Innholdsfortegnelse for December 2022, issue 98 i Eco Kids Planet Magazine

Welcome to your ‘Extreme Animals’ issue! Are you thinking, “I can see this dude is EXTREMELY cute. Look at his fancy red-orange beak and peachy feet. Check out the white flash over his head, sleek black body and long neck. He’s even got a goofy waddle – but does he have extreme SKILLZ?” Ha! On land I’m – OK, the word ‘awkward’ has been used to describe ALL penguins… But wait ’til you see my moves in the ocean! I’m an avian athlete! My body is streamlined and my paddle-shaped flippers are super-powerful. They propel me through the water at up to 36 km an hour – faster than any other diving bird! I have to be – I sometimes need to dive for food 450 times per day. And…

From their super-sized bodies to their super-snowy homes, everything about these tigers is extreme! But can they cope with the challenges thrown at them by humans? Biggest of the bunch The Amur tiger is one of six tiger subspecies around today, along with the Bengal, Malayan, Indochinese, Sumatran and South China tigers. There were once three other subspecies (the Caspian, Bali and Javan tigers) but these sadly went extinct in the 20th century. Amur tigers are the largest big cats in the world. Males are about three metres in length and can weigh up to 300kg – that’s roughly the same weight as 67 pet cats! Females are smaller and lighter. Brrrr! Amur tigers roam the forests of far-eastern Russia and north-east China (and possibly North Korea, too). Life isn’t…

EXTREMELY FIERCE! Never cross a river if this champion chomper lurks in it. Africa’s Nile crocodiles are smaller than their saltwater cousins but are more aggressive. They see humans as food, attacking over 300 people per year. Mind you, they see pretty much every living creature as food! Fun Fact The Nile crocodile has a bite force over 30 times more powerful than a human’s! But people fear one animal even more in Africa. Do you think hippos look goofy and cute? Well, maybe – but only until they get angry! They guard their space fiercely, especially in the water. That means they charge at boats and capsize them. (They may think the boats are crocodiles.) With tough barrel-like bodies and huge mouths packed with large teeth, hippos are deadly…

Nekton’s mission is to protect the ocean by carrying out research and sharing discoveries. Our ocean is home to thousands of underwater mountains and Dr Woodall explores and studies these gigantic landforms. Henry R: How many undersea mountains are there? Seamounts are features that rise over 1,000 metres from the seafloor. They can rise out of trenches. We don’t have high-resolution maps of the seafloor everywhere yet but there are thought to be over 100,000 of them. John: How did you know deep-sea mountains existed? The first signs came when high numbers of fish were seen in the same spot in the middle of the open ocean. Then, we were able to scan the oceans using satellites to reveal uncharted mountains on the bottom. Beatrix: How are deep-sea mountains formed?…

When it comes to elephants, size means strength. Trunk, tusks, skin, legs – everything is BIG. The elephant is the mightiest of mammals by design. Like little dung beetles, the elephant’s strength means survival. They can build shelters, protect themselves from predators and find food and water. An elephant’s trunk makes it even bigger, helping it reach high branches for feeding. This super-strong, flexible fifth limb is made of about 40,000 muscles. Trunks can lift trees and make excellent weapons… Yup, a well-aimed trunk swipe can kill a lion! Bull elephant tusks can measure over three metres long. Their extraordinary structure means they can take massive force without breaking. An elephant’s mighty bite is over 30 times as strong as a human’s! African male elephants weigh around 6,000kg, while females…

FOUR budding writers will win this charming puzzle. 4 TO WIN! PENGUINS WOODEN PUZZLE 40 pieces, 125x87mm These beautiful birds make a fun jigsaw with special, hand-designed whimsy pieces for a picture-perfect, penguin-themed puzzle. All Wentworth puzzles are made using wood from sustainably managed forests. The box is also made with recycled materials. This premium quality puzzle is a sustainable and durable product made to last for years to come. Available from http://wentworthpuzzles.com How to submit your entries: Email your story to win@ecokidsplanet.co.uk before 10th January 2023 or send it to Eco Kids Planet, 41 Claremont Road, Barnet, EN4 0HR. Winners will be announced in our February 2023 issue. Please make sure you include your full name, age and address, so we know how to reach you.…

Charlie: I’ve come to the lowlands of south-west Queensland, Australia. It can get dry and super-hot here. That’s bad news for frogs. But I heard that a species called holy cross frogs live here. I want to find out how they survive the heat. There’s just one problem. It’s not hot – and it’s definitely not dry! It’s belting with rain and I didn’t bring an umbrella. I’m totally soaked! At least there are lots of round, little frogs about. They’re only about five centimetres long. Oh, and they have a cross-shaped pattern on their backs. I bet they’re holy cross frogs. I’ll try talking to one. Hello! Frog: You’re very big for a frog. Charlie: I’m not a frog. I’m a boy who’s come to chat with you. Do…

These magnificent raptors are the stuff of legend. Their name comes from the terrifying creatures of Greek mythology called harpies. Those deadly creatures had a woman’s head and body, with a bird of prey’s legs and wings. A harpy eagle’s legs are the width of a child’s wrist and its talons measure 13cm – that’s larger than a grizzly bear’s claws. Eek! Harpies live in the rainforests of Mexico, and Central and South America. Scientists believe that their presence in an area means the ecosystem is perfectly balanced. Swooping low below the forest canopy, the larger female glides on broad, powerful wings to snatch sloths and monkeys in her deadly claws. These terrible talons are so powerful, they crush and kill prey instantly. They are so strong, they can carry…

A while ago, 23 crocodile species were put through a bite test. The champion chomper was the saltwater crocodile. Scientists believe this snappy reptile has the greatest bite force of any living animal. Saltwaters slammed their snouts shut with 16,460 newtons of bite force. By contrast, lions and tigers create roughly 4,450 newtons when they bite. (Isn’t that meaty fact both wonderful and terrifying to imagine?) The biting power isn’t down to jaw shape or tooth form but sheer bulk. Huge jowls (cheeks) and massive muscle mass make this croc a force-generating machine. The scientists used bite calculations from modern saltwater crocs to work out the bite of extinct giant croc Deinosuchus (aka ‘terrible crocodile’). These monsters were the size of a limousine with a bite force of 102,750 newtons.…

If I said I was going to the park, would you want to join me? What if I told you it was called Death Valley? Doesn’t sound so much fun now, eh? But Eastern California’s Death Valley is a national park – so how did it get its name? Is it packed with zombies? No, but it’s a land of extremes. It’s one of our planet’s lowest and, in summer, hottest and driest places. Surprisingly, it has lots of wildlife! There are kangaroo rats that can live their whole lives without ever drinking a drop of water. Their bodies somehow find enough moisture in the dry seeds they eat! There are even amphibians (say “am-fib-i-ans”) – those animals that live on land and in water. That includes salamanders, toads, treefrogs…