UWC Grade 5 (2009-2010)

Macaws are herbivores. They eat primarily seeds, nuts, and fruit. Using their impressive beaks, they have no problem opening even the toughest seed.

First they scratch a thin line with their beak’s sharp point, and then they shear the seed open. But inside some of those seeds are poisonous chemicals. How can macaws eat the seeds without getting sick or dying? They visit clay licks—the rainforest’s natural “drugstores.”

The Amazon rainforest has more than 100 of these special clay- and mineral-rich areas along riverbanks.

Camel spiders became an Internet sensation during the Iraq war of 2003, when rumors of their bloodthirsty nature began to circulate online. Many tales were accompanied with photos purporting to show spiders half the size of a human. For many years, Middle Eastern rumors have painted camel spiders as large, venomous predators, as fast as a running human, with a voracious appetite for large mammals. The myths are untrue. These creatures do not actually eat camels' stomachs or sleeping soldiers, and they are not so large—but the real camel spider is still an amazing predator. The camel spider's history of misinformation begins with a misidentification. Camel spiders are not even spiders. Like spiders, they are members of the class Arachnida, but they are actually solpugids. Camel spiders, also called wind scorpions and Egyptian giant solpugids (SAHL-pyoo-jids), are only about 6 inches (15 centimeters) long. Photos that purport to show creatures six times that size have misleading perspective—the spider is invariably placed in the foreground where the lens makes it appear much bigger than its actual size. True, they are fast, but only compared to other arachnids. Their top speed is estimated at 10 miles (16 kilometers) per hour. Camel spiders are not deadly to humans (though their bite is painful), but they are vicious predators that can visit death upon insects, rodents, lizards, and small birds. These hardy desert dwellers boast large, powerful jaws, which can be up to one-third of their body length. They use them to seize their victims and turn them to pulp with a chopping or sawing motion. Camel spiders are not venomous, but they do utilize digestive fluids to liquefy their victims' flesh, making it easy to suck the remains into their stomachs.

LocatedToucans are located in Central and South America in tropical and sub-tropical rainforests.DietToucans will eat mostly small fruit and sometimes insects.HabitatToucans live in holes of hollow trees.SizeToucans can grow to be about 33 - 65 centimeters in height.

They wear little clothing because it is always warm in the rainforest. They make their clothing from leaves and things they find in the rainforest, too. Their way of life is in danger because of the destruction of the rainforest that they live in. The government has tried to teach them how to farm, but the Mbuti don't want to change the way they live.

Spider Monkeys are located in Central and South America and some parts of Mexico.

The bombardier beetle may look innocent enough, but it is famous for being able to spray boiling hot and chemically toxic bodily fluids in the direction of any would-be predator. The bombardier beetle doesn’t exactly melt in your mouth (but it will melt you).

The horned lizard is a seemingly normal looking lizard found in the southwest region of the United States. It doesn’t use its horns to defend itself, as you might expect. Rather, when attacked, it pressures its own sinus cavities until the blood vessels in its eyes burst, and it sprays its attacker with blood from its eyes.

The skunk, or polecat, is actually an attractive little mammal and some people keep them as pets (sans glands, of course). Skunks are omnivores but will turn to trash and carrion when no fresh insects or honeybees, their favorite food, are available. Though their amazing musk can be smelled miles away, their vision is exceptionally weak, and most skunks can only see about 10 feet in front of them. As a result, many are run over – half of all skunk deaths, in fact, are due to humans. All Mustelidae family members (like weasels and ferrets) can spray musk, but skunks are famously the most potent. The skunk’s anal musk is so powerful that if sprayed directly, the victim will experience temporary blindness.

Fish is the common name for 29,000 species of cold-blooded, backboned animals that live in freshwater and ocean environments. Fish breathe using gills. Most have a body covering of scales and move using fins. Many fish hunt other fish for food. Fish are also an important food for other animals such as humans, birds, seals, and whales. Overfishing by humans has now made some fish endangered.

div#related-article-links p a, div#related-article-links p a:visited { color:#06c; } A leopard can, after all, change its spots: a new species of big cat has been identified for the first time in almost two centuries. The big cats prowling the jungles of Borneo and Sumatra had long been assumed to be the same clouded leopards that are found in mainland Asia. Genetic analysis and comparisons of fur patterns have now shown the two animals to be as distinct as the lion and the tiger, the WWF announced yesterday. Among the findings that convinced scientists was the realisation that the Bornean cat has changed the number and prominence of its spots.

The cats have now been reclassified as the Bornean clouded leopard, with the name Neofelis diardi, to distinguish them from other clouded leopards, Neofelis nebulosa. The two species, both endangered, are shown by genetic analysis to have separated 1.4 million years ago, after the animals used a land bridge, now covered by water, from mainland Asia to reach Borneo and Sumatra.

Lifespans The lifespan of monkeys depends on the species. In the wild, squirrel monkeys can live up to 20 years. Squirrel monkeys spend their lives in trees and are vulnerable as prey for eagles. Howler monkeys live 15 to 20 years in the wild. Howler monkeys have been hunted and their habitats have been destroyed. This greatly decreases the lifespan of the species. Mandrills live up to 45 years in the wild. They are also hunted for food.

The branches shake and dark objects scatter across the treetops. If you are standing in the tropical forest you probably just heard monkeys over your head. Agile and acrobatic monkeys easily leap through the forest but are often difficult to see and study. Most monkeys live in tropical regions in the Americas, Africa, and Asia and spend much of their lives in treetops. Monkeys belong to a larger group of mammals called primates. Primates have large brains, grasping hands and include lemurs, apes and humans.

Ecotourism is: "Responsible travel to natural areas that conserves the environment and improves the well-being of local people."

Ecotourism is about uniting conservation, communities, and sustainable travel. This means that those who implement and participate in ecotourism activities should follow the following ecotourism principles: Minimize impact. Build environmental and cultural awareness and respect. Provide positive experiences for both visitors and hosts. Provide direct financial benefits for conservation. Provide financial benefits and empowerment for local people.  Raise sensitivity to host countries' political, environmental, and social climate.