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Red foxes live around the world in many diverse habitats including forests, grasslands, mountains, and deserts. They also adapt well to human environments such as farms, suburban areas, and even large communities. The red fox's resourcefulness has earned it a legendary reputation for intelligence and cunning.

Red foxes are solitary hunters who feed on rodents, rabbits, birds, and other small game-but their diet can be as flexible as their home habitat. Foxes will eat fruit and vegetables, fish, frogs, and even worms. If living among humans, foxes will opportunistically dine on garbage and pet food.

Like a cat's, the fox's thick tail aids its balance, but it has other uses as well. A fox uses its tail (or "brush") as a warm

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Red foxes live around the world in many diverse habitats including forests, grasslands, mountains, and deserts. They also adapt well to human environments such as farms, suburban areas, and even large communities. The red fox's resourcefulness has earned it a legendary reputation for intelligence and cunning.

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While peeping across the Arctic regions, variety of red fox facts for kids have surfaced. The red fox (Vulpes vulpes) is the largest animal that befalls under the family of foxes. These animals are widely distributed across Arctic Circle, Northern Hemisphere, Central America, Asia, and North America.

Some of these species have also been known to introduce in Australia. However, the introduction proved fatal for other mammals (and birds) such as quollas, bibys numbats, rufous bettongs, Tasmanian Bettongs, and burrowing bettongs. It is for this reason that these animals have been placed as "World's 100 Worst Invasive Species".

Red foxes adaptability permits them to adjust with the external environment. Red fox facts indicate that these are not endangered species. Different fossils show that these animals appeared to have evolved some 2 million years ago. They are extravert animals. Red fox primarily feed on invertebrates, game birds, and leporids. Red fox predators include jackals, felines, and coyotes. Red foxes have long been hunted down by humans.

Read More: Red Fox Facts for Kids

Red Fox Facts For Kids

With a long tail and short legs, red fox catch a glimpse of an unmistakable physical appearance.

They have long canines and a limited skull.

The average length of an adult fox measures around 45 to 90 cm (18 to 35 inches) together with a shoulder height of about 35-50 cm (14-20 inches) excluding tail measuring 760 - 1,600 mm (30 - 63 inches). The length of the ears is 7.7-12.5 cm (3-5 inches); whereas the hind feet are 12-18.5 cm (5-7 inches) long.

Red fox weighs around 2.2 to 14 kg (4.9 to 31 lb), with a skull of 129 - 167 mm.

The front-foot is 60 mm long, with the width of 45 mm. The rear foot measures at 55 mm, with the width of 38 mm.

These animals are capable to reach at a speed of 50 km/h while running. However, the average speed is 6 - 13 km/h.

The heaviest red fox weighed around 17.2 kg (38.1 lbs), with a length of 1.4 meter.

Red fox has exceptional eyesight but their sight responds to the movement.

There are about 2 - 8 foxes present in a single territory.

Read More: Arctic Fox Facts For Kids
Feeding Ecology and Diet

Red fox facts about its diet confirms that these animals are omnivores and they mainly feed on small rodents, plants, roots, mice, gerbils, ground squirrels, voles, woodchunks, deer mice, waterfowl, and hamsters.

Red fox diet includes some birds, insects, opossums, reptiles, galliformes, invertebrates, fish, small ungulates, raccoons, leporids, and porcupines.

These species introduce fruits in their diet during autumn. Some of these fruits are cherries, mulberries, grapes, blackberries, blueberries, tubers, acorns, apples, and raspberries.

They also feed on grasses persimmons, plums, and sedges. Red fox are known to forage in the morning or at dusk. Red foxes also prey on stoats, pine martens, kolonoks, young sables, mustelids, stone martens, and weasels.

Read More: What Do Red Foxes Eat
Reproductive Biology

The period of gestation lasts 49 - 58 days.

They are the monogamous animals and they make partners for lifetime.

Females litter 4 - 6 cubs; however, 10 - 13 litters have also been recorded.

The weight of the cubs is 56 - 110 grams and their length measures around 14.5 cm excluding tail (7.5 cm).

These juveniles will remain with their mother for the next 2 - 3 weeks.

Both males and females contribute in nourishing their cubs; however, mother plays most of the part.

These cubs open their eyes after 13 - 15 days. The color of the coat begins to change within 3 weeks. They leave their den after 3 - 4 weeks.

The period of lactation lasts for 6 - 7 weeks. They are shed with shiny hair after 2 months. After 3 - 4 months, these cubs have long limbs and a narrow skull.

These red foxes turn out to be mature after 6 - 7 months.

The average lifespan is 1.5 years in the wild; whereas they can live up to 14 years in captivity.

These animals usually sleep for about 9.8 hours daily.

Read More: What Do Foxes Eat?
Red Fox Habitat

Do you know where do red foxes live? They are the inhabitants of North Africa, North America, Arctic Circle, Siberia, Asia, Iceland, and New Zealand. They cover a wide range of about 70 million km ². The burrows are 0.5 - 2.5 meters deep. The main entrance is about 17 m long.

Red Fox Predators

Some of the red fox predators are caracals, Eurasian lynxes, and leopards. Though occasionally, large raptors such as golden eagles and eagle owls are also known to prey on red foxes.

Red Fox Facts For Kids | Video

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Red Fox Facts For Kids | Red Fox Habitat & Diet

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While peeping across the Arctic regions, variety of red fox facts for kids have surfaced. The red fox (Vulpes vulpes) is the largest animal that befalls under the family of foxes. These animals are widely distributed across Arctic Circle, Northern Hemisphere, Central America, Asia, and North America.

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Kid Definition & Meaning | Britannica Dictionary

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KID meaning: 1 : a son or daughter child; 2 : a young person sometimes used as a form of address

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Sharks & Rays - Diet & Eating Habits | SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment

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Take a deep dive and learn all about sharks - from what they like to eat to how they care for their young. Click here for a library of shark resources.

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When a great white shark is born, along with up to a dozen siblings, it immediately swims away from its mother. Born on the east and west coasts of North America, the south of Africa and southwest Australia, baby sharks are on their own right from the start. Their mother may see them only as prey.

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When a great white shark is born, along with up to a dozen siblings, it immediately swims away from its mother. Born on the east and west coasts of North America, the south of Africa and southwest Australia, baby sharks are on their own right from the start.

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Take a deep breath, gang, as we dive deep to get the lowdown on one of the ocean's deadliest predators, in our great white shark facts!
Great white shark facts

1) Great white sharks can be found throughout the world's oceans, mostly in cool waters close to the coast.

2) These super swimmers are the largest predatory fish (fish that eat other fish or animals) on our planet. On average, they grow to around 4.6m long, but some great whites have been measured at 6m - that's half the length of a bus!

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3) Great white sharks are grey with a white underbelly, from where they get their name. They have a streamlined shape and powerful tails that propel them through the water at over 60km per hour!

4) Any creature unlucky enough to find itself in the gob of a great white is in for a nasty shock! Because this marine beast's mouth is equipped with a set of 300 sharp, triangular teeth arranged in up to seven rows. Yikes! Let's take a closer look, if you dare...

5) Whilst many think of these beasts as fearsome man-eaters, humans aren't, in fact, on the great white's menu. Phew! There are around 5-10 attacks a year, but researchers believe that, rather than preying on humans to eat them, the sharks are instead taking a "sample bite" out of curiosity, before swimming off.

6) So what do they eat? Well, when they're young, they feed on small prey, such as fish and rays. But when they're older and bigger, they generally feast on sea mammals such as sea lions, seals and small whales.

7) Great white sharks have such a strong sense of smell that they can detect a colony of seals two miles away. And check this out - if there was only one drop of blood in 100 litres of water, a great white would smell it!

8) These cunning creatures like to take their prey by surprise. They usually position themselves underneath their unsuspecting victims before swimming up and...chomp! They often burst out of the water in a leap (called a breach) before falling back in with their meal in their mouths.

Great white sharks are at the top of the food chain and aren't likely to be killed by other sea creatures. Sadly, however, they are under serious threat by human activity. Illegal hunting of these beautiful beasts, and overfishing, have meant that today great white sharks are a
9) When a great white gives birth, she usually has two to ten youngsters, called " pups". But she shows no care for her offspring - in fact, she may even try to eat them! Taking care of themselves, the newborn pups will immediately swim off into the ocean.

10) species on the vulnerable IUCN Red List.

Love reading about magnificent marine life? Sink your teeth into our super , check out our ocean's weirdest creatures and 10 facts about bottlenose dolphins!

Image ⓒ Picture of great white shark near surface: Photograph by Natursports, Dreamstime. Picture of great white shark underwater: Photograph by Willtu, Dreamstime. Picture of great whie shark with mouth open: Photograph by Peternile, Dreamstime.

What did you make of our great white shark facts? Let us know by leaving us a comment, below!

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10 facts about great white sharks! - National Geographic Kids

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Join us here at NG Kids to learn ten facts about great white sharks! What do great white sharks eat? How big are they? Find out all about these fierce fish!

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Do you like to go swimming in the ocean? If you've ever seen a scary movie like Jaws, you may be a little bit about what sea creatures might be below the . Could a huge, man-eating shark be waiting out there just beyond the breaking ?

The good news is that the answer is...probably not! Sure, you hear about shark attacks from time to time, but they're actually a really event. At most beaches around the world, the probability of fun around 100%, and the of a shark just above 0%.

Sharks have fascinated kids and adults alike for many years. These ocean move through the water with amazing speed. Their razor-sharp teeth can strike fear into the hearts of anyone who sees them up close.

If you've seen enough movies or television shows about sharks, you might be under the impression that all sharks are . That's not really true. There are many different types of sharks and some of them aren't very big at all.

But, of course, there are some giant sharks, too. And that's what today's Wonder of the Day is all about. So exactly how big is the largest shark?

The answer depends upon whether you're talking about the largest shark alive today or the largest shark to have ever lived on Earth. Those are two different sharks of different sizes.

The largest shark to have ever lived on Earth is thought by scientists to have been the . Its name comes from the Greek words meaning "big tooth." The is an species of shark that roamed the waters of Earth over 1.5 million years ago.

Not only was it the largest shark to have ever lived on Earth, scientists believe it's probably one of the biggest, most of all time. fossils have been found that lead scientists to believe the giant shark could have reached a total length of over 50 feet with a body mass of over 50 tons!

Today, the largest shark roaming the oceans is the huge whale shark. Unlike the , whale sharks are not . Instead, they're slow-swimming giants that eat mainly plants and .

Although not the size of the , whale sharks are still really big. They can grow to be over 40 feet long and weigh over 15 tons, which makes them the largest fish in the world. They are gentle creatures that will often allow swimmers to catch a ride with them as they swim along coral reefs.

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Do you like to go swimming in the ocean? If you've ever seen a scary movie like Jaws, you may be a little bit about what sea creatures might be below the . Could a huge, man-eating shark be waiting out there just beyond the breaking ?

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Polar Bear Life Cycle - Birth to Death, Stages, Facts, Diagram, Worksheet

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Learn the Polar Bear Life Cycle from Birth to Death. Get to know each stage of life of a Polar Bear along with Polar Bear Life Cycle Facts.

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When it comes to land-dwelling carnivores, polar bear is indeed the biggest animal and adaptations of a polar bear are really something exciting to know. Even though polar bears live in hostile and frozen conditions, yet they are perfectly designed to survive in such temperatures. They adapt themselves in order to adjust the temperature inside their bodies, stalk their prey easily and can also maneuver on a thick layer of snow. In the blazing sunlight of summer, such animals normally cast off their heavy coat which was previously used to protect them from chilly weather.

They tend to do this by means of molting process and in this way allow themselves to stay chill even in hot conditions. When polar bears start consuming their food, their claws tend to help them and rip their victims open in a flash. Polar bears often have to go swimming in icy waters as they manage to do it by means of their beautiful toes having special swimming membranes. They also have a powerful smelling sense and a good vision with the help of which they catch their prey. So let's enjoy few of these exciting adaptations of a polar bear that are quite distinct in their appearances and design.

Top 7 Adaptations Of A Polar Bear

Massive Size

With a massive body structure, polar bears are larger than their counterparts i.e. grizzly bears. As a result, the heat does not escape from the body of a polar bear and keeps it warm. Scientifically speaking, such animals possess a high ratio of volume to surface area due to which their skin smoke out minimum amount of heat from their body, according to Dr. Andrew Derocher. It's a usual phenomenon that is readily found in animals living in icy environments and hence one of the usual adaptations of a polar bear.

Tail And Ears

If an animal has an external part that sticks out from the body of that animal, it may influence the volume to surface area ratio. As a result, the skin of an animal dispels more heat. However in case of polar bear, the polar bear tail and ears are quite small thereby allowing relatively minimum surface area as compare to the bigger ears. Consequently, it enables the animal to conserve heat inside its body.

Learn more: Do Polar Bears Have Tails

Layer Of Fat

With a 4-inch dense coating of fat spread out over the body under the polar bear skin , the unpleasantly cold weather cannot make a way into the polar bear. So it's one of the most important adaptations of a polar bear. Though this layer normally protects a polar bear yet it also keeps them warm and cozy in frozen conditions. As compare to their counterparts, polar bear's milk contains a lot of useful protein and fat which keeps their cubs safe from cold weather.

Pattern Of Eating

A polar bear is a flesh-eating mammal that gobbles foliage along with other meat like whales and seals. Since red meat contains even more calories as compare to undergrowth so it gives him great calories with every single bite of meal. These animals take high-fat diet that help giving them extra strength in chilly weather. Hence such diet is indispensable for the existence of polar bear and without which they would not last for too long in these frozen temperatures. Hence, one of the useful adaptations of a polar bear. A mother polar bear oozes high-fat milk from her mammary glands that contains 31% fat in it. So when cubs slurp this milk, it gives them extra strength by maintaining the temperature inside their body and also helps in their growth.

Thick Fleece

The body of a polar bear is insulated with a dense fur that extends out to the whole body apart for its nose. Unlike other bears, polar bears possess even more compact and thick fleece. The fleece along with thick hair keeps them warm even while passing through chilly waters. Besides, this fleece also tends to mirror light and appearing even whiter thereby disguising him perfectly under the snow. Every year, polar bear changes the shade of their fleece as it appears snowy in winter and creamy shade in fall. In chilly conditions of winter, the fleece of polar bear works like a stove as it takes hot air direct from sunlight and keeps him warm. Also since the crust below this covering is dark so it also helps in absorbing heat from sunlight. This polar bear skin color is one of the fine adaptations of a polar bear as he hides himself in the snow while stalking.

Learn more: Why Do Polar Bears have Small Ears?

Water Proof Hair

The hair of polar bear is just like a jacket which releases water as the animal finishes off swimming. In this way, such animals are able to keep themselves warm and their body does not become wet for too long. As polar bear pops up from water, he tends to turn over his body on the snow and their fur manages to get dry as a bone by means of oil which is present inside their fur. The underlying principle is that as long as water stays, it will try to absorb the heat of a body and so animal will start feeling cold. That's why as polar bears rise from water, they try to dry out themselves as quickly as possible. Therefore hair works as one of the wonderful adaptations of a polar bear.

Big Anti-Slip Paws

If you ever happen to witness the paws of a polar bear, you will come to realize that their paws are huge. These paws work like snowshoes on heavy snow, balance the weight of the animal thereby enabling polar bears to navigate easily even on wafer-thin ice layer. Thus, one of the great adaptations of a polar bear is it's paws. These paws are extremely helpful while strolling because they have special footpads insulated by little smooth lumps known as papillae. Besides polar bears also have dense and curled claws that allow them to walk easily without getting slip or slide into the snow. These features enable them to sprint even on heavy snow and also allow him to halt at any moment. Finally, there is a dense fleece over these paws that not only keep them warm under shivering cold but also provide enough adhesive friction while sprinting on gleaming surface.

Read More about Polar Bears:
Polar Bear is an amazing animal living against the extremes of the weather. What do you think about the adaptations of a polar bear? Share your thoughts in the comments below.

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Adaptations Of A Polar Bear | Top 7 Adaptations

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When it comes to land-dwelling carnivores, polar bear is indeed the biggest animal and adaptations of a polar bear are really something exciting to know. Even though polar bears live in hostile and frozen conditions, yet they are perfectly designed to survive in such temperatures.

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Traveling across the polar or arctic regions, several polar bear facts for kids come to the fore. The polar bear ( Ursus maritimus) is a large sized bear that is endemic to Arctic Ocean. It won't be an exaggeration if I say that polar bear is the largest land carnivore existing in the present epoch. Kodiak Bear is the other species that matches the polar bear size. These animals are adaptable for cold temperatures and they spend most of their time at sea, walking on snow or foraging their prey.

On the negative side, some of the polar bear species are in a weaker position in that a sudden population decline is observed in recent times. Polar bears do have cultural significance for Arctic peoples so its extinction would not only mean the demise of animal species rather it could signify the end of few cultural values or beliefs for some people. Now let's get down for some of the most interesting facts about polar bears for kids.
Read More: Why are Polar Bears Endangered?
Polar Bear Facts For Kids

The size of the polar bear is twice the size of the Siberian tiger. The polar bear weight of the adult males measure around 350 - 680 kg (770 - 1500 lbs), with the length measuring 2.4 - 3 metres (7.9 - 9.8 feet).

The weight of the adult females is about 150 - 250 kg (330 - 550 lb), together with the length of about 1.8 - 2.4 meters (5.9 - 7.9 feet). The weight usually increases during pregnancy and reaches at 500 kg (1,100 lb).

The largest polar bear ever recorded at 1,002 kilograms (2,210 lb) that resided in northwestern Alaska back in 1960.

The polar bear height upto its shoulder is of about 130 - 160 cm (51 - 63 inches).

The study of polar bear facts shows a characteristic and physical appearance of bear.

The straight neck of the polar bear along with its elongated skull cast an unmistakable physical appearance of these animals. The large sized feet are enough to support the heavy weight of polar bear while walking on snow. These legs are 30 cm (12 inches) across. Brown bears have longer claws in comparison to the polar bears. They have 42 teeth as well as pointed canines.

Polar bears are magnificently protected by 10 cm (3.9 inches) of lard; they overheat at temperatures beyond 10 oC (50 oF). The thickness of a hair measures around 5 - 15 cm (2.0 - 5.9 inches).

The polar bear tail size is 6 to 13 cm.

Polar bears have 42 teeth.

They have an exceptional sense of smell and are capable to locate their prey at a vast distance of 1.6 km (1 mile) apart. Polar bears dig out any victim that may reside in a depth of about 3 feet (0.9 metres).

When it comes to swimming, these animals are the best. While swimming, polar bears display doggy style paddling.

They are known to reside at The 320 km (200 miles) away from land. 9.7 km/h (6 mph).Polar bears swimming speed can reach upto However, the walking speed is about 5.6 km/h (3.5 mph).40 km/h (25 mph) while running on snow. speed is

They are solitary animals and are not considered to be the strong territorial mammals. However, they seldom attack humans especially in starvation.

Read More: Do Polar Bears Attack Humans?

Where Do Polar Bears Live? | Amazing Facts about Polar Bears For Kids

For the reason that human population is not seen in Arctic Ocean, polar bears apt to remain in their native habitats. These bears are known to reside in James Bay, Newfoundland Island, Kuril Islands, and Sea of Okhotsk. The polar bear facts about its widespread distribution over the arctic areas illustrate some of the interesting insights. Do you want to know if polar bears are found in Antarctica?
Read More: Where Do Polar Bears Live?
Polar Bears Diet

Polar bear facts about its diet include various preys. These types of mammals primarily eat seals including ringed or bearded seals. Arctic waters host millions of seals. When these seals come to the surface of the ice for breathing, polar bears are there to welcome them. Polar bears eat birds, muskox, shellfish, rodents, eggs, crabs, plants, roots, kelp, and berries. They are also known to consume plastic, car batteries, hydraulic fluid, motor oil, and Styrofoam and other perilous substances.

Interesting Polar Bear Facts For Kids | Reproduction

The mating period ranges from April to March. Males often chase females for about 100 km (62 miles). The females consume more food during pregnancy in that they eat 200 kg (440 lb). The cubs are normally born in the months of November and February. The weight of these juveniles measure around 0.9 kg (2.0 lb). Females litter 2 cubs. Wolves are sometimes responsible for taking away the polar bear cubs. Though occasionally, adult male bear also kill their cubs and the scientists are still not sure about the reason. The females begin to reproduce after 3 - 4 years of age. Males turn out to be mature at 6 years; while females reach maturity after 8 - 10 years. The average lifespan of polar bears is about 18 - 20 years and quite a few numbers have lived beyond 25. The maximum lived bear was recorded at 32 years in the wild, however, under captivity the maximum age is 43 years.

Different estimates show different figures about the polar bear population. The population of these animals reported to have been increased over the past 50 years. The total estimate of polar bear population was 5,000 - 10,000 back in 1970. However, the figure increased in the late 1980's when the population reached 20,000 - 40,000.
Read More: Do Polar Bears Hibernate?
Proposal to Ban Polar Bear Trading Rejected! | News Around the Corner

The meeting among the world's most renowned conservationists was held in Bangkok on March 7, 2013. In this meeting, a bid to ban the international trade of polar bear parts was REJECTED! United States presented this proposal at the meeting of the International Trade in Endangered Species of WFF (Wild Fauna and Flora), with intent to upgrade the polar bears' status by prohibiting trade on these species. The debate ended when the results-in-favor got 38, while 42 were against the proposal and 46 went for no vote.

The first commercial polar bears' hunting had started in the 17 th century when Europeans ventured their journey into the Arctic in pursuit of natural resources.
Learn more: Polar Bear Life Cycle Do you know any more Polar Bear Facts? How about sharing it in the comments below.
These bears were subjected to excessive hunting in the late 19 th century when almost 16,000 polar bears put to death. Those were the darkest times for polar bears. This implies that humans are primarily responsible for putting polar bears in the list of endangered species.

Polar Bear Facts For Kids | Videos

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Polar Bear Facts For Kids | Polar Bear Habitat & Diet

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Traveling across the polar or arctic regions, several polar bear facts for kids come to the fore. The polar bear ( Ursus maritimus) is a large sized bear that is endemic to Arctic Ocean. It won't be an exaggeration if I say that polar bear is the largest land carnivore existing in the present epoch.

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Habitat is a place where an animal lives. It is the animal's home. Polar bear habitat is different from other land predators or even other bear species. Most other bear habitats consist of green vegetation but the polar bear habitat is the combination of ice and water. Although the bear is a land animal it is also called marine mammal because polar bear spends half of its life in swimming. It is now time to explore some of the most interesting facts about polar bear habitat for kids.

Polar Bear Habitat for Kids

The polar bear makes home on an annual sea ice especially the ice floes that float in water. It will build dens on the ice to protect their cubs from potential predators.

This shows that the primary habitat of a polar bear lies where the sea ice actually meets the Arctic water.

Polar bears prefer to choose icy habitats because they hunt seals by standing over the ice floes. They will rarely chase seals into the water.

The polar bear habitat is not composed of freshwater because it is mostly locked up in snow.

Annual ice doesn't necessarily occur throughout the year-it melts during the summer. In the James Bay and Hudson Bay the ice completely disappears-making it hard for polar bears to hunt seals.

The female polar bear generally builds dens on large frozen ice packs.

Polar bears do not make habitats in North Pole because the density of seals is pretty low at the Pole.

The temperature of a polar bear habitat is 10 °C (50 °F).

Polar Bear Habitat for Kids - Video

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Polar Bear Habitat for Kids * PolarBearFacts.net

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It is now time to explore some of the most interesting facts about polar bear habitat for kids. Although the bear is a land animal it is also called marine mammal because polar bear spends half of its life in swimming

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By: Jessica O'Donohue & Aine Connole. - ppt download

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Description The Toucan is a tropical bird. It has an oversized colourful beak. Toucans are intelligent birds. A toucan's bill is sharp and has saw-like edge.

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Measuring 63.5 cm (25 in.) in length, the toco toucan is the largest of all toucans. Its black body and white throat are overshadowed by its most recognizable trait: a large colorful beak.

The bright orange beak is about 19 cm (8 in.) long - one third of the bird's total length. But despite its substantial size, the beak weighs less than you may think. Composed of the protein keratin, the structure of beak incorporates many air pockets allowing for a very low mass.

Furthermore, recent research has concluded that toucans regulate body temperature by adjusting the flow of blood to their beak. More blood flow means more heat is released. When toucans sleep, they tuck their beak under their feathers to keep them warm.

Toco toucans also use their beaks to pluck and peel fruit, their main source of food. In addition, the beak houses a flat tongue of the same length, which helps the toucan catch insects, frogs, and reptiles. Toco toucans also occasionally eat the eggs of other birds.

Although they spend a lot of time in trees, they are not very good at flying. Toucans mainly travel among trees by hopping. When they do take flight, they flap their wings vigorously and glide, traveling only short distances.

Toucans nest in the hollows of trees. They often move into cavities created and abandoned by woodpeckers.

Several toucans live together in a single hollow. It is in these hollows that they lay their eggs, generally two to four a year. Both parents incubate the eggs for 16-20 days. Once the chicks hatch, both parents continue to care for the young. Baby toucans are not born with an excessively large beak; the beak grows as the birds develop.

Native to South America, toco toucans inhabit a range of habitats including tropical forests, savannas, and shrubland.

Conservation Status

Because toco toucans can live in a variety of habitats, they are not as susceptible to rainforest destruction as other species. Their population has not been determined, but it is thought to be large due to the frequency of sightings within their range. As such, the toco toucan is listed by the IUCN as being of least concern, and there are no specific efforts to protect the species.

What You Can Do to Help

Although toco toucans are not considered threatened, you can still help protect their habitat. Avoid buying products made from rainforest wood and help raise funds to help protect the rainforests of South America.

Toco Toucan Distribution

Toco Toucan Resources

Blog Posts about the Toco Toucan

About the Author

P.A. Smith is a middle school Language Arts teacher. He is also a contributing editor of My House Rabbit.

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Measuring 63.5 cm (25 in.) in length, the toco toucan is the largest of all toucans. Its black body and white throat are overshadowed by its most recognizable trait: a large colorful beak. The bright orange beak is about 19 cm (8 in.) long - one third of the bird's total length.

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A toucan's bill is sharp and has saw-like edges. The bill is used to squash the many kinds of fruit and berries he eats. He may also use the saw-like edges to tear off parts of larger fruits. Also included in their diet are small birds and lizards.

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The toucan is a colorful bird that is best known for its appearance as a sugary cereal mascot. In reality, this large-billed creature has a much richer history than that.

The toucan, which is native to South America's tropical forests, is well recognized by people all over the world. The unique appearance of this bird has made it very popular indeed.

Take a look at these surprising and interesting facts about the toucan, and you may learn something you didn't know before!

Where do they live?

Toucans can be found in the tropical forests of South America, and can also find homes in tree hollows or abandoned woodpecker holes.

Thankfully toucans are not being as affected by rainforest destruction as other animals. They have been listed at being "of least concern" by conservationists.

Their home is still in danger, despite the fact that no measures are required to protect toucans specifically.

It is advised to avoid buying rainforest wood and to take other preventative measures to protect the habitat of toucans.

What do they eat and drink?

Toucans use their beak to peel and eat different kinds of fruit, which happens to be the kind of food they eat most often.

Sometimes toucans will choose to snack on insects, frogs, and reptiles, or the eggs of other birds.

Toucans get most of their water from the fruit they eat, so they don't need too much. Fruit is very high in moisture and water content, and since this makes up most of the toucan's diet, water by itself is not vital.

What do they look like?

You can't talk about the toucan without mentioning that infamous beak. The toucan's beak is the most remarkable and notable aspect of their appearance.

Measuring about 8 inches long, the beak of a toucan makes up 1/3 of the bird's total length.

It may look pretty big, but thankfully for the toucan their beaks are not too heavy. It is composed of protein keratin, which makes it much lighter than you would think just by looking.

The toucan tongue is long, almost the full stretch of their roughly 8 inch long beak.

Toucans have a black body and white throat, but the colorful and most memorable aspect of their appearance is still that giant beak!

toucans can regulate their body temperature by adjusting blood flow to their beaks.

There are around 40 different kind of toucans, so they can range in size from 7 inches to a little over 2 feet tall.

Believe it or not!

Toucans spend a lot of their time in trees, they aren't the best fliers around.

These birds have to flap their wings vigorously to travel short distances, so you'll often find them hopping rather than flying through the air.

Wild cats are a predator of toucans in the rainforest. Other predators include larger birds. Some snakes and rodents may attack smaller toucans but typically are more interested in the toucan's eggs instead.

Toucans are not born with those signature beaks being so large. It takes several months for their beaks to grow and become so big and vibrant.

Believe it or not, although the bill of a toucan is large and looks threatening, it is not a very good weapon at all for defending this tropical bird.

As mentioned, the bill is made of keratin - what else is made of keratin? The nails and hair of many mammals, including us humans!

Believe it or not, toucans are actually related to woodpeckers.

Believe it or not, toucans can be rather lazy birds and they like to stay in one place generally.

They don't fly high up in the sky or very far away from home, and enjoy staying in trees with their delicious fruit to feast on.

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30 Fun Toucan Facts For Kids [year] (Full Information)

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The toucan is a colorful bird that is best known for its appearance as a sugary cereal mascot. In reality, this large-billed creature has a much richer history than that. The toucan, which is native to South America's tropical forests, is well recognized by people all over the world.

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The toco toucan, the largest and best-known toucan species, is at home in South America's tropical forests. Its oversized, colorful bill has made it one of the world's most popular birds: They're familiar commercial mascots, known for hawking stout, cereal, and other products. They can weigh nearly two pounds and grow to 25 inches long, with their bill accounting for nearly half of their length.

Indigenous peoples regard the bird with a sacred eye; they are traditionally seen as conduits between the worlds of the living and the spirits.

Both male and female toucans possess large, colorful bills. Their exact purpose isn't clear, though they're believed to play a role in the courthship ritual and in self-defense. As a

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See how the Toco toucan makes use of its colorful bill. Learn why these birds are at home in their rain forest haunts.

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Ready for an icy adventure, gang? Here at National Geographic Kids we're heading north - far north! - to meet one of nature's toughest animals in our 10 facts about polar bears...
Ten polar bear facts

1) Polar bears are found in the frozen wilds of the Arctic, in Canada, Alaska (US), Greenland, Russia and Norway.

2) These are seriously big bears, gang. Adult polar bears can measure over 2.5m long and weigh around 680kg. Their huge size and weight make them the largest living carnivores (meat eaters) on Earth!

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3) Polar bears are well adapted to survive in one of the harshest environments on our planet. As well as their thick fur, they have a layer of fat, called blubber, that insulates (protects) their bodies from the frosty air and near-freezing water. Polar bears also have black skin under their glistening coat, which helps them soak up the Sun's rays and keep warm.

4) These magnificent mammals have an incredible sense of smell which they use to track their favourite grub, seals*. In fact, their sense of smell is so good, they can sniff out prey from up to 16km away!

5) Despite their size and bulk, polar bears are excellent swimmers, and have been spotted in waters over 100km offshore. They can comfortably swim at around 10km/h using their slightly webbed, 30cm wide paws like paddles in the water.

6) Although good swimmers, polar bears aren't quick enough to reliably catch seals in open water. Instead, they depend on the ice as a hunting platform. They wait near seal breathing holes or at the ice's edge for a seal to surface. They then snatch it from the sea and...gulp!

Did you know that we have a FREE downloadable polar bear primary resource? Great for teachers, homeschoolers and parents alike!

7) Did you know that a polar bear's fur isn't white? It's actually transparent with a hollow core that reflects light. This helps the bears blend in with their surroundings - a useful trick, especially when hunting wary seals!

8) Female polar bears give birth to their cubs in snow dens (in November or December), where the family is protected from the harsh Arctic environment. At birth, the cubs are only around 30cm long and weigh around half a kilogram - that's about the same as a guinea pig!

9) The polar family emerge from the den four to five months later. The cubs will stay with their mother for about two years, during which time they learn the skills needed to survive in the Arctic.

10) Sadly, these incredible creatures are classified as " vulnerable". The biggest threat to polar bears is climate change. Rising global temperatures means that sea ice is melting earlier and forming later each year, leaving polar bears less time to hunt for food. But the good news is you can help these amazing animals! Check out NG Kids' Five Top Conservation Tips for some environment-saving ideas.

*Polar bears occasionally feed on other arctic marine mammals, too, including whales, walruses and narwhals.

Did you enjoy our 10 facts about polar bears? Let us know by leaving a comment, below!

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10 facts about polar bears! | National Geographic Kids

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Join us here at Nat Geo Kids to discover our top facts about polar bears! Where they live, what they eat, and how they survive the in freezing temperatures!

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See these colorful, long-billed birds move around their forest habitat.

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Toucan's Diet

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I'm going to share all the necessary toucan facts for kids including toucan diet, habitat, and behavior. Toucans are the members of Ramphastidae family and are the inhabitants of South America's tropical rainforests though they are recognized worldwide. These types of birds are closely associated with the American barbets.

With their unmistakable appearance of large-sized colorful beaks, toucans can be easily recognized. There are around 40 different toucan species. The bright colors of toucans offer a natural camouflage to these birds when they're roosting within the fruit-trees. They apt to communicate with each other by producing different high-pitched sounds. Let's see some of these beautiful facts about toucans for kids.

Amazing Toucan Facts For Kids

Toucans (Ramphastidae) are medium-sized to large birds. They are highly unique in their strikingly large and colorful bills. Toucans are often seen in small flocks especially during foraging. They are primarily found in South America south to northern Argentina in the tropical and montane rainforest. One species is endangered while the other three are Near Threatened.
Physical Characteristics

They seem to possess the most brightly colored plumage along with the prominent unusually long bill. The bill is lightweight though. It points with a downcurved tip and serrated edges.

Yet another toucan's unique feature is its tongue with a bristly tip.

Toucans are 13-24 in (33-60 cm) long and weighs up to 4-30 oz (113-850 g).

Males and females are similar in size and color. Black toucanets (Selenidera) and green aracari (Pteroglossus viridis) are the only species in which male-female difference is quite visible.

They have four toes; two facing forward while the other two projecting to the back.

Earlier scientists believed that the bird might use its bill to defend the nest cavity. However as the research carried on, the belief no longer held true. Toucans when threatened come out of the cavity to see off the predator in the open, if at all. The long bill helps it to pluck berries from the branches without leaving in a perch.

The toucan's bill is also necessary for the social life and in the pair formation. E. Thomas Gilliard suggests that it serves as a signal. Besides, they also use their bill to see other birds off their abandoned habitats-especially those whose nests they raid. So much so that sometimes small raptors are scared of toucan's bill.

Large raptors try to attack toucans while it is in flight because then it is impossible for the bird to use its bill to defend.

Distribution

Toucans fly all throughout the tropical South America to as far as northern Argentina. A few species are also seen to fly as far north as Mexico.

Many species fancy living in lowlands but toucanets (Aulacorhynchus) have home ranges at 8,200 ft (2,500 m) or higher in Central America, and the mountain toucans (Andigena) range 3,900-11,000 ft (1,200 3,350 m) in the South American Andes.

Columbia hosts the most number of toucans with 21 species are found in this country alone. 17 species inhabits Venezuela, Brazil, and Ecuador.

Channel-billed toucan (Ramphastos vitellinus) is the only species being found in Trinidad.

Habitat

Toucans make homes in tropical and montane rainforest habitats.

Some true toucans including toucanets and aracaris are known to occupy the secondary vegetation.

While toco toucans and aracaris are riverine specialists red-breasted (Ramphastos dicolorus) primarily lives in palm savannas.

Behavior

Toucans are typically found in small flocks or groups comprising no more than 12 individuals. However preferably they take flight in loose groups and toucans are not so social as other birds.

Large toucans are not good fliers. Small species such as aracaris are agile birds as they fly swiftly and in a straight line.

They do not beat their wings all the time during flight; toucans do glide downward and it looks as if they are pulled down by the weight of their bulky bills. For the same reason toucans take a fairly brief flight.

They are also seen to preen one another especially nape with their large bills.

When they are asleep, they pull the bill over the back and tip up the tail so that it forms a roof over the back and bill. By doing so, they occupy less space and as it turns out toucans sleep five or six together in rotted hollow tree trunks or in abandoned woodpecker's holes.

Toucans are diurnal and they produce many different calls all of which are melodious. They are noisy in the late afternoon when other birds become inactive. Toucans go to rest at night. They also utter after rains or during early morning hours.

Toucans fancy staying high up in trees so much so that they take bath in rainwater pools on a thick branch.

Toucans usually avoid competition and their ranges seldom overlap.

Most species stay in their home range all year-round with the exception of montane toucans which are known to migrate seasonally; moving upslope in spring and downslope in fall. The lowland species gather in huge flocks in the breeding season when fruits are scarce.

Feeding Ecology and Diet

Toucans are active foragers in the forest canopy. They primarily feed on fruits and flowers.

Prominent among the fruits are palms (such as Mauritia, Euterpe, Oenocarpus), nutmeg (Virola), figs (Ficus), guava (Psidium), red pepper (Capsicum fructescens), and other fruits such as Casearia corymbosa, Cecropia, Didymopanax, Phytolacca, Rapanea, and Ehretia tinifolia.

While much of toucan's diet is composed of fruits they also eat small mammals such as bats along with birds and bird eggs. Insects also form the essential part of their diet and this includes crickets, spiders, cicadas, and termites. Small invertebrates include lizards and snakes.

Toucans drink water from epiphytic bromeliads and they never come down to the ground to drink from a pool or stream.

Toucans that raid nests to feed on chicks or eggs are often surrounded by the other birds.

As they grow in size toucans become less and less specialized in their diet. As a group they are predominantly frugivorous. They eat 96.5% fruits.

While gulping they jerk the head back whilst the bill is open. They hold larger lumps of food with their foot and tear it apart with the bill.

Reproductive Biology

The average clutch size consists of two to four elliptical white eggs. But there can be as many as six eggs in a single clutch.

The eggs are as heavy as 5% of the entire weight of the bird.

Depending on species incubation lasts 18 days. Both parents incubate.

Toucans build nests high above the ground; the smaller species fancy using woodpecker holes while the larger toucans prefer using natural cavities in rotted trees.

Chestnut-eared aracaris species will nest in abandoned tree-termite nests.

At times they do drive away woodpeckers from newly-made holes and then make the entrance larger if it is narrow.

The hole has a 3-8 in (8-20 cm) wide floor below the opening. Toucans are likely to lay their eggs in the same hole after year. A female typically lays eggs on wood debris or on seed pellets.

The hatchlings display red featherless skin when they are born.

Both parents feed the young; sometimes they carry food in their bill but mostly they bring it in the throat and regurgitated at the nest.

Toucans keep their nests clean almost all the time. The feathers do not grow until after a month of their birth.

The young will open their eyes after when three weeks old. The young of large toucans do leave the nest until 50 days of birth. When they leave the nest the young feed themselves in the next 8 - 10 days.

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Toucan Facts For Kids | Toucan Diet & Habitat

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I'm going to share all the necessary toucan facts for kids including toucan diet, habitat, and behavior. Toucans are the members of Ramphastidae family and are the inhabitants of South America's tropical rainforests though they are recognized worldwide. These types of birds are closely associated with the American barbets.