Hometown Discoveries Oct08

Taxonomy is the science of naming and classifying things and today endangering you. Include either the animal in the background or the  we are going to look at it in action at the National Zoo.  Good Luck! dangerous object…Remember I want to see you act like these animals!!   Clue #1 Greatest Milk on Earth (50 points) Have fun.  Head to the Red Barn and find out what animal is the  Bovidae capra. Here’s some help… 1) More people drink the milk of the Bovidae capra than any other  Clue #4 It’s all Greek to Me! (50 points) animal in the world. Head to the Reptile Discovery Center and try to solve this dilemma… 2)  The Bovidae family includes gazelles and water buffalos  3) The child of a Bovidae capra is called a “kid.” In Greek Rhombus means spinning top In Latin Rhomb means magician’s circle     Get a photo of both of you petting a Bovidae capra!    In the Reptile House what does rhombifer mean? Did you know?  Carl Linnaeus is the most famous taxonomist  because he spent his life organizing and naming as many plants and  animals as he could.   . Clue #2 Alfred Wegener’s Pet Project (75 points) Head to Amazonia and find the Podocnemis unifilis underwater.           Shoot a quick video in which one of you acts like the Nutty  Professor and explains how this animal helps to prove an interesting  scientific theory!!!!!   YOU MUST point to this animal somehow… either the real animal or a picture of it.     Clue #3 Sea no Evil, Ears no Evil (100 points) Head up the Valley Trail from Amazonia to find two animals that  are very similar but in danger… Can you tell the difference between Zalophus californianus and  Halichoerus grypus?  Well you better find out soon or they’ll be gone.   There is something we use everyday that is hurting them.          Shoot a video in which you both act like these two animals.  You  must explain the difference between the two of you and explain what is  

         Snap a photo of both of you in front of this animal…if  it is not near the glass ­ take a photo in front of its sign!   Did you know? Taxonomists like Linnaeus used Latin  because in the 1700s it was the common scientific language  for all of Europe.   Clue # 5 Half and Half (50 points) Head to the Small Mammal House to solve this riddle…  If Leo = lion and pithecus = ape  What would a Leontopithecus look like?          Snap a photo of both of you in front of this half and half being! 25 Bonus Points! What color is the Greek word: chrysomelas =_____________________  Clue # 6 Root Word! You’ll have to hoof it along Olmstead Walk!  

(100 Points)

What Latin name does Przewalski’s animal and the Zebra have in common? I want you now to find the largest raptor here at the zoo…and sit on  Shoot a short video in which one of you is pointing to this Latin  word and acting like a scientist hypothesizing what this Latin word  You’ll recognize it as an Aquila but it is still a part of the raptor family. Find this statue that was given to the zoo from the Pennsylvania means.  Hint: What makes these animals similar? Railroad outside of the Bird House. Snap a photo of both of you sitting on this statue…but be Clue # 7 Hungry, Hungry…? (75 points) careful it is a raptor!!! Head to the building where you would find Elephas maximus … Clue #10 Another Mistaken Identity (100 points) What? You don’t know Latin?  Take a guess as to what this animal  would be.   Is it a Sloth or is it a Bear? Which is it? Now that you are in this house I need you to find the animal that  connects to this riddle.  

Longest River Frog

Find this tricky creature along the Asia Trail and the key to figuring out if this animal is a sloth or a bear would be the Latin name:

ursinus or ursus.

It’s not easy but combine the English and Latin names to figure this out! Snap a photo of both of you in front of this animal (or a picture of this animal) Clue # 8

When your name fits! (50 points) How did the Panda get its name? Find out inside their den.

Shoot a short video in which one of you explains what the Panda’s name means. Try to get a panda in the background as you shoot this. Check your facts…it must be correct! Clue # 9 Dangerous Territory (50 Points) Velociraptor  was a meat eating dinosaur with a vicious claw that it  used to kill its prey Raptor comes from the Latin word rapere which means “to grab or  seize”.   All Raptors are able to grab you with their claws!!!!!!! 

Do you know it already? Well if you don’t you will have to go to the “Mistaken Identity” wall and read to find out what it is. Once you figure it out, you’ll also know what Ursinus means. BREAKING NEWS: Shoot video in which you act like a news reporter and explain three things while next to the statue of the Sloth Bear. 1) Is it a sloth or is it a bear? Use the word ursinus in your explanation. 2) Explain why so many scientific names are in Latin. 3) Explain who Carl Linnaeus was. Did you know you can read this clue sheet to help you with #s 2 & 3?

Now hurry back to the meeting point so you can earn your points and eat some lunch.

Don’t forget to check out the results: www.hometowndiscoveries.blogspot.com