Hey everyone!
I'm Joy Chen from JoyWasHereblog.wordpress.com. I'm really excited to guest blog for Cheri! Recently, I went up to San Francisco and I visited the California Academy of Science. If you're ever up in the Bay Area, you should definitely check it out. There's a ton of different exhibits and there's something for everyone. I really enjoyed the Planetarium and the aquarium. However, today I chose to share with you all the indoor rainforest that California Academy of Science has.
Here are a few pictures of what it looks life when you first walk in. I apologize for the horrible quality of all my pictures. I didn't have the camera I usually use when I blog so I had to use my iPhone.
Basically the rainforest is in an enclosed dome that is also within the California Academy of Sciences. It's in enclosed because there are various types of butterflies flying through the exhibit.
I took lots of pictures and collected a lot of information to share with you all today. Enjoy!
1. RIVER
This is an archerfish. It uses water bullets to shoot downland insects. It can shoot up to 5 ft. Its eyes are toward the top of its head so it can search for insects.
This is a four-eyed fish. This fish has a clear lookout from above and below because its eyes are divided into two parts.
2. FOREST FLOOR
This is a cave rat snake. It is found in Indonesia, Borneo, and Malaysia. This snake is particularly pale because it dwells in limestone caves. It catches bats and birds by hanging on the walls and the caves. To eat its prey, it squeezes and suffocates its prey before swallowing it.
(There is a slight red tint in the photo because there was a red heat lamp for the snake)
*Sorry, this picture could not be displayed due to a technical error. I will try to fix it as soon as possible!
This flying snake lives in Indonesia, Thailand, and Malaysia. Its diet consists of lizards, birds, and small mammals. This snake lives in trees and travels through air by flattening its belly. This creates creates a hollow that traps air. The flying snake glides through the air between high branches and lower ones. Logging of mature forests is threatening this specie.
*Sorry, this picture could not be displayed due to a technical error. I will try to fix it as soon as possible!
The giant asian mantis lives in southeast Asia. It feeds on its own kind, rodents, small reptiles and even hummingbirds. They can grow to up to 10 centimeters.
*Sorry, this picture could not be displayed due to a technical error. I will try to fix it as soon as possible!
4. UNDERSTORY
This is the middle layer of the rainforest. It contains small trees, tall shrubs, ferns, and orchids. A large amount of insects dwell here as well as lizards, small mammals, and even spiders.
*Sorry, these 2 pictures could not be displayed due to a technical error. I will try to fix it as soon as possible!
Rainforest epiphytes: In this area of the rainforest there is limited space for plants to grow. As a result, many plants grow on other plants. Water and nutrients are collected from the air or the tree branches.
*Sorry, these 2 pictures could not be displayed due to a technical error. I will try to fix it as soon as possible!
The rainforest is home to many butterflies as well. Unfortunately I couldn't get a clear picture because they fly around so fast. However I did get a picture of a blue morpho butterfly feeding. The inside of its wings are a brilliant blue that is caused by its tiny overlapping scales reflecting blue light.
*Sorry, these 2 pictures could not be displayed due to a technical error. I will try to fix it as soon as possible!
5. CANOPY & EMERGENT
This photo shows the top of the building and the lights and trees.
*Sorry, this picture could not be displayed due to a technical error. I will try to fix it as soon as possible!
Many large animals are found here including monkeys, snakes, and birds.
Unfortunately I did not get any pictures or information from this area. However to make up for that, I wanted to share Claude the albino alligator with you all!
*Sorry, these 3 pictures could not be displayed due to a technical error. I will try to fix it as soon as possible!
This animals is extremely vulnerable to animals and to the sun. The albino alligator is white because it lacks or has an inhibited gene for melanin. This is the brown pigment and the eyes' iris. As a result, the alligator is white and has pinkish eyes.
Anyways so that's all. I hope you all enjoyed it and be sure to pop on over to my blog too!
Joy
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