June 2012

• Camels are large mammals that live in dry areas. There are two types of camels: the one-humped camel (the Arabian Camel or Dromedary) and the two-humped camel (the Bactrian Camel). The Arabian camels are found in the very hot deserts of North Africa and the Middle East. Bactrian camels are found in the rocky deserts and steppes of Asia that get very hot and very cold.
• The Hump: The camel's hump contains fat (and NOT water). The camel can go without food and water for 3 to 4 days. It is well adapted to desert life.
• Anatomy: Camels are very strong mammals with wide, padded feet. They have thick leathery pads on their knees and chest. Camels have nostrils that can open and close, protecting them from the desert environment. Bushy eyebrows and two rows of long eyelashes protect their eyes from sand. Their mouth is extremely tough, allowing camels to eat thorny desert plants. Camels are over 7 feet (2 m) tall at the hump and weigh in excess of 1,600 pounds (725 kg).
• Diet: Camels are herbivores (plant-eaters). Most camels are domesticated and are fed by people; they eat dates, grass, wheat, and oats.
• Classification:Class Mammalia (mammals), Order Artiodactyla, Suborder Tylopoda, Family Camelidae, Genus Camelus, Species C. dromedarius (dromedary camel) and C. bactrianus (Bactrian camel).

Asian  Elephant

• The Asian Elephant (also known as the Indian Elephant) is a huge land animal that lives in India, Malaysia, Sumatra, and Sri Lanka. This elephant is used extensively for labor; very few are left in the wild. Their life span is up to 70 years.
• This mammal has very strong social bonds and lives in family groups headed by a female (called a cow). Males (called bulls) occasionally join the group. Elephants are excellent swimmers. Elephants have few natural enemies except man, and they are in extreme danger of extinction due to loss of habitat and poaching (they are killed for their ivory tusks).
• Anatomy: Asian Elephants average about 8 feet (2.5 m) tall at the shoulder (smaller than African Elephants). Males weigh up to 6 tons (5,400 kg); females average about 4 tons (3,600 kg). Only males have tusks (large, pointed ivory teeth). They have wrinkled, gray-brown skin that is almost hairless. The ears not only hear well, but also help the elephant lose excess heat, as hot blood flows near the surface.
• Trunk: Elephants breathe through two nostrils at the end of their trunk, which is an extension of the nose. The trunk is also used to get water and food. To get water, the elephant sucks water into the trunk, then curls the trunk towards the mouth and squirts the water into it. The trunk has a prehensile (grasping) extension at the tip, which it uses like a finger or scoop.
• Diet: Elephants eat roots, grasses, leaves, bark, bananas and sugar cane. Working bulls can eat up to 300-600 pounds (130-260 kg) of food each day.
• Classification: Kingdom Animalia (animals), Phylum Chordata, Class Mammallia (mammals), Order Proboscidea, Family Elephantidae, Genus Elephas, Species E. maximus.

Badger

• The badger is a burrowing mammal with a black-and-white striped face. Badgers are nocturnal (most active at night). They are found in tropical forests, plains, woodlands, mountains, and prairies in Asia, Europe, and North America. Badgers have a life span of 11-13 years in captivity. They are closely related to skunks, martens, and weasels.
• Some badgers live in groups called clans. These clans construct complex, long-lasting networks of tunnels and chambers called setts. Members of clans communicate using sounds and scents. North American badgers are solitary; European badgers are sociable. Their enemies include people, coyotes, and dogs.
• Anatomy: Badgers range in size from 13-31 inches (33-79 cm) long plus a short tail 4-7 inches (10-18 cm) long. The American badger has brown-gray fur, black legs, long, flat feet with long, strong, curved claws, and a distinctively striped face. It weighs up to 37 pounds (17 kg).
• Diet: Badgers are omnivores (eating both animals and plants). They eat rodents, frogs, snakes, small mammals, worms, insects and their larvae, fruit, and roots. Badgers burrow for much of their food.
• Classification: Kingdom Animalia, Phylum Chordata, Class Mammalia (mammals), Order Carnivora, Family Mustelidae (weasels, ferrets, minks, skunks, otters, badgers), Genera include Taxidea and Meles.

Optional Sink or Float Parent Activity

Does a paper clip float? Does a sponge sink? Let your child find out! This experiment is simple science fun. Plus, it lets kids practice the Guess and Check Method, as they make predictions, then test their predictions through experimentation.

What You Need:

• Objects for the experiment (small sponge, paper clip, toothpick, marble, plastic spoon, penny, plastic straw, crayon, rock, small toys )
• Plastic dishpan with water added (supervision necessary)