Animal Planet Issue 16

ARE YOU WILD ABOUT ANIMALS? S IMAL N A WILD GER!

DAN

16 9772046170023

Recall: R12 - 20-Mar-12

£2.99

#16

Why do these killers eat their own kind?

Everything you ever need to know about animals

INSIDE!

WEIRD CREAT CREATURES! CREATURES! URES!

UNDERWATER UNDERW UNDE RWAATER

ATTTACK! ATTACK! AT How tiny The are ocean’s these deadliest creatures? hunters!

Can you crack them?

POWER

PUZZLES! PUZZLES!

THE FIERCEST THE FASTEST THE SCARIEST

Don’t be fooled by cute looking animals — any creature can be a predator in the animal kingdom!

Terrifying Tongue!

With the longest tongue in the world compared to body length, chameleons can afford to be slow moving predators. However, there’s one thing about them that is lightning fast – their super speedy tongue! The tongue can be launched, catch the prey with the sticky mucus, and put back in a fraction of a second. No wonder they don’t need to move fast!

Small but Deadly!

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The praying mantis may only grow up to 15cm, but that doesn’t stop it from being a brutal hunter in the insect world. They can move their heads 180 degrees to find prey and will lie in wait until a delicious meal comes along.

Then they use their super quick reflexes and long front legs which are equipped with spikes to pin their prey. They’ll even eat their own kind!

A chameleon can rotate and focus its eyes separately to look at two different objects at the same time!

Kingfisher hunt fish from riverside perches, occasionally hovering above the water’s surface looking for fish.

Sea otters have webbed feet, water repellent fur and ears and nostrils that close in the water.

Leopard geckos will eat scorpions as they are unaffected by their sting!

Desert Dweller!

The leopard gecko is found in the deserts of Central Asia, Pakistan and parts of India. They are nocturnal and come out to hunt at night. Much like a leopard, the gecko uses its keen sense of smell and strong vision to stalk their prey. Any insects living near them should beware of the dark!

The Relaxed Killer Feathered Destroyers!

Although cute to look at, the sea otter can be a mighty predator. Lying on their back might make them look comfortable, but this is actually an important part of how they get to their food. They snare prey like clams and shellfish and grab a rock from the sea floor.

The rock is placed on their chest and the unlucky prey is repeatedly smashed against it.

Domesticated Stalker

Birds of prey can be fierce predators, but would you think other birds could be so dangerous to other animals? Check out these ferocious flyers! Egrets snare their prey by standing still and only moving their eyes. When prey get close, they use their razor sharp bill to strike and the prey is swallowed whole. They’ll eat fish, reptiles, mice and other small animals.

Owls are silent hunters of the night and see really well in the dark.

Your pet cat might seem like a very unlikely predator, but they are hunters – even if they just lie on the couch or stretch on your bed. A mouse is still a mouse to these feline predators, no matter how much cat food you feed them! They use their sharp teeth and claws to hunt — often at night because they can see so well. © Thinkstockphotos

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HICKORY HORNED DEVIL

Caterpillar!

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They have Which is

10,000

14 legs 7pairs

The caterpillar will moult

ŠThinkstockphotos

5

times before the final stage of becoming a chrysalis

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The biggest of all silk horn caterpillars, this can grow to over

1 6

inch wide!

(2.54cm)

They eat from

10 different types of trees

Caterpillars spend most of their time eating with their powerful jaws. They mostly eat leaves and plant matter.

Due to their slow movement and soft bodies, caterpillars are targets for many predators.

Most remain as a pupae for

Caterpillars live all around the world.

They can be found on beaches, in meadows and even in the Antarctic!

months, although a few may take

4,000

629

Each caterpillar can have up to

5

sets of horns on their heads.

Although they look frightening, they’re not dangerous to humans

16cm

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When the caterpillar has grown into the regal moth, it can have a wingspan of

months before developing into moths

During the day, there is caterpillar that will disguise itself from predators by curling up into a “j” shape to mimic bird poo

1

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Tiger

Tigers are brilliant swimmers and often bathe in lakes and rivers to escape the heat of the sun.

Š Thinkstockphotos