Sunday, December 16, 2012

What is this, and what role does it play in its ecosystem?

WHAT ON EARTH IS THIS THING?


My friend and yours, Mrs. Keela Gallagher, found this critter in her driveway last weekend. I had already done my blog posting for the week, so I had to wait ALL WEEK LONG to do a post about it!

Now I finally get to share it with you! Are you as excited as I am?

My question for you is this: What is this thing?

Your first step is to begin asking me good, specific questions to guide you toward figuring out what this may be. Think like a scientist: what do you need to know in order to correctly identify this creature?

I only want questions this week, no guesses as to what it is, please!
We will talk more about its role in its ecosystem after you guys correctly identify it.
I do already know what it is, so I will try to guide your questioning toward the correct answer as I am given the opportunities.


33 comments:

  1. I think this is a snake or a water hose.

    Nathan was here

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Nathan, you're not following the rules!!
      (insert angry teacher face here)

      Please re-read the assignment for this week.

      Luckily, it is NEITHER of those things.

      No more guesses!!!!!

      ...and seriously, a water hose?

      Delete
  2. my mom thinks its a worm.

    Nathan was here

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. ...and you got your MOM to break the rules, too?

      (very, very angry teacher face)

      Delete
  3. is it cold blooded or warm blooded

    ReplyDelete
  4. is the picture too scale if so how big is it

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. OOh!

      Another good question.

      It's a little difficult to answer that one, but I will say that the picture was taken with a normal phone camera. There was no special magnification feature or anything, and that's regular ol' driveway gravel to compare it to.

      Delete
  5. Which ecosystem does it usually live in?

    Is it a Reptile, amphibian, of mammal?

    allie

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It was found here in Winston-Salem, so it thrives in the temperate deciduous forest.

      It is not reptile, amphibian or mammal.

      Delete
    2. Also: those are terrific questions, Allie,

      Think about what classification groups are left and ask a follow-up. You've narrowed down our search quite a bit.

      Delete
  6. This is abby : what food does it need to survive? Can it live in multiple ecosgstems?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Excellent questions!

      It eats invertebrates.

      This particular species only lives here, but it has "cousins" in Asia, Europe and Australia.

      Delete
  7. This is Jaelyn reporting!!!
    My question is can it harm humans or animals like dogs in any way possible?
    From Jaelyn

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Great question, Jaelyn!

      It does not directly harn humans or large animals like dogs.

      Delete
  8. Jaelyn reporting again.
    Does the animal have teeth?, Does this animal have legs?, Is it itself an invertabrate?
    Thanks again.
    From Jaelyn.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Awesome questions!

    It has no teeth; it has no legs. It is, in fact, an invertebrate. That last question is worded nicely in response to my information, by the way.

    ..and you are so welcome! Thank YOU for your questions. I'm excited to see that you have updated your blog, as well. I'm going to go read and comment now!

    ReplyDelete
  10. How does the animal protect itself?

    ReplyDelete
  11. Great question, Raja! I'm going to look that up, actually, but I'm fairly sure this critter doesn't have many traits we would recognize as defenses. It's ability to tunnel through dirt and a very unusual mouth shape are adaptations that may help it to survive.

    ReplyDelete
  12. This is Posey,
    Is it a decomposer? Is the head showing in the picture?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Posey,

      Good questions.

      It is not a decomposer. It is actually a carnivore and a parasite.

      The head is showing in the picture.

      Delete
  13. Jaelyn reporting,
    What animal(s) are most related to this creature??
    What are the main resources for this animal to live??
    Lastly, How does this animal mate??
    Thanks,
    Yours truly,
    Jaelyn

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hmm...

      These are excellent questions, Jaelyn. They might be too good! I'm concerned you're getting too close - I don't want to give it away!

      It needs soil to live in, water and a food source. It eats another type of invertebrate that also lives in soil. They prefer moist soil to dry soil. As a matter of fact, they can't live in very dry soi at all.

      They don't actually mate. In other words, there is no pairing up, no egg laying, nothing. Their reproduction process does not involve anything we would call mating.

      They are related to many other types of invertebrates. Although they are found here in NC, they are NOT native. They are an invasive species.

      Delete
  14. I think it is an air breathing fish.

    Caleb!

    ReplyDelete
  15. I think it a worm, not sure what kind but I will continue my research.

    ReplyDelete
  16. Don't put your guesses here, guys! Write them down. You don't want to give away your thinking!

    ReplyDelete
  17. Hi it's Rachel.

    What are it's cousins from Asia called?
    How does it keep it's self warm in the winter?
    Can it harm people?
    What kind of invertebrate does it eat?
    Is that all of it shown in the picture?
    Does the picture show it's head?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes, the picture shows its head.
      Part of its body is outside the picture, but I don't think that should affect our ability to recognize it.
      It cannot harm people, but people consider it a pest, especially if they garden.
      It eats earthworms.
      ...You asked SO many good questions, I think I'm going to hold off and answer the others later...

      Delete
  18. Does the species eat each other?
    What animal eats this species?


    this is rachel

    ReplyDelete
  19. Jaelyn reporting
    What are this animals natural colors??
    That's all the questions I have for this blog assignment.
    Thanks your truly,
    Jaelyn

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. The colors shown are its natural colors, although individuals may have slightly different colors from this one.

      Delete