Classification -
Morphology -
Symmetry - Bilateral
Structure - Superficially they resemble large lizards, though they have evolved blunt noses for grazing on seaweed, laterally flattened tails to assist swimming, and powerful limbs with strong claws to help them cling to rocks
Appearance - They are grey to black in colour, though during the mating season they may have blotches of coppery green and red on their scaled body
Structure - Superficially they resemble large lizards, though they have evolved blunt noses for grazing on seaweed, laterally flattened tails to assist swimming, and powerful limbs with strong claws to help them cling to rocks
Appearance - They are grey to black in colour, though during the mating season they may have blotches of coppery green and red on their scaled body
Biology
Galapagos marine iguanas are active during the day and spend the first few hours after sunrise basking in the sun in preparation for activity. The vast majority of individuals in each colony feed almost exclusively on marine algae in the intertidal zones during low tide. Only the largest five percent of individuals dive into the water for food, mostly during the hot midday hours
Distribution Map
Importance -
The Galapagos marine iguana is classified as Vulnerable (VU) on the IUCN Red List (1) and listed on Appendix II of CITES (3). Subspecies: Amblyrhynchus cristatus mertensi and A. c. nanus are classified as Endangered (EN) and A. c. albemarlensis, A. c. cristatus, A. c. hassi, A. c. sielmanni and A. c. venustissimus are classified as Vulnerable (VU) on the IUCN Red List (1).
Facts -
The waters are extremely cold, and cause the iguana to lose heat rapidly when feeding. This forces them to return to the rocks and warm up in the sun again. In fact, an iguana’s size and the way it retains or loses heat determines its method of feeding. Small individuals, which lose heat quickly, forage on rocks at low tide, scraping algae off the surface, and rarely dive into the sea.
Vocabulary -
El NinoA natural phenomenon that happens every 4 to 12 years, and lasts for several months, when upwelling of cold, nutrient-rich water does not occur. This causes the warming of ocean surface water off the western coast of South America and causes die-offs of plankton and fish. It also affects Pacific jet stream winds, altering storm tracks and creating unusual weather patterns in various parts of the world.
EndemicA species or taxonomic group that is only found in one particular country or geographic area.
IntertidalPertaining to the intertidal zone, the region between the high tide mark and low tide mark.
SubspeciesA population usually restricted to a geographical area that differs from other populations of the same species, but not to the extent of being classified as a separate species.
TerritoryArea occupied and defended by an animal, a pair of animals or a colony.
EndemicA species or taxonomic group that is only found in one particular country or geographic area.
IntertidalPertaining to the intertidal zone, the region between the high tide mark and low tide mark.
SubspeciesA population usually restricted to a geographical area that differs from other populations of the same species, but not to the extent of being classified as a separate species.
TerritoryArea occupied and defended by an animal, a pair of animals or a colony.
Resources
http://www.arkive.org/galapagos-marine-iguana/amblyrhynchus-cristatus/
http://www.amnh.org/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/yna/alexandra_2/520227-1-eng-US/alexandra_2_large.jpg
http://www.google.com/search?biw=1280&bih=939&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=1ey_VO7SE8qWNu-rgNAF&ved=0CAYQ_AUoAQ&safe=strict&q=marine%20iguana%20distribution%20map#imgdii=_&imgrc=EHylykjZMGLMDM%253A%3BbrsnDxug0lSBQM%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fwww.amnh.org%252Fvar%252Fezflow_site%252Fstorage%252Fimages%252Fmedia%252Famnh%252Fyna%252Falexandra_2%252F520227-1-eng-US%252Falexandra_2_large.jpg%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fwww.amnh.org%252Flearn-teach%252Fyoung-naturalist-awards%252Fwinning-essays2%252F2004-winning-essays%252Fexplaining-the-divergence-of-the-marine-iguana-subspecies-on-espa%3B360%3B269
http://www.amnh.org/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/yna/alexandra_2/520227-1-eng-US/alexandra_2_large.jpg
http://www.google.com/search?biw=1280&bih=939&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=1ey_VO7SE8qWNu-rgNAF&ved=0CAYQ_AUoAQ&safe=strict&q=marine%20iguana%20distribution%20map#imgdii=_&imgrc=EHylykjZMGLMDM%253A%3BbrsnDxug0lSBQM%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fwww.amnh.org%252Fvar%252Fezflow_site%252Fstorage%252Fimages%252Fmedia%252Famnh%252Fyna%252Falexandra_2%252F520227-1-eng-US%252Falexandra_2_large.jpg%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fwww.amnh.org%252Flearn-teach%252Fyoung-naturalist-awards%252Fwinning-essays2%252F2004-winning-essays%252Fexplaining-the-divergence-of-the-marine-iguana-subspecies-on-espa%3B360%3B269
Emperor penguin
Classification -
Morphology -
Symmetry - It has a bilateral symmetry
Structure - Standing over a metre in height and weighing up to 40 kilograms, the emperor penguin (Aptenodytes forsteri) is the undisputed heavyweight of the penguin world
Appearance - Slow and dignified, the emperor penguin is a stunning bird with a blue-grey back that shades into a black tail, and a characteristically white belly flushed with yellow
Structure - Standing over a metre in height and weighing up to 40 kilograms, the emperor penguin (Aptenodytes forsteri) is the undisputed heavyweight of the penguin world
Appearance - Slow and dignified, the emperor penguin is a stunning bird with a blue-grey back that shades into a black tail, and a characteristically white belly flushed with yellow
Biology -
Owing to the extremeness of the environment, the emperor penguin has little time to spend on courtship, and breeding pairs form relatively quickly. Potential mates stand face-to-face, raise their heads, and stretch tall into a static posture for several minutes, before relaxing again
Distribution Map
Importance -
The emperor penguin is classified as Near Threatened (NT) on the IUCN Red List
Facts -
The breeding colonies of the emperor penguin are mainly found on level areas of stable sea-ice.
These may be close to the coast or up to 18 kilometres offshore, and are often sheltered sites in the lee of ice-cliffs, hills or bergs
The emperor penguin feeds mainly on fish, squid and krill, which it hunts in the open sea or in gaps in the sea-ice
Hatching of the emperor penguin chick coincides, around nine weeks later, with the return of the female, whereupon the male relinquishes feeding duties
These may be close to the coast or up to 18 kilometres offshore, and are often sheltered sites in the lee of ice-cliffs, hills or bergs
The emperor penguin feeds mainly on fish, squid and krill, which it hunts in the open sea or in gaps in the sea-ice
Hatching of the emperor penguin chick coincides, around nine weeks later, with the return of the female, whereupon the male relinquishes feeding duties
Vocabulary -
Incubate - To keep eggs warm so that development is possible.
Pack ice - Sea ice that floats on the surface of the water. Often formed from large pieces of ice that consolidate into a single ice mass, pack ice typically moves with currents, tides and wind.
Pack ice - Sea ice that floats on the surface of the water. Often formed from large pieces of ice that consolidate into a single ice mass, pack ice typically moves with currents, tides and wind.
Resources
http://www.arkive.org/emperor-penguin/aptenodytes-forsteri/
http://www.google.com/search?q=emperor+penguin&safe=strict&biw=1280&bih=939&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=53PKVPOBAYKlgwSFw4OABg&ved=0CAYQ_AUoAQ#safe=strict&tbm=isch&q=emperor+penguin+distribution+map&imgdii=_&imgrc=6RG7qbUxuSlfoM%253A%3BUYAWv0Xnh9yEBM%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fupload.wikimedia.org%252Fwikipedia%252Fcommons%252F2%252F2a%252FGentoo_Penguin.png%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fen.wikipedia.org%252Fwiki%252FGentoo_penguin%3B2000%3B2000
http://www.google.com/search?q=emperor+penguin&safe=strict&biw=1280&bih=939&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=53PKVPOBAYKlgwSFw4OABg&ved=0CAYQ_AUoAQ#safe=strict&tbm=isch&q=emperor+penguin+distribution+map&imgdii=_&imgrc=6RG7qbUxuSlfoM%253A%3BUYAWv0Xnh9yEBM%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fupload.wikimedia.org%252Fwikipedia%252Fcommons%252F2%252F2a%252FGentoo_Penguin.png%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fen.wikipedia.org%252Fwiki%252FGentoo_penguin%3B2000%3B2000