自然英语

自然英语

By 荒野苏州自然频道ScienceEducationNatureLanguage Learning
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自然英语 episodes

  • Matschies Tree Kangaroo

    This tree dwelling animal lives in the Huon peninsula of Papua New Guinea, they live in places called  cloud forests because they are so high up in the mountains and clouds are usually covering the sky. They will live in elevations up to 11,000 feet above sea level. Since the habitat they live in is so plentiful, they eat leaves, fruits, moss, and branches. They find food by scavenging along the forest floor as well as the tree tops. 
    Although they live in a remote and hard to get to environment they still have predators. Some of the predators are natural and some are domesticated animals, among the most common are snakes, wild cats, as well as domesticated pets like cats and dogs. They protect themselves by staying in the dense tree tops most of the time. Their population is estimated to be 2,100 left, meaning they are endangered. 
    The matschie's tree kangaroo is well adapted to its environment as it is able to survive in its harsh habitat. Their claws are large and sharp so they can easily climb, and a long heavy tail,  which helps animals balance. It also rains a lot in the mountains so their thick fur helps them stay warm, only weighing 20 pounds also helps them survive. 

    2 min
  • Dogfish and Catsharks

    Hello, this is Wild Suzhou.

    Today, we’ll be talking about dogfish and catsharks, two families of small sharks that look similar and get confused with one another though they are only distantly related. However, they look so similar that sometimes catsharks are even called dogfish.

    First, we will talk about dogfish. They are small, slender sharks with pointed snouts and large eyes. Fishermen named this species of shark the dogfish because they noticed the sharks hunting together in packs, similar to a dog. The most well-known species of dogfish is the spiny dogfish. They have rough skin that appears to be greyish brown in color, which becomes almost white on their bellies. Spiny dogfish are also covered in white dots. Like all sharks, spiny dogfish are carnivores, usually eating fish smaller than themselves, such as mackerels and herring. Sometimes, they will even eat jellyfish and squid. The spiny dogfish is unique since it has a venom spine. The dorsal fin, or the large fin on its back, has a spine attached to a venom gland. This venom is not used for hunting, but rather for any predators that try to attack it. This venom can be mildly toxic to humans but you most likely wouldn’t die from it.

    Now we’ll move on to catsharks. Like dogfish, catsharks are also long and slender, with large eyes that look like those of a cat. They are also not very dangerous. Most species have dark skin, but many species have lighter spots, stripes and patches covering them. One species of catshark is even biofluorescent, meaning it can create its own light, like a firefly. Unlike dogfish, catsharks are bottom feeders and usually eat small invertebrates on the ocean floor or small fish. No species of catsharks have venom either.

    Hopefully you now know some key differences between dogfish and catsharks, though they are not easy to tell apart.

    For Wild Suzhou, I’m Ciana, thanks for listening and see you next time.


    3 min
  • Western Sandpipers

    Hello, welcome to the first wild suzhou of 2021, today i’m talking about the Western Sandpiper. The western sandpiper is a bird that you would see a lot if you went to the West coast beaches. Most of the time it lives in California or other places along the coast, even going into south america, but it will fly to Alaska in spring or summer to mate. They spend their winters in the lower half of North America. 
    Since most of the year is spent migrating the long distance, they like to stop on the beaches to eat and rest. These birds will eat insects, crustaceans, mollusks and lots of other stuff they can find on the beaches like mussels and clams. If you see them on a beach and they’re all together waiting for the water to go back, this is their way of catching food. They wait for the water to wash food onto the shore, then use their beaks to peck it up nd run away from the water.
    While the birds are in alaska their predators are big carnivores like red foxes. While they are along the coast, they have to be careful for bigger seabirds who are looking to eat their eggs and babies. The westerm sandpiper is a very small bird, they only weigh a few ounces. The have a white belly, and brown wings and back, with lots of dark spots and patterns, Their feet are slightly webbed which might help them walk along the wet sand easier. The average lifespan for a sandpiper is about 6-9 years .

    2 min
  • Dumbo Octopus

    Hello, this is Wild Suzhou.
    Today, we will talk about the Umbrella Octopus, which get their name from their appearance. They have webs of skin between their tentacles that make them look like little umbrellas.
    Umbrella octopuses are deep-sea creatures, which means that they are only found in the ocean’s deepest darkest parts. They have been found in the Pacific Ocean, in areas almost 4800 meters underwater. They will usually try to stay within 3 to 4 meters underwater and hover above the ocean floor rather than walking over it.
    One group of umbrella octopuses is known as the dumbo octopuses. The name Dumbo octopus came from a Disney film, in which one of the characters was an elephant named Dumbo. This group of octopuses has fins on the side of their heads, which look like an elephant’s ears. They have large heads, with seemingly short tentacles that, like all umbrella octopus species, have webs between them. The dumbo octopus can come in colors like orange, yellow, red, pink, white, brown, or sometimes invisible to blend in with their surroundings. 
    Dumbo octopuses will feed on prey such as worms, crustaceans such as shrimp, shellfish such as clams, and plankton. To catch prey, they will pounce on top of it, then swallow it whole. Dumbo octopuses are not preyed on by humans, but these creatures are preyed on by sharks and other octopuses.
    For Wild Suzhou, I’m Ciana; thanks for listening and see you next time.

    2 min
  • Willow Ptarmigan

    This bird's shape might be a little eye catching, but it has other ways to stay hidden. The willow ptarmigan is found in North America and Canada year round, because it needs to live in a cold environment. It lives in the tundras, forests, and meadows. It finds food by foraging, the diet consists of multiple kinds of berries, leaves, willow, and other plants, occasionally eating insects. The willow ptarmigan has multiple predators, some of them are large birds, owls, foxes, minks, crows and ravens, weasels, pine martens and many other larger mammals.
     The way they stay safe is by camouflaging with their natural habitat. During the winter, the ptarmigans feathers will all be white to blend in with the snow, this is similar to what the snow hare does. In the other season when the snow is gone the feathers will start to turn more brown and red, but the stomach will still stay white. Despite weighing 1 pound and being quite round, this bird can actually fly well, but it prefers to walk around. Their population is stable and they have a lifespan of a short 3-4 years. They have the same mating partner for life. 
    For wild suzhou im palm tree and thank you for listening.

    2 min
  • Great White Shark

    Hello, this is Wild Suzhou.

    Today, we will be talking about great white sharks. Are they really as dangerous as humans make them out to be, or do they just have a bad reputation?

    Great white sharks are one of the larger species of sharks, from the mackerel shark family. Mackerel sharks got their name from their diet, which consists mainly of fish such as mackerel.

    Great whites have a type of camouflage known as countershading, where their backs are grey and their undersides are white, meaning animals from above will not see them since their backs blend in with the depths of the water, while animals looking up will see what looks like sunlight. Great whites have multiple rows of jagged teeth, so when one tooth breaks off, another tooth will replace it. These serrated teeth help the shark to hunt since the teeth latch on easily and can tear off flesh for the shark to eat. They also have large blue eyes.

    Great white sharks are carnivores, mainly eating fish. However, their diet is very broad, and they can also eat dolphins, whales, seals, turtles, birds, and otters. They will also eat other sharks. In California, great white sharks will hunt northern elephant seals by biting them on the hindquarters, or around the midsection of their tail. This immobilizes the seal, and it will also eventually bleed to death. Sharks will also hunt dolphins and porpoises by sneaking up on them from above, below, or behind so that a dolphin’s echolocation will not give away the shark’s position.

    Great white sharks are responsible for the most unprovoked attacks on humans. However, they don’t intentionally hurt humans unless humans attack them. Great whites will also do something called “test biting” where they will bite an object to figure out what it is. Sometimes, a shark and a human may be in water that is not clear or contaminated, making it harder for the shark to sense that a human is not a seal or some other preferable prey item. Usually, when a great white shark bites a human, they will quickly realize it’s too bony, meaning less proteins and fats for the shark to digest. Because of this, the human is not worth attacking and they will stop biting.

    For Wild Suzhou, I’m Ciana, thanks for listening, and see you next time.

    3 min
  • Spiny Softshell Turtle

    The spiny soft shell turtle lives all around the US and parts of mexico and canada. Its habitat is rivers and lakes with rocky bottoms and lots of small animals. The reason it needs a lot of small animals to live near it, is so it can find food. It has a soft shell, so it can’t really go hunting. It’s diet consists of water insects, crayfish, and other small fish. Its way of finding food is burying its head underwater and suddenly catching their prey. 
    The soft shelled turtle is quite susceptible to predators since it doesn’t have a hard shell to protect itself. So its only way to defend itself is to bury themselves in mud. You may have also noticed the color of its shell is a brown grey color, similar to the muddy rocks in its habitat, camouflage is another way it tries to stay safe. 
    The animal is actually quite small at about one and half feet. It has a long lifespan of 50 years in the wild and can mate when they reach the age of 10. The spiny softshell turtle is facing a threat of being endangered due to habitat loss in Canada. An interesting thing about these turtles is, some that live in colder habitats hibernate, which is basically conserving energy and sleeping most of the time. 
    For wild Suzhou I'm palm tree and thank you for listening.

    2 min
  • Harpy Eagle

    Hello, this is wild suzhou.
    Today, we will be talking about the harpy eagle, specifically the American harpy eagle. It’s the largest and most powerful bird of prey that can be found in a rainforest, and one of the largest in the world.
    The upper side of the harpy eagle, such as the back of the body and tail, is grey, while the underside is mostly white. However, the leg feathers are striped black and white. The head is grey, and there is a thick black border on the neck. The head has a crown that consists of two rows of dark grey or black feathers. The bill of the bird is dark grey or black, and the feet are bright yellow.
    Harpy eagles are fierce predators, and are at the top of the food chain. This means that they eat many other animals. This also means that there are little or no animals that hunt down harpy eagles. However, there was a case where two young harpy eagles were reintroduced into the wild, but were caught by a jaguar and an ocelot. Harpy eagles mainly prey on tree-dwelling mammals, such as sloths and monkeys. This includes species like the brown-throated sloth, Linnaeus’s two-toed sloth, and Hoffmann’s two-toed sloth. There are many species of monkeys that may be caught by harpy eagles, but some species are capuchin monkeys, howler monkeys, and spider monkeys. They will also eat other animals, such as squirrels, armadillos, other birds like macaws, other carnivores, like weasels, and even porcupines.
    Harpy eagles are able to hunt effectively due to their talons, which are the largest of any eagle. Because of this, they are able to snatch and carry away items about the same weight as them, such as monkeys and sloths. The female eagles, which usually catch larger prey, can grab onto animals and then fly away without having to land, showing how strong these birds are.
    For Wild Suzhou, I’m Ciana, thanks for listening and see you next time.

    3 min
  • Tokay Gecko

    This animal may seem insignificant compared to other animals out there, but what's special about it is how little it’s changed in the millions of years the species have been alive. The tokay gecko can be found in Southeast Asia, and although it may look weird it doesn’t live in any exotic environment, and can be found in households and rainforests.
    Their wacky color pattern may seem inconvenient when they are trying to hide from predators but they are able to change their color to blend in better with their environment, this is called camouflage. When not hiding, they are blue with red spots all around their body, but they can change to be brown or green.
    The Tokay  gecko enjoys eating insects, spiders, ants, and worms, and will search for food during the night because they are nocturnal. Snakes and birds eat this animal, and despite the bright colors, it is not poisonous. Another reason they are hunted is because they are used for traditional chinese medicine. They can get up to about 1 foot long, and have an average lifespan of 10 years, but have lived up to 27 years. Tokay geckos are actually considered special where they are from because  they are a symbol of good luck.
    For wild suzhou im palmtree and thank you for listening.

    2 min
  • Poison Dart Frogs

    Hello, this is wild suzhou.
    Today, we will be talking about poison dart frogs, a group of brightly colored yet dangerous little frogs found in Central and South America.
    Poison dart frogs are relatively small, when you compare them to other species of frogs. Most of them have very bright coloring, which is to warn predators that they are toxic. This is known as aposematism, which means using signals, such as bright coloring or bad smells, to warn predators that a prey is not worth trying to eat. The aposematism displayed in poison dart frogs varies a lot, and different species can look vastly different from one another. For example, the golden dart frog is almost 100% yellow, which can range from lighter yellows to almost orange. However, another species, the dyeing poison dart frog, is jet black, with a thick yellow stripe going from the nose to the back, and very light green spots on the legs.
    Though many species of poison dart frog possess aposematic coloring, not all of them are actually so dangerous. Some species of poison dart frogs aren’t actually poisonous, and are just tricking predators into thinking that they are.
    The toxin that poison dart frogs have probably comes from the insects that they eat, such as ants and termites. It’s thought that these insects eat plants that contain certain toxins or chemicals, and since the frogs eat the insects, the chemicals are stored in their bodies. People have also noticed that poison dart frogs that are kept as pets or in zoos are not as toxic, since they don’t feed on the insects they normally would.
    Poison dart frogs got their name from because of Native Americans, who would sometimes use the poison from a dart frog to put on the tip of a blowdart, effectively making a toxic and more dangerous dart.
    For Wild Suzhou, I’m Ciana, thanks for listening and see you next time.

    2 min

About 自然英语

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主播:Ciana, Elysia, 飞鸟

首播:每周五晚上18:00

这是一档由喜欢大自然的三个观鸟爱好者一起合作、播出的自然类英文科普节目。

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