THE ANIMAL KINGDOM

Desert BirdS !

Many birds live in the desert – from the tiny elf owl to the ostrich, the largest bird in the world, to the lanner falcon which feeds on other smaller birds. The elf owl is one of the smallest owls in the world, being about 6 inches long.

Desert birds usually feed on seeds or plants rich in water like the cacti. But many birds, like the lanner falcon and the elf owl are predators. They get all the liquid they need by feeding on other smaller animals.

‘SHOC’ KING Fish!

Not less than four families of bony fish have electric organs. The muscles in these fish are arranged in a series of plates, which form an organic battery. Some fish are capable of generating large voltages of electricity. One of them, the electric eel, which lives in the Amazon, can generate more than 550 volts. These fish mostly generate electricity for protection, or for paralyzing their prey.

The fish that generate electricity mostly live in places where the water is muddy, and visibility is poor. Thus, the electric field which they generate, not only helps them to navigate, but also to spot their prey.

PENGUIN NAVIGATION!

The penguin is a bird that is best adapted to life around water. There are 18 living species of this bird. They can easily prey on fast swimming fish. The feathers of the penguin have been modified to form a close-fitting suit-like covering.

Penguins navigate by watching for signs in the sky just as flying birds do. They use the sun to spot the place they want to reach. This was proved, when a flock of them were taken hundreds of miles from home and released. The sun was obscured then. It was found that the birds were confused about which direction to take.