December+Discoveries+TNB

December 31, 2014



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This weeks science discovery is on the Bush Viper (//Atheris squamigera).// The Bush Viper is a highly dangerous ambush predator and is also extremely venomous. Currently, ten different species of Bush Viper have been identified. Its venom is much of a mystery apart from the know fact that it happens to be hemotoxic which causes pain, severe swelling, and extreme blood clotting problems. However, there is no Atheris-specific antivenin that exists. Which means that this snake's bite could be a future problem.Their habitats include any type of dense forest, more specifically being the rainforests in Africa. The diet of the //Atheris squamigera// includes amphbians, rodents, lizards, and birds. They are also known for eating other snakes. Adult snakes don't grow to be very large compared to other snakes. These snakes only about 16 inches fully grown. Large eyes and a verity of colors and patterns are all a part of the snake's appearance. They also have a slender ``and slightly tapered body.

December 31, 2014



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Over Christmas break I went to my Grandparents house, and they have sheep. I find them cute and wanted to learn more about them. So this weeks science discovery is on Sheep. Sheep are in the family bovidae. Some predators of the sheep are the coyote, bears, eagles, and foxes. Pasture plants, forbs, clover, and grass are a part of a sheep's diet. Different breeds of sheep provide different kinds of wool. For example fine wool sheep produce wool fibers that are small in diameter, and make up more then 50% of the worlds sheep population. Some sheep breeds don't even have wool. The hair sheep as it states in the name is covered in hair rather than wool. After what I learned and read online about sheep, the sheep that my grandparents own are long haired sheep.

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