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Printed from https://www.writing.com/main/view_item/item_id/1682796-Unique--Wonderful
by globug
Rated: E · Other · Children's · #1682796
Written as an unique A-B-C book. I plan is to do a coloring contest for illustratrations.
To the reader:
This book is dedicated to students everywhere in honor of The Almighty, Creator of all things and all life.  It is meant to give children of all ages a TINY peek at how great a variety of creatures that were created and given to us.  Each one of us, in the same way, is uniquely and wonderfully made, just like each one of these creations. 

This book was created as an unique A - Z book of amazing critters, not the same old simple ABC book for beginning readers.  Having searched to find a variety of interesting and exciting facts about each entry, with intent to make it fun to enjoy discovering while you read or hear these pages read aloud.  It is my hope that children of any age will also gain a lifelong love of reading and a foundation for a lifetime love of learning.

When you see this mark (*) then you know the word before it is in this book’s content dictionary.


To Teachers:
Included to assist in meeting educational standards are
          Geographical facts and maps
          Content weights and measurements
          Content dictionary and pronunciation guides
          As well as fun information and animal facts to assist your instruction to align with standards based education. 
          This is a written as a low to medium level, high interest text.





Legend
kmh = kilometers per hour
mph = miles per hour
m = meter
” = inches
’ = feet - ft
g = grams
cm = centimeters
mm = millimeter
oz = ounce


Content Dictionary

A.K.A. - the abbreviation or acronym* for Also Known As (like a nickname)
Acre - (a׳-ker) a unit of area used to measure land in the United States
Acronym - (ăk׳-rә-nim) a symbol or word formed by using the 1st letters of a group of          words: such as United States of America - USA or U.S.A. 
Adopted - (ә-dopt׳-ed) chosen to live with and be cared for by someone
Agility - (ә-jil׳-ә-tē) able to move quickly and freely- like a gymnast is agile
Algae - (al׳-jē) a type of plant that lives in water and no true roots, leaves or stems
Annually - (an׳-yōō-әl-lē) happening once per year
Aquatic – (ă-kwă′-tĭk) creatures that live in the water
Aracnid (ә-rak׳-nid) spiders & other critters having 2 body segments and 4 pairs of legs
Arthropod- (är׳-thrә-pŏd) insects having a segmented body & four pairs of legs
Baleen - (bә-lēn׳) cartilaginous (cartilage not bone) teeth-like plates
Blow - (blō) exhaled stream of air and water
Bog - (bŏg) soft, waterlogged ground, swamp
Breaching - (brēch׳-ing) leaping completely out of the water
Camouflaged – (kăm׳-ə-flăj) to be hidden from enemies, disguised
Carnivorous - (kär-niv׳-әr-әs) meat-eating
Coarse - (kōrs) wiry like, wiry hair
Copepods - (kō׳-pә-podz) any small oar-footed crustaceans
Crest - (krest) top of the head
Crustacean – (krә-stā-shŭn) having a skeleton or shell on the outside of the body
Dubbed - (dŭbd) given a new name
Ecosystems - (ĕk′-ō-sĭs-tәm) physical environment considered to be a unit - supporting parts of a whole
Enacted - (ĕn-ăkt׳-әd) put into effect, begun
Enormous - (ē-nộr׳-mәs) very big, huge
Exploiting – (ĕks׳-ploit-ĭng) using another for selfish purposes
Extensile - (ĕx-stĕn׳-sil) able to be stretched out
Forage - (for׳-ij) to search for food
Hemoglobin - (hē׳-mә-glō'-bәn) red blood cells
Herbivore / Herbivorous - (hûr-biv׳-әr-әs) plant eating
Incubated - (ǐn׳-kyә-bāt-әd) use body heat to keep eggs warm until they hatch
Injustice - (ǐn-jus׳-tis) not fair
Insectivorous - (ĭn-sĕk-tĭv′- әr әs) organisms that feed on insects
Intricate – (ĭn׳-trĭ-kĭt) having many complex parts, steps or elements
Iridescent - (ǐr-ә-dәs׳-әnt) brightly colored
Mandible - (măn׳-dә-bәl) jaw or lower beak
Membrane - (mәm׳-brān) a thin layer of tissue covering surfaces or separating organs of                              an animal or plant
Nocturnal - (nŏk-tûr׳-nәl) sleeps in the daylight
Omnivorous - (ŏm-nǐv-әr-әs) eats plants and animals
Pale – (pāle) light color
Parthenogenic - (pär-thә-nō-jĕn׳-ik) being both male and female - unisexual
Photophores - (fō-tō-förz) an organ producing light made from a certain bacteria
Pigment - (pĭg׳-mәnt) any substance used for coloring
Plumage - (plōō-mĭj) having feathers
Prehensile - (prĭ-hәn׳-sĭl) used for grabbing or seizing, to wrap around objects
Projections - (prә-jĕk׳-shәns) something that thrusts outward
Reprieve - (rē-prēēv׳) a break or rest
Retracts – (rē-trăkts) to pull back or inside
Rituals - (rĭch׳ – ōō -әl) prescribed, detailed order of ceremony or acts performed          regularly and faithfully
Sargasso - (sär-gas׳-ō) a certain species of marine algae or seaweed 
Savoring - (sā׳-vәr-ing) enjoying, making it last
Segmented - (sĕg׳-mәnt-әd) having divided parts of a whole
Shrill – (shrĭl ) making a sharp, high pitched tone
Silica - (sĭl׳ĭ-kә) a white or colorless crystalline compound found in the soil or rocks
Stowaway- (stō׳-ә-wā) one who hides aboard a ship to gain free passage
Streamlined - (strēm׳-līnd) a body made to resist being slowed down
Talons - (tăl׳-әns) like claws
Temperament - (tĕm׳-prә-mәnt) manner of thinking, behaving or reacting
Terrestrial – (tәr-rĕs′-tre-ăl) creatures that live on land
Tolerating - (tǒl׳-ә-rāt-ĭng) to put up with something you don’t like
Transparent - (trăns-pár׳-әnt) like clear glass
Tubular - (tōō׳-byә-lәr) like a tube- round with a hole in the center
Venomous - (vĕn׳- ә-mәs) poisonous
Whimpering - (hwĭm׳-pәr-ĭng) crying, whining
Withers - (wĭth׳-erz) the high part of the back, located between the front shoulder blades
Xanthophyll - (zăn׳-thә-fĭl) brown algae (al-jee) – see above





Table of Contents

Aardvark
Bearded Dragon
Cicada
Daddy Long Legs
Eagle
Fin Whale
Gecko
Hummingbird
Ice Fish
Jaguar
Kakapo
Lantern fish
Marmot
Nurse Shark
Okapi
Panda
Quarterhorse
Red-legged Booby
Sage Grouse
Tailor bird
Underwings
Venus Fly Trap
Woodpecker
Xanthophyll
You
Zephyr Lilly




Unique and Wonderful

A---------Aardvark
My name means ‘earth pig’
Please don’t confuse me with an anteater
I truly am a mammal but have very little hair
The little bit I do have is a dull brownish grey to a pink color
I measure between four and six feet long
And stand about 24” tall, weighing between 85-145 lbs
I have a long pointy nose at the end of a short neck
connected to a big humped-back
I eat termites and other bugs called grubs with my 12 inch sticky tongue
YUM, YUM
I have no front teeth & my back teeth keep growing my whole life 
My long tubular* ears fold and close which allows me to
          poke my head into small holes looking for food
I don’t like mud pies in my ears, DO YOU?
My long, thick, spoon shaped claws make digging easy and fast
I can not see very well but my senses of hearing and smell make up for that
My hind legs have five claws each and are shorter than my front legs
which, have only four claws each
Being nocturnal* keeps me awake at night
Since my tail drags I am not very hard to track
In captivity, I only live about 23 years
A few years less than when I’m free in my homeland of Africa
Lions, leopards and even people have killed and eaten me for dinner
You might not say YUM, YUM to that either!

B----- Bearded Dragon
I am naturally a native of Australia
And come in colors of gray, brown or orange
Adopted* into a human habitat not my own I look small and harmless
But beware, my weapons are hidden
Pet me toward my tail and you’re safe
Toward my head and you are poked by my spines or scales
I’m a bearded dragon, dubbed* Flapjack
In my man-made kingdom I allow two dogs and two cats
We’ve reached a peace treaty
(Barely tolerating* each other actually)

But then…a new dog invaded my space
He answered to the name of “Lucky”
Though my skin changes color in self-defense
Lucky was on to my disguise in an instant
I was minding my own business I tell you, when…
Lucky decided a closer look was in order and
Trotted over to check me out
He sniffed… wondering I think if I would be tasty
Maybe Lucky just wanted to play but I wanted no part of it
Instinctively I transformed into a dagger, stiff and rigid
Then I offered a scent mere humans can not smell
Lucky’s nose wrinkled up and he quickly retreated, tail tucked
Whimpering* like I had hurt him…the poor thing
Lucky slinked away fast and kept his distance
I too, quickly scampered the opposite direction
We each decided we’d keep an eye on the other
From opposite corners, our stares split the air
If a move was made we both were keenly aware

As we were savoring a few moments reprieve
That human thought it funny to place me on that sleeping dog’s back
I’ll simply ignore that injustice
The new treaty enacted that day kept my kingdom intact
Peace and tolerance were restored on the home-front
That is;
         Until, the next critter comes along trying to take over my kingdom.

C----------Cicada
A Whole Lot of Bugs
Cicada I am
About a million per acre*
Which, is about as big as your city block
Cicada I am
Hidden underground I live
Munching on tree roots all day and night
I stay hidden until my seventeenth birthday
Then I crawl out and sprout wings
To find a mate
Cicada I am
Whose idea was this?
There must be a secret reason for this strange behavior
Humans may never know why I was created this way
I only get to fly and mate for a week or two before I die
Just digging and eating the rest of my life away underground
Humans don’t give me a thought until I come out singing
Cicada I am
Although, some call us locusts and
Some legends say that we eat children…
DO NOT believe everything you hear!
We don’t even bite humans, they probably taste nasty!
No telling how many plants we may gobble up though
We are only about 3.8 cm long (2 inches)
And can be found in any part of the world’s warmer climates
You’ll hear us singing in the late summer trees in the USA at least

D----------Daddy long-legs
Some have named me Harvestman
And may be found in many warmer climates
Some people think I am a spider but I am an arthropod* or arachnid*
Which means, I have a horny segmented* body and jointed legs
My long legs make me seem much larger than I am
With my eight long jointed legs
Even though it is said we’re very poisonous
You have NO need to worry I do not bite people like spiders can
Our mouths are too small to bite through human skin
If you disturb me I give off a bad odor instead
P.U.
I like to eat small or dead insects and fallen fruit
Some of my relatives live in the tropical regions
There they all make their home in one bush
      and can cause the bush to shake violently whenever you disturb them
… don’t be fooled, it is NOT the wind!
That would sure scare me away, wouldn’t it you also?

E------------Eagle (bald)
An Eagle is the national bird of the United States
         and symbolizes North America’s freedom
They live all over North America
It is not uncommon for some female species to be larger than the males,
As is true about the female bald eagle, she is 35” to 37” long
Her wingspan varies from 79 to 90 inches across
While the male bald eagle has a body length between 30” to 34”
With a wingspan ranging from 72 to 85 inches
Northern birds are quite a bit larger than their southern relatives
An average lifespan is probably about fifteen to twenty years
However, one captive eagle at West Stephentown, NY lived to be at least 48 years old
Mated Bald eagles remain together until one dies.  No divorces here!
Bald eagles weigh from ten to fourteen pounds
Their skeleton weighs about half a pound
But their feathers weigh twice that much!
Their body temperature is about 102 degrees Fahrenheit
These guys have long, sharp talons* 
One on the back of each leg
         and sharp beaks helping them eat their food
Which may be a cute little bunny rabbit but,
          we all have to eat something, right?
Besides, it helps keep the bunnies from over-populating the world!

F----Fin Whale
We are an enormous* sleek-bodied, and streamlined* whale
The second largest animal on earth
Our closest relative, the blue whale, is the largest.
We’re named for our dorsal fin, which is approximately 60 cm high (about 2’)
We will grow to a length of 18 to 25 meters (59 to 82 ft)
        and weigh 30 to 80 tons, that’s heavier and longer than your biggest trucks
Newborn calves are quite large also, weighing more than 2 tons
         and are up to 6m (20 ft) in length
We travel in schools of up to 100 whales
Traveling the world over, we are most common in the southern hemisphere
We don’t like to swim in ice water!  Do you?
Our favorite meal is tiny, shrimp like crustaceans called krill
Don’t you think it’s funny that one of the largest feeds on one of the smallest!
Like other baleen* whales, we also eat squid and a variety of fish
        including anchovies and herring
Because of our streamlined* shape, we are fast swimmers,
        reaching speeds of over 30 kmh (19 mph)
Like most whales, fin whales have dark gray
        or brownish black backs and white bellies
The right side of our head, jaws, and baleen is white
        and the left side of our head is slate black
Maybe it’s that way to trick other fish to think we are swimming sideways.
The fin whale’s blow* is tall and narrow
        Shooting about 4 to 6 m (13 to 20 ft) high; (about the 2nd floor of a building)
How’s that for “blowing your top?”
We get our exercise by wrestling with each other,
by slapping the water vigorously with our large tails and by breaching*
These activities build strength and agility* but also prepare us for self-defense

G----------Gecko,
I’m a member of a family of small, harmless lizards
You can find me mainly in tropical regions
Certain species of my family make a loud clicking noise that sounds like saying “gecko”
That’s how we got our name
We are the only lizards that make any sound other than hissing
Geckos are often seen at night running upside down on the ceilings of homes
Some geckos can cling to smooth surfaces because each toe has a disk made of scales                                                                                                 with many tiny brush-like projections,* which create friction with the surface
Some of us have sticky feet and can hang by only one foot
It’s amazing that we don’t track in dirt...Moms like that!
Geckos vary in body length from 1.5 - 25 cm (1½ - 10 inches)
We often have broad, flattened heads and thick, stumpy tails
Most species have immoveable eyelids with a transparent membrane* covering them
         which are kept clean by a thick, sticky tongue
Most geckos feed at night on insects and are attracted to common household pests
Maybe that’s why in some places we are believed to bring “good luck”
Females usually lay two white, hard-shelled eggs
Most geckos are tan, brown, or grayish
Except for the day geckos of Madagascar and other parts of Africa
those relatives are bright green with spots of orange or yellow
The tree geckos of New Zealand are green or yellowish with pale* markings
Geckos are not venomous,* although, in some regions they are feared as poisonous
The banded gecko is the most widespread North American species
The Eurasian Mediterranean gecko is known to be a stow-away* on ships and trucks
The Tokay of Southeast Asia is a large gecko with three different loud calls
This species is often sold as a pet even though
        they have an unpleasant temperament* and are capable of delivering a severe bite
There are over 900 species worldwide
Some are parthenogenic*

H----------Hummingbirds
There are over 300 species of hummers living in the Americas
Our smallest cousin is the bee hummer of Cuba
Most of us are about 8 cm (3”) tall and weigh less than 2 grams (less than 1 oz)
We can fly in any direction, up, down, sideways, even backward without turning around 
We’re the only bird able to do these tricks!
We’re able to fly very fast but can stop suddenly and land as light as a small feather
Our tiny feet are used only for perching, we don’t even push off to fly
If one of us hummers wants to travel even two inches, we must fly
Ruby-throats are notable for their long-distance migration,
        Annually flying non-stop across the Gulf of Mexico,
                a minimum distance of 800 km (500 mi)
Because we migrate very long distances, we’ve been known to hitch a ride on larger birds
The ruby-throat is the only hummer found east of the Mississippi River
Our heartbeats and breathing rates are fast, and our body temperatures are high
You’ll never see a fat hummer even though we must eat every 10 minutes, all day long,
        on a diet of sugar we get from the nectar of flowers and tree sap
To build strong muscles we get protein from tiny insects and pollen
We have beaks like tiny straws
        where our tongues take up nectar at about 13 licks per second
Males are slightly smaller than females, being about 5.5 cm (about 2.17 in”) long
        and weighing only 1.95 g (about 0.07 oz)
We male hummers are very serious about guarding our territory
Our brightly colored and iridescent feathers make us proud
         Most of us have metallic green plumage
The male’s throat is often glittering red, blue, or emerald green 
We tend to build small cup-shaped nests covered with lichens and spider webs
Two white eggs are laid, and incubated* only by the female

I------------Icefish,
These guys live only in the Antarctic Ocean.
They have no hemoglobin*,
            which makes their blood transparent
They look pale and have large hearts
         that hearts weigh as much as the heart of a small mammal
Don’t confuse us with noddlefish, (that is not noodle like macaroni - it’s like a nod)
            Which are also called Icefish, and found in warmer Asian waters
Icefish produce natural antifreeze in order to survive in that freezing water
Scientists are studying their blood to treat human blood disorders
Whalers came to call them crocodile fish because of their large toothy mouths
They feed on krill, copepods* and other fish.
They are still quite a mystery to scientists and they like it that way

J------------Jaguar
We’re talking-the animal,
not the car, we are the largest and most powerful member
of the American cat family.
We big cats are found mostly in the dense forests of Central America and Brazil 
We’re also found in the southern United States
            and all the way to northern Argentina in South America
A full grown jaguar is about 112 to 185 cm long (44 to 73 in)
         See, we have big, bigger and biggest just like humans
If you include the tail, we add 45 to 75 cm in length (18 to 30 in)
Standing we are about 60 cm high at the shoulder (2 ft)
You will know us by our coats which are a rich yellow to rusty-red
A few of us are black, with black spots,
            each consisting of a circle of spots surrounding a central spot.
We have a very large head and body
But our legs are fairly short and thick which makes us skilled climbers
We’re probably the only cats that like water and are excellent swimmers
We’re not picky eaters either, most any bird, or terrestrial,* or aquatic* animal will do
You may fear us but we rarely attack humans…you don’t taste that good!
In the pre-Columbian civilizations of Peru and Central America,
            we were worshiped as gods
Many jaguars will mate in any season.
The gestation period is only 93 to 105 days,
The Mom gives birth to one to four cubs, (not kittens)
Cubs remain with the mother only until about the age of two. 
Jaguars have been known to live up to 22 years in captivity.

K--------Kakapo
I am a rare, flightless parrot
From the North and South islands of New Zealand
        And considered endangered
Kakapos are nocturnal so I am also known as the owl parrot
I am about 50 cm long (about 20 in)
I’m the heaviest parrot, weighing in at 8 pounds (3.5 kilograms)
My plumage is dull green with bars of dark brown and streaks of yellow
My wings are useful only for gliding or for balance while running
A kakapo lives on the ground
hiding in holes under rocks or tree roots during the day
and comes out at night to forage* 
I feed on leaves, fruits, and seeds
Not your typical bird!  I mean I can’t even fly!
They classify me as a bird mainly because of my feathers & wings.
You’ve probably wished you could fly
         But, it’s not meant for just everyone, ya know!

L ------ Lanternfish
We are Lanternfish, & yes, we are like an underwater light
         any of over 200 different deep-sea fishes
                 with light-producing organs on our head or body.
         which give off green, yellow, or red light,
                   scientists call these photophores*)
                   some have headlights, others taillights or ground lights
                   but each species is unique.
Lanternfish are found in all oceans from the Arctic to the Antarctic.
We usually live in the middle ocean depths between 300 and 1200 m (1000 to 4000 ft). Some of our cousins like to migrate toward the surface nightly,
        and return to the darkness below at daybreak
Most of us Lanternfish are small and measure 6.5 to 10 cm (2.5 to 4 in) in length.
We have large eyes, but we’re not like most deep-sea fishes because
         We are attractively colored, maybe gray, brown, silvery white, or even bluish
                  including many who wear iridescent* colors.
We Lanternfish feed on small prawns and other crustaceans*
But we, ourselves, serve as an important food source for larger fish also

M-------Marmot
I am a Marmot, considered to be a rodent
        though I believe, I’m of the “Mickey Mouse” genealogy!
Not of the filthy dumpster diver families
You will find me in North America, Europe, and Asia
My snout is blunt, my ears short, with a short, bushy tail
But I’m very quick on my short legs
The cry of the marmot is a shrill* whistle.
My fur is quite coarse*
I make my home underground in burrows
Preferring to hibernate during the winter
My sleep time varies with the severity of the climate
Marmots are herbivorous* and will eat your garden if given the chance
European marmots are found in the high peaks of the Pyrenees and Alps Mountains
The marmot of Eastern Europe and Asia is called a Bobac
Eastern North American marmots are called woodchucks or groundhogs
Have you heard our popular tongue twister? 
It goes like this;
“How much wood could a woodchuck chuck,
            if a woodchuck could chuck wood?”
Say that fast ten times!
I’m gray or brown, with a tan-ish color stomach
And grow to be about 0.6 m (2 ft) in length,
with a bushy tail up to 0.25 m (0.82 ft) long.
A cousin found in Northwestern North America is called;
The Whistler, or Hoary Marmot,
they are larger and white and gray in color
Another of our cousins found from southwestern Canada to New Mexico
Is called a Yellow-bellied Marmot
which does not mean that he is a coward
         He simply has a yellow tummy

N-------Nurse Shark
We are also called the Cookie-cutter shark
One of nearly 375 species of sharks identified by scientists living today
We range in size from the dwarf dogfish, less than 20 cm (8 in) in length
          to the massive whale shark which can reach lengths of more than 15 m (50 ft).  No matter where we live
          sharks play an extremely important role in our ecosystems*
Sharks regulate ecosystem populations by hunting and killing other animals
          especially the weak or diseased
When hunting or feeding
          almost one-third of our brain is devoted to the sense of smell
Cookie-cutter sharks leave chunky round holes in our prey,
          which usually survive, about like you do when you fall & scrape a knee

Using special lips modified for sucking
          and a movable tongue that retracts*  to form a suction
          we attach to the side of our prey then presses our sharp teeth into their flesh
          then use a twisting motion to cut and remove a round plug of flesh
We may be small but Nurse sharks pack a mean bite!
          And prey on large animals like whales, dolphins, tuna and sharks
It is said that we have even bitten into submarines!
We act like vacuum cleaners, sucking up bottom-dwelling fish
    Like shrimp, squid, octopus, and shellfish from holes and crevices
If you’re like me, I wonder why we have the name “nurse.”

O-------Okapi
I am a forest giraffe, a member of the giraffe family
Mistakenly, I was once thought to be a relative of horses or donkeys
Then my cloven hooves gave me away! (cloven means two-toed)
I am found mainly in the hard to reach rain forests of western Uganda
I lived a very private, secluded life until discovered in 1901 AD.
Humans like to be nosey I think!
I am said to be the latest mammal found, and considered rare,
         but not enough is known yet about us to classify us as threatened or endangered
My short, stout body ranges from 150 to 170 cm (5 to 5.5 ft) high at the shoulders
And I’m 200 to 213 cm (6.5 to 7 ft) in length
My cute tail is 30 to 42 cm (12 to 17 in) long and ends in a tuft
Weighing in at 200 to 250 kg (460 to 550 lb)
Male Okapis have two small, skin-covered bony knobs on the forehead
My long, flexible blue-black prehensile* tongue is used to rip leaves from branches
We’re the only mammal able to clean our ears with our tongues!
         (EWWW GROSS…don’t you try that at home)
I have large, dark eyes and large, wide ears
My short, soft hair is reddish brown to black
I like my large, white stripes on my back legs and flanks,* similar to a zebra.
Visually blending into my surroundings, I’m difficult to spot.
I feed during the day, usually just before dawn and after sunset
Each male generally inhabits a territory of about 6 sq km (about 2.3 sq mi)
We usually live alone, except when mating
After mating, the female lives in isolation
         until she gives birth to one calf 14 to 15 months later.

P------- Panda (Giant)
A common name for an uncommon bear
Once thought to be a raccoon relative, but is all bear
We are found in areas of western China.
We resemble other bears in general appearance
Except for the black patches over our eyes, ears, and legs
      and a black band across the shoulders, all other bears are one color
We sound more like a sheep rather than a roar like other bears
Females weigh about 80 kg (about 180 lb),
        and males weigh about 100 kg (about 220 lb).
Our young are born three to six months later weighing only 85 to 140 g (3 to 5 oz).
Two cubs may be born, but only one survives.
The rumor about us having a so-called sixth front toe is not true,
it is not a digit or claw but an enlarged wrist bone
                 which is used as a thumb for grasping food
We live in bamboo forests at high elevations and eat mainly bamboo
This can be a problem because many bamboo species flower at the same time
        then die shortly afterward, this sometimes leads to starvation
When that happens, we may feed on gardens, crops, and even chickens
        But, we are little threat to people except in close encounters.
We do not hibernate like other bears either
But do take my winter shelter in dens or hollow trees
Young pandas are in danger of survival and cry loudly for help
        requiring great care from their mother to avoid extinction

Q-------Quarterhorse
The name does not mean that we are one forth of a horse!                                                      A Quarter Horse is a breed of riding and sprint-racing horses                                                  The first all-American breed, the mount of a cowboy                                                                                        We usually stand about 142 to 163 cm (about 56” to 64")                                                                            Real cowboys measure us by how many hands high we are at the whithers*
(usually 14 to 16 hands-fingers pointing toward the wall, palm away from you)
Cowboys needed a big strong horse!
Our backs are short and straight, our chests are wide and deep
        and our shoulders long and muscular
A long, flexible neck supports our short, broad heads
We have a wide forehead, large, alert eyes, and ears set wide apart
The quarter horse comes in almost any color.
But, if you want to have a registered Quarter horse,
            No white markings are allowed above the knees, except on the face
Human settlers in17th-century Virginia imported stock
            from which the English Thoroughbred descended
They bred those horses with the Chickasaw pony
          descendants from wild Spanish horses
The result was the useful quarter horse
          for farm work, logging, light harness work and racing
We take our name from the length of the first racetracks on the American frontier
          which were a quarter-mile long and straight.
Because of our quick start and speed, we soon became popular for working cattle
The quarter horse often is used as a pack animal for camping and          
hunting trips in mountain country of the American Wild West.
It also is used as a mount for calf-roping and bulldogging at rodeos, barrel racing, parades, and recreational riding.

R-------Red-legged Booby
Stop laughing at my name!
That’s enough already!
Sailors chose my name, I didn’t!
Sailors called us boobies because we liked to land on ships
        and allowed ourselves to be easily caught
My legs are red and my feet are webbed like a duck’s feet
I am large seabird and live on tropical islands around the world.
Many of us are about 28” long (71 cm)
We nest in large colonies near the ocean’s shore
        and raise only 1 or 2 chicks per season
Our survival is threatened because you humans
        are exploiting* anchovies, our favorite food source

S------- Sage Grouse
Grouse is just another word for a large plump bird
            we are about 26” - 30” in length
We are most famous for our intricate* courtship dance rituals*
A certain traditional area (like a stage) is commonly used for generations
The males strut around puffing out air sacs in their white chests,
      Fan their long, pointed tails out with wings spread out and heads held high
            Flashing bright yellow patches of plumage over their eyes
                Then we run around trying to win the females’ attention                   
That may sound a bit like teenagers’ activities, right?
Humans seem to think it’s quite comical to watch our mating dance!
After mating, the females incubate* the 6-9 olive-green eggs for 25 – 27 days
        Then teaches the hatchlings what & how to eat, and how to avoid enemies
              Sage, our main food during winter, is abundant on the high plains of
                    Western North America, where we call home
Our digestive system doesn’t like hard seeds, but we may eat insects                   
Our habitat has become threatened by farmland clearing and overgrazing
So PLEASE, HELP PROTECT US

T-------Tailorbird
I guess I got my name because of my nest building skills
Using my needlelike bill I weave leaves together
and pull the leaves to form a cuplike pocket for a nest
Then I line the nest with grass or other soft items
My wife lays 3 to six eggs in my creation
Living in the forest undergrowth throughout southeastern Asia and Africa
         provides a comfortable home
There are many species of warblers but,
I may be the only bird with sewing skills
I’m fairly small and grow to about 13 cm (about 5 in) in length
You can’t really see physical differences between the males and females
Both are slender and have long, thin, pointed bills
Our soft, thick plumage is green or dull gray on the back,
and whitish or yellow on the underside
We eat mostly small insects which are in abundant supply.
         I’ve never heard of a bug shortage, have you?


U-------Underwing Moth
Big ones, brown ones, gray ones, small ones
Some as big as your head!
Our colors only show in flight because
         our underwings are hidden by our front wings.
When in flight we show bold patterns in orange, yellow, red, or white
Underwing is a common name for over 200 species of uncommon moths,
         mostly found in the eastern United States
All moths start their life cycle as a hairy, worm-like larva called a caterpillar...
         But you probably knew that already!
The caterpillar eats at night and rests during the day,
We are well camouflaged* against the twigs or bark on which we rest
When our growth is complete, after about one month, we emerge as an adult moth.
We try to rest on trees that match our natural color 
Our brightly colored underwings serve as protection
When disturbed, the sudden brilliant flash of color may startle or confuse the predator,
Just long enough for an extra moment to escape
The bright hind wing colors may also deflect an attack away from the moth’s body, resulting in wing damage but not death.
During the summer, the female deposits her hardy eggs into crevices
where they’ll wait to hatch the following spring.

V-------Venus Flytrap
We are a native plant of North and South Carolina, in the USA
          We feed mostly on insects and other small animals. 
We’re found in or near bogs*, and grow to a height of about 30 cm (about 12 in).
         Our flowers are small and white.
The lower portion of our leaves is like a blade.
         The outer edge of each leaf is modified to form a trap.
         Each leaf is divided into two halves, wearing long, sharp spines.
The center of the leaf wears trigger hairs to spring the trap!
When insects or other small creatures attracted by the sweet fluids on my leaves
         touch the center of the leaves, it activates the trigger hairs.
That causes the leaf to snap shut around my trapped prey!  Dinner’s ready!
After digestion by glands within the leaf, the leaf reopens, ready for seconds!
Insectivorous/Carnivorous plants live all over the world,
but, because of people's fascination, they’ve collected too many of us,
            so, now we’ve become endangered and are grown in greenhouses for protection.


W------- Woodpecker
I am called that because I was created to do just such a silly job.
         Peck wood!
My job is to tap my beak against trees all day
         There is a good reason for it though - I keep the bug and insect populations down!
My long, extensile* tongue with a hard, spear-shaped tip.
         allows me to eat the tree sap for dessert!
It’s a nasty job eating bugs...but, somebody has to do it!
         Don’t you try tapping your nose on a tree all day!
I am able to cling to the trunks of trees by
         using my toes, with long sharp claws, and          
                   my tail feathers also help balance me!
Woodpeckers are found in many parts of the world except Australia
         and are part of a family of over 200 species of birds
                   I’m sometimes called a Flicker or Sapsucker.
I come in sizes from about 45 cm to about 53 cm long.
         I am usually black, with a red crest,* a white line down my long neck,
                   with a white flash in the wings.
The most familiar woodpecker is a small, black-and-white species,
          called the Downy Woodpecker which lives in much of North America and Eurasia


X--------Xanthophyll
My name seems a bit tricky to pronounce so here is a clue
It sounds like zan - tho- fill
…I know, I know, I also wondered why an “x”
sounds like “z” and “ph” like “f” when it’s so simple to say.
I am one of about 10,000 species of these mostly single-celled algae*
We live in freshwater or marine water, (A.K.A. ocean water) all over the world.
Xanthophyll is the algae with yellowish brown pigment, or color
         which masks the green of the chlorophyll* that is also present
Brown algae are mainly marine algae and known as seaweeds or kelp
Like the free-floating Sargasso* weed.
There are about 1500 species of this type of algae known to humans
Most xanthophylls have cell walls containing silica* or calcium.
You may be surprised to learn that these seaweeds are harvested to become
         an ingredient in ice cream, some daily vitamin pills or iodine.
It’s really healthy for you to eat too - the seaweed not the ice cream silly!
Ice cream is just for fun…and to taste good with birthday cake!

Y-------You
YOU, each one of YOU
Are made so perfectly and wonderfully
That every hair on your head is numbered and
Every freckle on your body, every wrinkle, every cell
All are measured and counted by God
He wanted YOU to be just as YOU are
From the color of your eyes and hair
To the size of your toes and nose
He chose YOU for your parents and family
To have the brothers and sisters you have
OR to have none of them!
Be happy with what IS
Because there will always be some
Who wish they had what YOU have!
Believe me now or when you have grown
This fact is so true…just you wait and see!
If YOU believe that Jesus is Lord and savior
He even has a special name just for YOU in heaven
It matters not; what other name people may call YOU.
Because YOU will receive a name that NO ONE ELSE has ever had!
That is how unique and wonderful each of YOU truly is.

Z-------Zephyr Lily
I know, you were thinking we would have to do zebra, right?
It was quite a job to find a different “z” word, but not impossible!
A Zephyr Lily is one member of a common family of flowers 
You may have seen them in yards or parks
These plants look like large, long blades of grass,
         Except during their blooming season
When you will see tall stems of flowers scattered throughout the tall grass-like blades.
Some lilies bloom in spring, others in late summer or fall
Many are bright yellow or orange and shaped like certain ice cream cones.
Most species live from the U.S Gulf Coastal Plain to southern Argentina.
In warm climates they can be grown outdoors
Easter Lilies are one example which are harvested in the wild
         in the southern United States.
You’ve likely seen the bright white blooms in the springtime near Easter 
One Zephyr Lily, called the Atamasco Lily, grows wild as far north as Pennsylvania.
It produces grass-like leaves up to 30 cm (12 in) long. 
Its delicate flowers are white or sometimes pink 
         marked with purple veins making a beautiful potted plant.

Just for Fun
Names for Animal Young
Bear          Cub
Beaver          Pup, kit, kitten
Bird          Nestling
Bobcat          Kitten, cub
Buffalo          Calf, yearling, spike-bull
Camel          Calf, colt
Canary          Chick
Cat          Kitten
Cattle          Calf
Chicken          Chick
chimpanzee          Infant
Cod          Coling, scrod
Condor          Chick
Deer          Fawn
Dinosaur          Hatchling
Dog          Pup, puppy, whelp
Duck          Duckling
Eel          Elver
Eagle          Hatchling
Elephant          Calf
Fish          Fry
Frog          Polliwog, tadpole
Giraffe          Calf
Goat          Kid
Goose          Gosling
Guinea foul          Keet
Hawk          Eyas
Horse          Foal, yearling, colt (male), filly (female)
Kangaroo          Joey
Lion          Cub
Louse          Nit
Owl          Owlet
partridge          Cheeper, chick
penguin          Fledgling, chick
Pig          Soat, piglet
rabbit          Bunny, kitten
rhinoceros          Calf
seal          Pup, whelp, cub
Sea lion          Pup
Shark          Cub
sheep          Lamb, lambkin
squirrel          Pup
Swan          Cygnet
tiger          Cub, whelp
turkey          Poult, Chick,
turtle          Chicken
walrus          Calf
whale          Calf
wolf          Whelp, Cub, pup
zebra          Colt, foal

Bibliography
http://encartareg.msn.com/registration/oemonline/oemstart.aspx?lang=a&brand=hol&...
http://www.abcteach.com/abclists/animalbabies.htm







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