A hungry bobcat crouches behind a bush, looking at the field beyond its leafy hideaway. Suddenly, a squirrel darts across the ground. As the squirrel draws near, the cat leaps from the bush and scoops up the prey in its mouth. It’s dinnertime.
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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
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See pictures and read about Redwood National and State Parks on National Geographic Kids.
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This tasty dish takes some planning, but it’s worth it!
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A king cobra the length of a stretch limo slides through a field. Looking for food, it raises its head and flicks its tongue. Suddenly, a rat scampers past. The snake takes off after the rodent. As it nears its prey, the cobra strikes: It sinks its venom-filled fangs into the rat to knock it out, then swallows the snack in one gulp. LARGE AND (MOSTLY) IN CHARGE King cobras are venomous snakes that live in South and Southeast Asia. The reptile makes its home in forests and swamps. It can grow up to 18 feet long. And the animal’s toxic bite is powerful enough to kill an elephant. Cobras eat small mammals, lizards, and birds. They can also end up on the dinner menu—the snake is a favorite meal of the mongoose, a kind of mammal. NEST FEST When facing predators, king cobras try to act like tough guys. They often expand ribs and muscles on both sides of their necks to create what’s called a hood. The hood makes the snake appear extra-big. While cobras can become aggressive when hungry or threatened, they know how to make their families feel at home. These are the only snakes that build nests for their eggs. How ssssweet! Text by April Capochino Myers
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Need to write an essay? Does the assignment feel as big as climbing Mount Everest? Fear not. You’re up to the challenge! The following step-by-step tips will help you with this monumental task.
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Check out Weird But True! videos, fun facts, and more.
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Discover how spirit bears have a few eerie traits in common with ghosts and other supernatural beings in this Special Halloween Issue. These rare black bears have white fur and live on isolated islands off the west coast of Canada. Plus see how black bears measure up to grizzlies in traits like height, weight, and claw length in our „bear showdown.“
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Read six surprising stories about animal siblings. Then decide for yourself if these California sea lion (at left), Labrador retrievers, bonobos, grizzly bears, hyenas, and orcas really care about each other.
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