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This section will
give you a "personal introduction" to the real stars of the show.
Select which type of animal you would like to meet and learn about:
Arthropods | Amphibians | Reptiles |
Arthropods
Arthropods are animals without backbones (invertebrates) that have an exoskeleton and jointed legs. They include:
- Insects: Six legs, three body parts and one pair antennae.
- Arachnids: Eight legs, two body parts, no antennae.
- Millipedes: Many segments, one pair antennae, two short pairs of legs per apparent segment, harmless scavengers.
- Centipedes: Many segments, one pair antennae, one pair of long legs per segment, venomous predator.
- Crustaceans: 10 to 14 legs, two pair
antennae, mainly aquatic (lobsters, crabs, shrimp, etc.). Terrestrial
species include Rollie-polies and Sowbugs.
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Masses of Madagascan Hissing Cockroaches
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Madagascan Hissing Cockroaches, as the name
states, come from Madagascar (a large island east of Africa) and they
hiss. Insects breathe through pores in the side of the abdomen called
"spiracles". When the Hissing Cockroach is disturbed, it forcefully
expels air out of these spiracles, creating a very audible hissing
sound. Cockroaches, believe it or not, actually have an important
function in nature. They are scavengers, feeding on all kinds of
decaying matter. Scavengers help "clean up" the environment. There are
over 4,000 species (different kinds) of cockroaches. Most live outdoors
and are beneficial to the environment. Very few species ever go into
homes and become pests. Those that do reside with humans have given all
cockroaches a "bad name".
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Vinnie - Vinegaroon or Whipscorpion
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Vinegaroons, (sometimes spelled Vinegarone),
also known as Whipscorpions are a very interesting and harmless
arachnid belonging to the order Uropygi. They have no venom and do not
sting or bite. Whipscorpions are so named because of a long whip-like
tail which is used as a sensory device. The name "Vinegaroon" comes
from the fact that their primary defense against an attack from
predators is a vinegar scented spray of acetic acid that they shoot
from a pair of glands located under their tail.
Being an Arachnid, they have 8 legs, the first pair of legs are very
long and flexible and are used as feelers (Arachnids do not have
antennae). The last three pairs of legs are used for walking.
Vinegaroons have enlarged, powerful pincer-like pedipalps ("pinchers")
that they use to catch and crush small insects which they eat. They
could possibly "pinch" a human finger with these, but in my many years'
experience with these animals, I've never seen this happen.
There are about 130 species of Uropigids worldwide, but we have only
one species of Whipscorpion found in the United States. That one
happens to be the largest species of them all, the Mastigoproctus
giganteus which can measure up to six inches from the tip of the tail
to the pedipalps.
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Stinker - Darkling Beetle
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Darkling Beetles, sometimes also called "Stink
Beetles " or "Stink Bugs", are a common beetle in the same family as
the "mealworm". They are frequently seen in a well-known pose: head
down, rear end pointing up. When seen in this position, the
knowledgeable person will "let him be" for fear of retaliation. . .a
whiff of something foul. They can emit a pretty "icky-smelling", but
harmless substance for self defense. Darkling Beetles are harmless
scavengers.
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Zigfried - Centipede
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Centipedes prefer moist places such as under
rocks, fallen leaves, rotting logs, etc. The word "centipede" means
"hundred feet". They don't really have a hundred legs, centipedes have
one pair of legs per body segment, and, as you can see, have many
segments. The first pair of legs on a centipede wrap towards the front
of the head to form poison claws. Centipedes are venomous, and a large
centipede could inflict a pretty painful, though not fatal, bite. The
last pair of legs on a centipede are very long and can sometimes
"pinch". These longer legs also serve as a means of defense to confuse
a predator. Can you guess which end is the head?
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Millie and Vanillie - Millipedes
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Millipedes are harmless scavengers commonly
found in cool, moist places such as under rocks, fallen leaves, rotten
logs, etc. The word "millipede" literally means "thousand feet". They
don't really have a thousand legs, but they do have a lot! Their
cylindrical bodies are made up of 25 to 100 somites (segments), most of
which having two pairs of legs on each (with the exception of the first
four somites which have one pair). Different kinds of millipedes have a
different amount of legs, some kinds of millipedes have only 3 or so
pairs of legs when they hatch and add more as they grow. Millipedes
have some interesting means of self-defense: they coil into a spiral
when threatened and can secrete a noxious, foul-smelling substance
(hydrogen cyanide) through their pores. Not all millipedes get as large
as these, they are Giant Millipedes from Africa. |
Napoleon (pictured) and Nero - Emperor Scorpions
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Emperor Scorpions come from Africa and are
among the largest scorpions in the world. All scorpions are venomous,
but the venom of the Emperor Scorpion is very mild and not harmful to
humans. They have very large pincers ("claws") which are capable of
giving a pretty painful pinch, though!
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Sting - Desert Hairy Scorpion
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The Desert Hairy Scorpion
is found in the Sonoran Desert. They have a painful sting, but the
venom is not fatal to humans. &npsp; &npsp; &npsp;
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Rosie - Chilean Rosehair Tarantula
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As the name implies, the Rosehair Tarantula
comes from Chile. They are fairly docile and rarely bite. Should they
bite, though, their venom is not fatal to humans. It is only strong
enough to kill small insects (their primary diet).
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Penelope - Bird-eating Tarantula
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The Bird-eating Tarantulas
come mainly from South America. Penelope is know as a "Lesser Black"
Bird-eater which originates in Columbia and Peru. No, I don't feed her
birds! She gets fed crickets, mealworms (the super large size) and
other invertebrates.
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Arthropods | Amphibians | Reptiles
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