zoo – Page 4 – TRAVEL WORDS

We’re goin’ to the zoo, zoo, zoo

This month Becky’s Squares are focusing on odd things – you can interpret this any way you want so I am going to take you all to the zoo this month. San Diego Zoo to be precise and the photos featured will be either odd looking animals, animals with odd names, odd facts or slightly odd photos. I hope you’ll enjoy my selection.

Day 13

Zebras are generally thought to have white coats with black (sometimes brown) stripes. That’s because if you look at most zebras, the stripes end on their belly and toward the inside of the legs, and the rest is all white. However (there had to be a catch, right?), some zebras are born with genetic variations that make them all black with white stripes, or mostly dark with the striped pattern on just part of their coats. And as it turns out, zebras have black skin underneath their hair.

There are three different species: plains, mountain, and Grevy’s zebras. Different zebra species have different types of stripes, from narrow to wide. In fact, the farther south on the African plains you travel, the farther apart the stripes on the zebras get! The Grevy’s zebra is the largest and also has the thinnest stripes, extending all the way down to their white belly; on the hindquarters the stripes are vertical until above the hind legs.

If you want to join in either daily, weekly or just on the odd occasion then please visit Becky, the only rule is that the main photo MUST be a square – that is four equal sides! You have been warned 😉

We’re goin’ to the zoo, zoo, zoo

Day 12

The Great Blue Heron is the largest of the North American herons with long legs, a sinuous neck, and thick, daggerlike bill. Within colonies territorial display includes ruffling the long breeding plumes. Highly adaptable, it thrives around all kinds of waters from subtropical mangrove swamps to desert rivers to the coastline of southern Alaska.

We’re goin’ to the zoo, zoo, zoo

Day 11

New Guinea singing dogs are different from domestic dog breeds in several ways. Physically, their upper first molar, called a carnassial tooth, is quite large, a trait normally present only in wild canid species such as wolves. Then, their eyes seem to be more reflective of light than domestic dogs’, shining bright green in low light. The singers also appear to have social or play behaviours that are different from that of wolves and dogs. They like to be tidy and neat, and they regularly groom themselves, much like a cat.

When in a group, one singing dog starts singing and then others join in at different pitches, each with its own unique voice. Singers also whine, yelp, bark, and scream (a drawn-out yelp).

We’re goin’ to the zoo, zoo, zoo

Day Ten

Graceful guanacos are related to camels. Pronounced “gwa NAH ko,” they live throughout South America in dry, open country in the mountains or on the plains. Llamas and Alpacas are the domesticated descendants of Guanacos. Baby guanacos, called chulengos or guanaquitos, are able to run soon after birth.

In communication: When the ears are up, it means the guanaco is relaxed. Ears forward means the guanaco is alarmed, and ears laid flat signals aggression. Oh, and they also spit like camels.

We’re goin’ to the zoo, zoo, zoo

Day Nine

Africa has hippos, and the Americas have capybaras! The capybara has something in common with the hippo: its eyes, ears, and nostrils are all found near the top of the its head. During the dry season, when fresh grasses and water plants dry up, capybaras eat reeds, grains, melons, and squashes. They also eat their own poop to get beneficial bacteria to help their stomach break down the thick fibre in their meals.

Originally thought to be a pig of some sort, we now know that the capybara is a rodent, closely related to cavies and guinea pigs. Standing 2 feet (60 cm) tall at the shoulder and built somewhat like a barrel with legs, the “capy” has long, light brown, shaggy hair, a face that looks like a beaver’s, no tail, and slightly webbed feet.