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Sleep tight. You're listening to Sleep Tight Science.
I'm Amelia and I'm from Los Angeles.
Did you know that sea otters have a special pocket in their armpits where they keep their favorite rock?
What? It's true. Would you carry your favorite toy in your armpit?
Hello, friends, and welcome back to Sleep Tight Science, a bedtime show that answers your questions about science.
In this episode, we're going to meet some of the cutest animals on Earth.
From the giant -eared fennec fox of the desert to the red panda of the Himalayas, from hedgehogs that roll into tiny prickly balls to sea otters that nap while holding hands, we've gathered a bunch of creatures that are not only cute, but have lots of interesting science.
We'll also meet the bush baby with eyes as big as marbles And a very special animal you might not have heard of The East African Ground pangolin It might not win a cuteness contest But trust us, it's just as amazing We've been flipping through our science books And exploring some pretty incredible animal facts and we thought you'd enjoy learning these fun and sometimes funny facts about some of the most amazing and cute animals in the wild.
Have you ever seen an animal with ears so big they look like they're meant for listening to secrets from far away?
If you did, then that might have been the fennec fox.
one of the cutest little creatures in the desert.
The fennec fox, Vulpiserda, lives in the scorching deserts of North Africa and the Arabian Peninsula.
These clever little creatures have found smart ways to stay cool, like hiding in shady burrows during the day and hunting at night when the air is cooler.
But the first thing most people notice?
Their ears. Enormous ears, about 15 centimeters or 6 inches long, that stick out like furry radar dishes on their tiny heads.
These ears help them listen for beetles and other critters scurrying beneath the sand, and they also help release body heat in the hot desert sun. But don't be fooled by those supersized ears.
The fennec fox is actually the smallest fox species in the world.
From nose to tail, they're about 36 to 41 centimeters, or 14 to 16 inches long.
And they weigh about 1 .5 kilograms, or 3 .3 pounds.
Just a little more than a small chihuahua.
With their creamy fur, dark eyes, and soft paws built for sandy terrain, fennec foxes are perfectly adapted for desert life.
They mostly come out at night when it's cooler to hunt insects, small animals, and fruits.
During the day, they snooze in cozy underground burrows they dig themselves.
With those big eyes and even bigger ears, they look like desert -dwelling cartoon characters, always alert, always curious.
And if you're wondering whether any other animals have ears that rival the fennecs, look up the bat -eared fox of Africa.
It's got a similar look, but we preferred the fennec when compiling our list. Now that we've met this incredible animal, let's explore some fun and funny facts about the fabulous fennec fox.
Did you know that the fennec fox digs cozy burrows in the sand to stay cool during the heat of the day?
Some fennec fox homes even have multiple rooms. Did you know these foxes are nocturnal?
That means they sleep all day and wake up when the stars come out Can you guess what the opposite of nocturnal is?
If you guessed diurnal, then you are correct But you probably won't be using that word much unless you're a zoologist Maybe you could impress your science teacher by letting them know you are a diurnal animal Did you know fennec foxes can go days without drinking water?
They stay hydrated from the food they eat, like insects and juicy roots.
If you were thirsty, would you find an insect refreshing?
Did you know fennec foxes love to stay clean?
They lick their fur like cats to keep it tidy.
Did you know that a fennec fox family is called a leash?
Yes, really! And they often live together in big groups.
The next animal we are going to explore is the Red Panda.
The red panda, Ilurus fulgens, is one of the most unique and lesser -known mammals in the animal kingdom.
Though it shares a name with the giant panda, the two aren't closely related.
In fact, red pandas belong to their own distinct family, Iloridae, and are more closely related to raccoons and skunks than bears or true pandas.
The red panda has a big forehead, round eyes, a tiny nose made for booping, and thick red fur that looks as cozy as your warmest blanket.
Red pandas are about the size of a house cat, measuring 56 to 63 centimeters, or 22 to 25 inches in body length, with a bushy tail that adds another 12 to 20 inches.
That large, ringed tail isn't just for show.
It helps the red panda balance as it climbs trees in the mountainous forests of the Himalayas and parts of China, where it lives among thick bamboo and cool temperatures.
One of their most striking features is their thick, reddish -brown fur, which provides excellent camouflage among the reddish moss and white lichen -covered branches of their forest habitat.
Their fur even covers the soles of their feet to provide warmth in cold climates and grip on slippery branches.
Red pandas are mostly nocturnal and crepuscular, meaning they're most active at night and during early morning and late afternoon.
They spend much of their time in trees, and though they're skilled climbers, they can be shy and solitary.
When threatened, red pandas may rise up on their hind legs to appear larger, an impressive display for an animal that only weighs about 4 to 8 kilograms, or 8 to 17 pounds.
And yes, they eat bamboo.
Lots of it. But they're actually classified as carnivores, meaning their ancestors were meat -eaters.
Today, red pandas survive mostly on bamboo, along with fruit, roots, and occasionally eggs or insects.
Red pandas may be quiet and elusive, but they play an important role in their forest ecosystem.
And with their numbers in decline due to habitat loss and poaching, they are now classified as endangered, making conservation efforts critical to their survival.
Next, we have some fascinating and funny facts about these remarkable tree dwellers.
Did you know red pandas are the original pandas?
They were discovered about 50 years before the giant panda got its name, even though they're not closely related.
Did you know red pandas can eat up to 20 ,000 bamboo leaves a day?
That's a lot of crunching for an animal with a digestive system of a meat -eater.
Did you know red pandas can sleep up to 17 hours a day?
That's nearly as much as a cat, and they spend much of that time dozing in the treetops.
Did you know red pandas are most active at dawn and dusk?
Scientists call this being crepuscular, which makes them sound like forest -dwelling secret agents.
Did you know red pandas love cold weather and actually get uncomfortable in heat they're built for chilly mountain forests not warm zoos next let's learn a bit about the African pygmy hedgehog The African pygmy hedgehog also called the four -toed hedgehogs, Atalarix alboventris is the smallest of all hedgehog species.
It typically grows to just 7 -9 inches or 18 -23 centimeters long, about the size of a large cucumber.
Native to central and eastern Africa, these hedgehogs are known for their four -toed feet and their impressive ability to adapt to dry scrubby environments unlike some animals that run or hide when scared the pygmy hedgehog curls up tight forming a little ball of protective spines those spines made of keratin just like human fingernails offer great defense against predators while some Some people keep African pygmy hedgehogs as pets.
It's important to know that they aren't legal in all places.
And even though they might look cute, hedgehogs prefer quiet environments and aren't as snuggly as you might think.
They're nocturnal too, most active when you're asleep.
Next, we have some fascinating and funny facts about this cute prickly animal.
Did you know that hedgehogs don't actually hog anything?
Their name comes from their pig -like grunting sounds and the way they snuffle through hedges looking for food.
Did you know that hedgehogs can have over 5 ,000 spines on their back?
Hedgehogs have terrible eyesight, but a super -powered nose.
They use their sense of smell and hearing to hunt for bugs, worms, and even small frogs.
Did you know hedgehogs are born with their spines just under their skin to protect their mother during birth?
Their spines pop out within hours.
And finally, Hedgehogs are immune to some snake venom and while we might scream at a slithery surprise, a Hedgehog might just make it lunch. Next, we will learn about another cute animal, the Sea Otter.
Have you ever seen a furry little face floating on its back in the ocean?
Maybe holding hands with a friend or playing with a pebble?
You might have been looking at a sea otter, one of the most playful marine mammals around.
Sea otters and Hydra luteris nereus belong to the same family as weasels.
Sea otters live nearly their entire lives in the chilly waters of the Pacific Ocean, especially along the coasts of North America and Asia.
What makes sea otters extra special?
For one, their thick fur, the thickest in the entire animal kingdom, helps keep them warm in cold waters because they don't have a layer of blubber like whales or seals.
Their fluffy paws, round faces, and playful personalities don't hurt either.
Sea otters are known to hold paws while they sleep so they don't drift apart.
Baby otters, called pups, often ride on their mama's belly like a fluffy raft, and adults sometimes use rocks as tools to crack open their favorite snacks like clams and sea urchins.
They're clever, curious, and incredibly important to their ecosystem.
Sea otters play a big role in keeping kelp forests healthy and thriving.
Did you know sea otters have the thickest fur in the animal kingdom?
They can have up to a million hairs in just one square inch, more than you have on your whole head.
Sea otters love to eat, and they have to.
These little energy machines eat about a quarter of their body weight in food every day, just to stay warm.
Did you know sea otters sleep holding hands in floating rafts so they don't drift away?
Groups of otters sleeping together are actually called a raft. Sea otters are excellent tool users.
They're one of the few non -human animals known to use tools regularly, usually rocks, but sometimes even bottles or other floating things.
Sea otters don't wear backpacks, but they do have built -in pockets.
They have loose skin under their arms where they store snacks or their favorite rock.
Next, let's learn about bush babies.
Did you know that the bush baby, a real -life primate, was so cute that humans actually named it after a baby?
Bush babies, also called galagos, are small nocturnal primates that live in the rainforests, savannas, and shrublands of sub -Saharan Africa.
Africa. With over twenty different species, these creatures come in all sorts of sizes.
But even the biggest ones weigh less than a house cat.
The smallest bushbaby species is about the size of a lemon, just 70 grams or 2 .5 ounces.
While the largest can weigh up to 1 .8 kilograms or four pounds.
But no matter the size, all bush babies share one unforgettable feature.
Enormous round eyes that help them see in the dark and make them look permanently surprised.
But don't let their baby like name fool you.
Bush Bushbabies are super skilled.
They can leap incredible distances, grab insects midair, and navigate treetops with ninja -like precision, all under the cover of night.
Their long tails help them balance, and their powerful back legs work like springs, sending them bouncing through the trees like little fuzzy rockets.
Buckets. Bush babies are part of the primate family, which means they're distant cousins to monkeys and even us.
But unlike most primates, they're strictly night owls, with excellent hearing and a very distinctive loud call that sounds, well, a little bit like a crying baby.
That might be where they got their name, too.
Did you know bush babies can leap over 1 .8 meters, six feet, in a single bound?
They are strictly nocturnal, meaning they sleep all day and work all night.
In the trees, of course.
Bush babies love bugs.
Their dinner plate might include grasshoppers, moths, and spiders.
spiders. Which of these would you like to eat?
Did you know their giant eyes don't move in their sockets?
Instead, they turn their whole head, almost owl -style, to look around.
And finally—and don't try this at home, okay ?—bush babies sometimes pee on their own hands and feet.
Sounds silly, but it helps them mark their path like a little map of scent.
And that's our collection of cute animals.
There is one animal we wanted to cover, the East African ground pangolin, but we ran out of time.
In case you were wondering, the pangolin is a shy, scale -covered mammal that walks on its back feet and curls into a tight little ball when it's scared, like a living pinecone with a long, sticky tongue.
It lives in grassy savannas and open woodlands across East Africa, where it uses its super sniffer nose to find ants and termites hiding underground.
We hope to learn more about them in a future episode.
In this episode, we explored some of the cutest wild animals we know of and uncovered fun and surprising facts about each one.
We learned how the fennec fox uses its giant ears to stay cool in the desert, why red pandas are excellent climbers, and how African pygmy hedgehogs curl into tiny spiky balls for protection.
We discovered that sea otters hold hands while they sleep, bush babies can leap incredible distances thanks to their powerful legs, and the East African pangolin is covered in protective scales and lives a secretive life in the savanna.
Thank you to Amelia Kaliki from L .A.
who introduced our show.
You were super awesome.
Thank you to Oliver and Ellen Wise Landon H.
from Mississippi Philippa, age 8 Pippa, age 8 Hugo, age 6 and little sister Lyra, age 1 from Penarth in Wales, UK Benjamin from Edinburgh Lilia Grinhaus, 9 years old from Toronto, Ontario We would love to hear from you.
Ask your parents to help you write us a note to the email address in our show notes.
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Did you know your brain can go on wild adventures while you sleep?
You might dream about darting through the desert with a fennec fox, leaping from tree to tree like a red panda, or curling into a tiny ball just like a pygmy hedgehog.
Maybe you'll drift through the sea with a playful otter, or spring through the night with a bush baby, eyes wide and curious.
You could imagine what it's like to grip branches with a bush baby's toes, float on your back like a sea otter, or use your huge ears to listen for sounds in the dark.
Even the scaly pangolin might sneak into your dreams, waddling across the savannah in search of ants.
Whether you're climbing, swimming, bouncing, or burrowing in your dreams Your imagination can take you anywhere And who knows?
Maybe tonight you'll dream of discovering something amazing about animals Or becoming a scientist who helps protect them Good night Sleep tight Thank you.
