18. Endoterm

Geez. I feel so short next to these guys.

Definition: Endothermic animals are the opposite of ectotherms. These animals, such as mammals, are able to maintain their body temperature and homeostasis on their own.

What the specimen is: These are three of several giraffes in the exhibit. Giraffes are native to Chad, South Africa, Niger, and Somalia. The scientific name for this species is Giraffa camelopardalis. 

Where we found it: These giraffes were found in the African exhibit in the LA Zoo.

How it relates to endotherm: Giraffes are mammals, who are mostly able to regulate their body temperature without any external resources. Giraffes are able to maintain an internal body temperature of around 105 degrees fahrenheit.

17. Ectotherm

Nice feet little guy!

Definition: Ectotherms are organisms such as reptiles who rely on external sources to maintain their body heat.

What the specimen is: This is a Mossy leaf tailed gecko. The scientific name for this species is Uroplatus sikorae.

Where we found it: This little guy was in the reptile exhibit at the LA Zoo, It's a good thing he was up against the glass! Sarah says these guys are masters of camouflage and almost impossible to see anywhere else.

How it relates to ectotherm: Geckos in general all need external resources to maintain their heat; it is common to see them sunning themselves on rocks. Mossy leaf tailed geckos must be kept in environments that are 78 to 85 degrees fahrenheit during the day and between 72 and 80 degrees at night.

16. Scale from an animal with a 2 chambered heart

Whoa! That is a big fish dinner.

Definition: An animal with a two chambered heart is a creature such as a fish, that uses gills for breathing. These animals have unique hearts that are not as complex as the hearts of mammals.

What the specimen is: This is an Australian Lungfish. They are native to the fresh waters near Queensland Australia. The scientific name for this species is Neoceratodus forsteri. 

Where we found it: This fish was found in the aquatic and reptile area of the LA Zoo. 

How it relates to scale from an animal with a two chambered heart: 
Like all fish, the Australian lungfish uses gills to breathe, and has a two chambered heart made up of the atria, which receive blood, and the ventricles, which pump blood. Unlike other creatures, fish use their gills to replenish the oxygen in their blood. The scales of the fish are also shown.

15. K strategist

Victory at last! We waited 15 minutes in the
rain for a picture with this guy.

Definition: A K strategist is a population of a species that stays at or near the carrying capacity of the environment. These species give birth to fewer offspring and tend to have longer life spans than R strategists.

What the specimen is: This is an Asian elephant. The scientific name for this species is Elephas maximus. 

Where we found it: This guy is from the Indian exhibit of the LA Zoo. 

How it relates to K strategist: Like K strategists, elephants give birth to few offspring and have long life spans. The gestation period for elephants is usually around 2 years. Specifically, it takes 18 to 22 months from conception to the birth of a single calf. The mother does not mate again until the calf is fully weaned. This takes about 5 years. Elephants also have a life span of around 60 years in the wild. 

14. Heterotroph

Wakey wakey big neko!

Definition: A heterotroph is an animal that needs to get it's energy from consuming organic material from other organisms.

What the organism is: This is the back end of a lion. The scientific name for these animals is Panthera leo. They are found in Africa. There are an estimated 15,000 to 30,000 lions left in the wild.

Where we found it: These two lions were found in the Africa exhibit of the LA Zoo. 

How it relates to heterotroph: All animals are considered heterotrophs since they all consume other organisms whether they be plants or other animals. Lions are carnivorous and eat mainly zebras, antelope, birds, lizards, and the occasional elephant. 

13. Adaptation in an animal

A day at the zoo! 

Definition: An adaptation in an animal is a special physical or behavioral trait that allows better survival. These traits evolve over time through natural selection.

What the specimen is: This is a Grevy's Zebra. The scientific name for this species is Equus grevyi. They are found in Kenya and Ethiopia, but it is estimated there are less than 2,500 of them still living in the wild. 

Where we found it: These three Zebras currently live in the LA Zoo. Sarah and her family took me with them on their trip there this weekend. 

How they relate to adaptation in an animal: Zebras have a physical adaptation of black and white stripes along their bodies. These stripes act as camouflage, since the lion, (the Zebra's main predator) is colorblind. The wavy stripes along the Zebra's body blend in with tall grass and make them harder to see. These stripes are also unique to every individual Zebra, much like human fingerprints. They serve as identification markers for young Zebra that need to recognize their mothers. 

12. Hermaphrodite

Goodness! I sure could use a tan.

Definition: A hermaphrodite is any organism that has both male and female reproductive organs.

What the specimen is: These are two cut Geranium flowers. The scientific name for these flowers is Geranium dissectum, and they are native to Europe.

Where we found it: These flowers were growing outside in Sarah's garden.

How it relates to hermaphrodite: Like most plants, Geraniums have both male and female reproductive organs. The male parts contain the anther, stamen, and pollen and the female parts are the stigma, ovary, and style.