New Bat Species Discovered!

In Vietnam, scientists have discovered a new species of leaf-nosed bat. At first, the researches mistook it for a known species–the great leaf-nosed bat, which is often aggressive when captured. These little bats, however, had an unusually gentle demeanor around the scientists. So, they decided to examine them a little more closely.  As it turns out, these bats are genetically distinct from the great leaf-nosed bat, and are now known as Griffin’s leaf-nosed bat. Find this bat’s full story here: http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2012/02/120223-new-bat-species-vietnam-animals-science/

If you want to learn even more about bats, Sylvan Dell has two great books for you! Check them out:

Little Red Bat follows the story of one young bat’s decision to migrate for the winter. He talks to  other animals about their winter plans and must decide what option will work best for him. In our spring 2012 book Home in the Cave, Baby Bat learns about the delicate balance of a cave ecosystem and comes to understand his important role in it.

            

Techno Turtle Tracking

Did you know leatherback turtles can grow to be 7 feet long and weigh up to 2,000 pounds? They also live to be about 45 years old, but unfortunately the length of time it takes for them to mature means it can be devastating to the leatherback population if adult turtles die. In recent years, leatherback turtles have become critically endangered due to fatal encounters with fishing gear and limited feeding grounds on their normal migration routes.

But don’t worry! Conservationists from the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science have found a high-tech solution to this problem. They strapped satellite tracking backpacks on a group of leatherbacks in order to study their migration routes and eventually help protect them from danger. They were able to identify the migration routes that provided the most food for the leatherbacks, and they also identified the routes that presented obstacles. With this knowledge, conservationists will be able to advocate for altered fishing practices and better conservation efforts in those key areas to help change the turtles’ ”endangered” status.

Read the full article here: http://news.discovery.com/animals/leatherback-turtles-zones-120309.html

For more information on turtles, pick up one of our four books about turtles! Turtle Summer features loggerhead turtles and Turtles In My Sandbox features diamondback terrapins. Both books focus on conservation and proper treatment of beaches and turtle nests. For a more fictional approach to this subject matter, Where Should Turtle Be? and Tudley Didn’t Know explore turtle habitats and behaviors in comparison with other animal species.  Check them out!

              

One Special Penguin Gets A New Suit!

Biologists at the California Academy of Sciences began to notice that one out of their twenty African penguins, Pierre, began shedding feathers on his behind. These waterproof feathers are what insulated Pierre and kept him warm. Unfortunately, this meant that Pierre could not join his penguin peers in the water tank and instead he watched from the sidelines shivering, while his friends played.

After failed attempts to warm Pierre with a heat lamp, the biologists contacted a local dive gear supplier to see if they could help. Luckily, they created something that worked- a custom wetsuit!

Pierre wore his suit for six weeks, during which he gained weight and grew his hind feathers back. Pierre the African penguin is now back to his old self, thanks to the help, care, and creativity of others.

Read the full article here:  http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/24311713/ns/technology_and_science-science/t/balding-penguins-wetsuit-lets-him-swim-again/

If you would like to read some more about penguins be sure to check out The Penguin Lady by Carol A. Cole and illustrated by Sherry Rogers.

      The Penguin Lady is a wonderful story for penguin lovers of all ages. Read this wacky story  of what happens when people take you a little too literally and see what it’s like to have  your own penguins! It may be harder than you think…

Penelope Parker lives with penguins! Short ones, tall ones; young and old—the penguins are from all over the Southern Hemisphere including some that live near the equator! Do the penguin antics prove too much for her to handle? Children count and then compare and contrast the different penguin species as they learn geography.

 

To read more about The Penguin Lady or the author and illustrator please visit www.sylvandellpublishing.com.

Happy Reading!