Some species of cicada live as long as 17 years, though most of the time is spent underground. There are two groups of cicadas: annual cicadas and periodical cicadas.
These bugs all emerge from the ground at the same time.
These colorful fish live in and around the tropical reefs of all the world’s oceans.
They can also withstand 530 tons of pressure—that’s the same as the weight of about
Phil the groundhog is a star! Well, at least on February 2 he is. Phil lives in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, where every Groundhog Day people wait for him to come out of his burrow. Legend has it that if Phil sees his shadow, six more weeks of winter will follow. Phil might be a celebrity once a year, but the rest of the time he probably prefers his me-time. After all, the word monax in the groundhog’s scientific name means “solitary.” LOOK OUT BELOW! The groundhog—also known as a woodchuck—spends much of its days alone, foraging for plants and grasses and digging burrows up to 66 feet (20 meters) long. The burrows are often under open areas such as meadows and farmlands, which can make the critter a real nuisance to farmers. Groundhogs destroy crops and create holes in the soil, which can damage tractors and injure livestock. (People aren’t the only ones who trip—cows can stumble too!) But burrows are super-important to groundhogs. They’re where the rodents sleep, raise their babies, and even poop. (They actually have separate bathrooms!) Burrows also provide protection from predators such as coyotes, hawks, and black bears. And it’s not just the groundhog that uses its burrow—animals such as rabbits, chipmunks, and snakes move in once a groundhog has moved out. DEEP SLEEP Farmers get a break from pesky groundhogs come winter when the rodents enter their burrows to hibernate. In the spring, females give birth in their dens to about three to five pups. But they don’t hang out for long. By around two months old, they’re off on their own—whether they see their shadows or not. Text by Jed Winer/NGS Staff
own—whether they see their shadows or not. 2:55 Priscilla the Baby Groundhog Sam
A blob the size of a teacup slinks along the ocean floor in the shallow waters off of Australia. It’s a type of sea slug called the nudibranch (NEW-dih-bronk), a slime-oozing creature with a boneless body. Many of them also sport brilliant colors and eye-catching patterns on their skin. In fact this sticky slug is often considered one of the most beautiful animals in the world. IN THE MOOD FOR FOOD Over 3,000 species of nudibranchs exist, and most live in shallow, tropical waters. They can be anywhere from a quarter of an inch to 12 inches long and can weigh up to 3.3 pounds. These sea slugs spend their time sliding on their bellies around their habitat in search of snacks. The animals have a set of curved teeth, which they use to eat coral, sponges, and fish eggs off the ocean floor. Nudibranchs use tentacles on their heads to poke around for grub. TRUE COLORS The nudibranch’s meals don’t just satisfy its hunger—the food also gives the animal its coloring. When the sea slug eats, it absorbs and displays its prey’s pigment—the substance that gives the prey its color. Some nudibranchs also absorb toxins from certain prey and secrete the poison from their own skin. This allows them to fend off enemies such as fish. So the nudibranch is stunning, resourceful, and it recycles? This slug sounds far from sluggish! Text by Andrea Silen / NGS Staff
1:36 Slimy Sea Slug Get ready for some slime on this episode of Scuba Sam’s World
You’ll want to go to bat for these awesome mammals after reading about their supercool skills.
A Kitti’s hog-nosed bat from Southeast Asia weighs about the same as a dime.
These enormous fish are found in tropical oceans around the world.
Their skeletons are made of cartilage—the same stuff found in human ears and noses
Dive in to discover seven species of sharks with mind-blowing traits.
The sharks hang out with the same friends for years, following each other or swimming
