from a craft store (optional) Glue (optional) Photo Tony Northrup (http://www.northrup.org/) Background By using a call, a person is imitating not the male Wild Turkey, but the Wild Turkey hen. The male turkey, also known as a Tom or Gobbler, makes a gobble sound to alert the hens to his location. The hens then come to the male to breed. A hunter uses the call of the hen to broadcast to the toms that she is in the area. The tom in turn gobbles to let her know of his location and then may travel to the location of the call. Young turkeys, also known as poults, inherit the ability to make calls from their parents. Procedure 1. Cut a 13 centimeter piece of the plastic drinking straw. Discard the rest. 2. Wrap a piece of masking tape around the uncut end of the straw several times. The masking tape thickens the end of the straw, forming a mouthpiece which is easier to suck on than the straw alone. Be careful not to cover up the end of the straw. To use the turkey call, place the taped end of the straw in your mouth, halfway between the front of your lips and the corner of your mouth. Cup you hands over the end of the call to create an echo chamber for the sound. Now suck on the straw in little short breaths, much like making a kissing noise. The sound mimics a call of a hen turkey. It gets easier with practice. Ideas for decorating the call (optional) 1. Cut a piece of leather lace or yarn, between 30 and 60 centimeters long. Holding the ends together, slide on two (2) plastic pony beads. Slide the beads at least five (5) centimeters from the loose ends. 2. Separate the plastic beads several centimeters apart and insert the straw between the pieces of leather lace. Push the beads together to hold the straw in place. 3. Slide additional pony beads on each loose end. 4. Attach feathers by inserting the end of the feather inside the end pony beads, alongside the leather lace. 5. If using yarn, the beads and feathers may require glue to stay in place.
Color in the animals below. Draw a line between each predator and its prey. Urban Occupants: Food Web