Innholdsfortegnelse for December 2024, issue 122 i Eco Kids Planet Magazine

If you think it’s cold on land, try diving down with me 60 metres under freezing water to catch dinner for your baby puffin. I’ve just come back from a dip in the North Atlantic Ocean, and – let me just say – it is no easy feat! Before I get you up to speed on this month’s Eco Kids Planet about Diverse Divers like myself, join me back at my nest to drop off all the fish I caught on my dive. Did you know we Atlantic puffins can catch up to 62 fish at once using just our beaks? We’ve got a raspy tongue to catch them and stop them from escaping. Now, where’s my baby chick? There he is, nestled in the rocks! My mate and I…

I’m on one of South America’s Galápagos Islands. I came looking for a marine iguana (say “ma-reen ig-wah-ner”) and can see lots of them, sunbathing on the rocky coast. Ooh, bright red and orange crabs are scuttling all over them – but the iguanas don’t seem to mind. I’ll carefully approach this big one who’s resting alone – well, except for a single crab on his back! Hey, is that a white cap he’s wearing? Hello, Mr Iguana, don’t be afraid. Iguana: Me? I’m pretty fearless. Crab: I’m not! Come near me and I’ll dash off on all 10 legs. Charlie: Hey, you’re a Sally Lightfoot crab. Crab: And you’ll see why I’m called Lightfoot when I zip into a crack in the rocks to hide! Charlie: Relax. I’m just…

And don’t forget about me – Rusty! Rhona’s helper: JD Savage WORLD-CLASS WINNER! Remember I told you last time that Alexis Tinker was the new Young Wildlife Photographer of the Year for his fantastic photo of a tiny springtail and a fruiting slime mould he discovered under a log? It’s the world’s biggest photography competition, with almost 60,000 entries from around the globe, so this was a mega achievement. Also, his photo of resting Jersey tiger moths was highly commended and features in the Natural History Museum’s ongoing exhibition, too. Well, his dad was kind enough to tell us that Alexis was an Eco Kids Planet reader throughout his childhood, and says we played a part in inspiring his deep interest in nature! Hey, I wonder if my micro-missions helped…

People have wanted to explore the underwater world for as long as they’ve been swimming. Some wanted to catch fish or find shiny oyster pearls, while others wanted to recover treasures from shipwrecks. Only one problem: we can’t breathe down there! In the early days, people simply held their breath. Over the centuries, inventors came up with smarter ways to keep us underwater longer. Their first solution was heavy diving suits with large helmets. These were connected to a boat on the surface by long hoses that pumped air down to the diver. Not perfect, but it was a start! In the 16th century, the first diving bells were invented. These bell-shaped bottomless containers trapped a pocket of air inside and were lowered into the dark depths. The diver could…

Leatherbacks have been swimming around Earth’s oceans for about 100 million years. But these turtles now face so many threats – how much longer can they survive? Roaming reptiles There are seven species of sea turtles and the leatherback is by far the biggest. It can grow to over two metres in length and weigh around 900kg. This ocean giant is found nearly all over the world, including the UK. It’s known for making mammoth migrations, swimming from warm nesting spots to feeding sites in cooler waters. This often involves crossing entire oceans! A leatherback can swim more than 16,000km a year. Deep-sea diet Leatherbacks mostly eat jellyfish, though they also snack on squid, crustaceans and seaweed. They can eat over 70% of their body weight every day. All this…

If you were an underwater explorer, what amazing animal or underwater treasure would you discover? Draw or describe your discovery and tell us why it’s so special. Will it be a real creature like a glowing anglerfish or a diving penguin? Or perhaps an imaginative underwater treasure, like a sunken city full of mysterious secrets? Let your creativity dive deep and bring your discovery to life! FOUR lucky winners will each receive our brand-new Eco Kids Planet Calendar 2025! 4 TO WIN!…

Rusty: Hi, Rusty fans! We’re in the ocean checking out tiny cocoa plops. Rhona: Copepods, Rusty! Co-per-pods. Honestly, I don’t know how I cope with you! Rusty: Look at the little guys diving down. Rhona: Yes, zillions of copepods dive deep into the ocean in daytime, every day. Rusty: Let’s follow them! Rhona: Too risky, Rusty. It’s pitch black down there! Rusty: Why do they dive there, then? Rhona: It’s safer for them to hide in the darkness by day. Their predators won’t spot them without sunlight. They come up again at night to eat the phytoplankton that floats near the surface. Rusty: Are planton planks? Er, I mean, are plankton plants? Rhona: No, but they’re like plants. They make their own energy from sunlight, create oxygen and take in…

Author Matt Ralphs has been studying giant squid with experts from the University of Cambridge. He has written about them in his book, Beasts From the Deep. Holly: How deep can a giant squid dive? It’s believed that giant squid inhabit depths of between 1,000 to 4,000 metres. This depth range is called the Midnight Zone. No sunlight reaches here, so creatures live there in total darkness. The only light comes from the flashes and pulses created by some of the creatures themselves. This chemical reaction is called bioluminescence. It produces stunning light shows that are used to attract either a mate or something to eat. Ben: Is the giant squid actually giant? Oh, it’s definitely a giant. It’s one of the biggest animals on the planet. Males can grow…

This isn’t an ordinary calendar – it’s made just for curious, nature-loving kids! Packed with over 200 animal and conservation days, it’s a year-long celebration of wildlife and our planet. Start each day with a fun fact to share at breakfast or school, and mark special days for amazing creatures alongside your own events. With vibrant illustrations and fascinating facts, this calendar will inspire a love for animals and nature every single day. Size: 300 x 240mm closed, 300 x 480mm open – perfect for your wall! RRP: £12.90 Available at ecokidsplanet.co.uk/calendar How to submit your entries: To enter, take a photo of your creation and send it to win@ecokidsplanet.co.uk by 10th January 2025. Don’t forget to include your name, age and address so we know where to send your prize…