Zooniversity

Yesterday morning we went to the library for the library program. The show this time was called Zooniversity, where the zoo comes to you. There were 6 animals that we got to see that have adapted significantly to their surroundings. The lady did a great job and had lots of interesting information. We met up with our friends, Cohen and Issac there and sat with them this time which probably wasn't the best idea for Dylan. Blake was totally interested in the show, but Dylan just wanted to play with his friends. This meant very few pictures and zero good pictures.

The first thing that she brought out were walking sticks, or sticks bugs as well call them in Texas. Interesting fact: each time they have babies..they have 100 that are identical to their mom. The lady said, "Can you imagine having 100 clones of yourself? Guess how much can actually get done!"

The next thing that we saw, which I did get a picture above, is a bullfrog. It is huge! It is the size of a salad plate and when full grown, it will be the size of a dinner plate. Interesting fact: they don't have roofs on their mouths so they actually close their eyes, which helps push their food down their throat. 

Next was a kinkajou. They are related to raccoons, but much cuter. Paris Hilton thought they would be fun to have as a pet. Well, they are not meant to be pets and bit her.  

Above is the Australian Woylie, or the brush-tailed rat kangaroo.  They are critically endangered because foxes have come over from other parts of the world and eat them. They now have only survived on 3 islands in Australia because foxes can't swim. They can hop 20 mph. When they are born, they are the size of a grain of rice, then they find their way to their mom's pouch where they are for about 3 months until a new litter comes along and are kicked out for them. Can you imagine having a new baby every 3-4 months? 

We also saw an armadillo from Paraguay. It was a 3 banded armadillo and she liked to point out that since we like to do things bigger and better, we have 9 banded armadillos. But this armadillo is the only type of the 20 armadillos species that can completely roll up into a ball. It was cool.

The last thing we saw was a Sahara desert fox. My kids were wondering what the fox would say...they just can't forget that song. Anyway, when she was getting the fox out she said that she will squeal not because she is hurting her, but because she is spoiled. Sure enough she squealed. It wasn't nearly as loud as a pig's squeal, but it is the close enough. Anyway, these animals can dig through anything. They can dig through dirt the depth of a 2 story building in an hour. So they bury themselves during the day in the hot desert and sleep and then in the night, they come out and hunt for food. They have fur on the bottom of their paws...not pads like dogs or cats, to protect their paws in the heat. Apparently someone in Texas brought one in to the state illegally (you can't have these as pets either) and called her after having the fox for 3 days because well, it was digging right through their hardwood floors.  

This group also has Teddy Bear the talking porcupine. I guess he has been on many tv shows because he sounds like he is talking. She suggested we look him up on You Tube.