3 A Letter From a Spiny Mouse Welcome to your new issue
4 Spike-Tacular Spikes From protection to drinking –spikes do it all!
10 Which Spiky Creature Are You? Take a quiz
15 Indian Pangolin Poster
16 Mexican Hairy Dwarf Porcupine Poster
30 Eco Kids Quiz Planet Puzzles, games and jokes
32 Over to You Competition winners
35 Spooky Spikes Story Contest Enter our monthly competition
Eco Kids Planet is published 11 times a year, monthly except for combined double July/August issue, by Eco Kids Planet Ltd.
Hello Eco Kids, and welcome to your Yikes – Spikes!’ issue!
Who better to introduce it than me – the tough little spiny mouse?
You might think I’m just an ordinary mouse, but allow me to tell my story. For starters, I’ve got spikes – yes, real spikes! My back is covered with stiff, thorn-like hairs that help protect me from predators. And I’ve got a few clever tricks to help me out.
Ever heard about geckos shedding their tails to escape predators? Well, I can do that and more! If things get dangerous, I can shed my skin, spikes and all, and leave the predator with just a piece of my skin. The best part? My skin grows back, spikes
included, without leaving a scar. I hope that impressed you, kiddos!
I live in the dry, rocky deserts of Africa, where I spend my days scurrying around with my fellow spiny mice. We stick together, groom each other, and always have each other’s backs. My spikes are tough, but my heart is soft.
So, are you ready to jump into this spiky adventure with me? You’ll meet all kinds of prickly creatures – from porcupines to pufferfish. Trust me, this issue is full of sharp surprises!
Best spikes, Spero, the Spiny Mouse
Let’s get straight to the point – many living things have…
By JD Savage
SPIKE-TACULAR SPIKES!
These spikes – also known as spines –help them in all kinds of cool ways. The most obvious? Protection, of course. But sometimes spikes can also be used as drinking aids, sunshades and, er, watering cans!
First things first: what are they? Spikes on animals are really types of long, strong, stiff, straight hairs! They’re made from keratin, the same stuff that makes up our hair and nails.
Hedgehogs
Hedgehogs can move fast in short bursts, but that may not be enough to protect their soft bellies. So, when danger strikes, our prickly pals curl into tight little balls, turning into spiky shields. It’s sure to put predators off taking a bite!
Fun Fact
Some hedgehog species in Southeast Asia have soft fur instead of spikes!
If you were wondering, baby hedgehogs (called hoglets!) are born with spines. But don’t worry, they don’t hurt their mums, because the spines are soft and small at first. They grow tougher and pointier later on. Phew!
Porcupines
North American porcupines rock up to 30,000 long, incredibly sharp spines called quills on their bodies. No wonder you never see them play leapfrog!
Many people believe they can shoot their quills at their enemies like arrows. Nope, that’s just a myth. But they do detach after sticking to an attacker. Each one has a small hook-like barb at the end to keep it stuck in their skin. They’re especially tough to remove if you don’t have fingers!
Thorny devil lizards
Thorny devil lizards look like they’re dressed in a suit of spikes! They make it tough for predators to eat them and even help the lizards to drink.
Their mouths are great at munching ants, but rubbish at licking up water. Fortunately, when the lizard stands in a puddle, a network of tiny grooves in its skin can draw in the water and channel it between its spikes towards its mouth, where it squeezes it in with tiny gulps!
These Australian lizards blend in so well with their desert surroundings that they’re almost impossible to spot. Can you guess the best way to find one?
Spiky birds
The spikes on top of a crowned crane’s head are made of super-stiff feathers. They may put off predators by making the bird look bigger. They might also attract mates and help the crane blend into the tall grasses it eats the tips of.
Many birds have spiky bristles around their beaks. These may help them detect the movements of insect prey – but we’re not sure!
ANSWER
Follow their tracks in the sand!
Free hugs! Anyone...?
PRICKLY PLANTS!
Some plants have spiky defences, too. Those desert survivors cacti use their sharp spines to fend off hungry animals, and they also work as mini sunshades, stopping the plant from overheating.
There’s another bonus. At night, cactus spikes collect moisture from the air and drip it down the plant!
Fun Fact
Once, all cacti had leaves but they evolved into spikes over time!
RUSTY PRESENTS… DINOSAURS WITH SPIKES!
Hi, Rusty fans!
I’m the world’s top dinosaur expert, so who better to tell you about spiky dinosaurs? Not my annoying sister Rhona, that’s for sure. She doesn’t even have a single dinosaur poster on her wall. There should be a law against that!
Ever wondered how we experts know some dinosaurs had spikes? Well, some of those spikes were made of hard bone. Yep, they were part of their skeleton! So, when their bones turned into fossils, their spikes did, too.
The stegosaurus is legendary for its two rows of sharp-looking pointy plates along its back. But the real spike action was in their tails. These planteating giants had wicked spikes back there, perfect for swinging like a powerful club to defend themselves 152-145 million years ago!
What do you get if you cross a tank and a dinosaur? A sauropelta! These armoured monsters lived in America about 121-94 million years ago. Maybe their terrifying neck spines drew their enemies’ eyes upwards to make them look larger than they were. Sneaky!
And let’s not forget stygimoloch (say “stijee-mo-lock”), one of the dinos with epic head spikes! It roamed Earth 67-66 million years ago. Were those backwards-pointing spikes to protect them from attacks from behind? They may just have been for display – to attract a mate! We experts are still debating that one.
Even I can only really guess what dinosaurs used their spikes for. Anyway, I have to dash off for a Micro-Mission now!
It’s time for Rhona and Rusty to use their shrinking superpower to turn tiny for…
A SHRINKING SIBLINGS MICRO-MISSION
Rusty: Hi, Rusty fans! Guess who’s back!
Rhona: We’ve both shrunk to microscopic size to explore our garden pond. We heard there are some incredibly tiny creatures with spikes living in the water.
Rusty: They’re called helio-zebras. Zebras? Hmm, maybe they have stripes, not spikes.
Rhona: They’re called heliozoa, Rusty. Heel-ee-oh-zo-a!
Rusty: Hey, I can see some. They look like footballs covered in spikes!
Rhona: Trust you to think of football, Rusty. I think they look like mini suns shooting out spiky rays.
Rusty: Looks like they’re hunting. Whoa, look – one’s going after that little green speck!
Rhona: That’s an alga. And yikes – did it just spear it with its spike?
Rusty: It’s totally trapped now. That poor tiny green blob never stood a chance.
Rhona: Maybe those spikes can stun their prey – or they’re super-sticky. Whichever it is, that alga’s not going anywhere.
Rusty: Look at the helio-sofa pulling it in to eat!
Rhona: Heliozoa, Rusty! But yes, it’s slurping that prey right up.
Rusty: The others are at it, too – trapping their dinner on those spiky arms!
Rhona: So, creatures too tiny for human eyes to see are swimming around using spikes to catch prey. Fascinating!
Rusty: What if they come after us?
Rhona: Good point. Let’s get out of here!
Keep reading for more startling spikes…
Charlie Meets…
By JD Savage
A Lowland Streaked Tenrec!
It’s me, Charlie, the Eco Kid who can chat with animals. When I was last in Madagascar, I met a strange, spiky creature –with a spiky personality!
Charlie: Hey, I hear a chirping in the grass. Hmm, I think I can see a bird’s beak down there. I’ll have a closer look.
No, it’s a beak-shaped snout. It belongs to a little animal with colours like a wasp. Whoa! He’s got even spikier hair than me. He looks like a punk rock hedgehog!
Tenrec: Stay back or you’ll soon find out what these spikes are for.
Charlie: Let me guess. Jabbing your enemies?
Tenrec: You bet! See these barbed quills on the back of my neck?
Charlie: They look sharp.
Tenrec: They are! First, I raise them up, and then I jump at predators to warn them off. If they don’t take the hint, I rush at them!
Charlie: But I’m a friend, here to chat.
Tenrec: But if you were a mongoose who tried to bite me, what do you think you’d get?
Charlie: A very sore mouth?
Tenrec: Yes, one full of sharp spikes!
Charlie: Oh, do they come off, then?
Tenrec: Yes, their small barbs stick in my enemies and stay there! Doesn’t bother me – my attack spines always grow back.
Charlie: Wait, I know what you are. I’ve seen you on a TV documentary about Madagascar’s most unusual animals. You’re a lowland streaked tenrec!
Tenrec: A hedgehog, indeed!
Charlie: No wonder you were angry. Sorry, but thanks for telling me what your spikes are for.
Tenrec: That’s not all they’re for.
Charlie: I guess they’re good for protection as well as attacking.
Tenrec: They’re great for protection. Just look at the spikes around my neck! But they do even more than that.
Charlie: What else?
Illustration
Tenrec: See the spikes bunched together on my back?
Charlie: They look a bit different from your other spines and hair.
Tenrec: They are. Listen closely.
CHARLIE’S CHOICE
Which of these two animals do you think tenrecs are more closely related to?
Hedgehogs
Elephants
Guess, then check your answer below.
Charlie: What am I listening for?
Tenrec: You can’t hear it? Hmph. Humans!
Charlie: No, but I see those spikes moving.
Tenrec: I’m rubbing their tips together to make a sound.
Charlie: It must be too high-pitched for human ears to hear.
Tenrec: But not for tenrecs. It’s how we communicate.
Charlie: Wow, that’s called stridulation (say “strid-you-lay-shen”). It’s like when grasshoppers and crickets rub two body parts together to create their chirping noise. But I bet you’re the world’s only mammal that does it!
Tenrec: If you say so.
Charlie: Hey, what do you eat?
Tenrec: Mostly insects and their young –but only soft-bodied ones.
Charlie: So you’re not keen on crunchy snacks?
Tenrec: My jaws are too soft for them. I eat a little fruit, too. And I tried a frog once – oh, and a baby snake. And sometimes I splash around in shallow water for teeny fish.
Charlie: Were you sniffing around for food when I interrupted you?
Tenrec: Sniffing and clicking.
Charlie: Clicking?
Tenrec: I click my tongue and listen for the echoes. Don’t you? Helps me work out my route.
Charlie: Hey, that’s echolocation (say “ecko-low-kay-shen”). Bats and dolphins use reflected sound to navigate, too. You’re like lots of animals rolled into one!
There may be at least 36 species of tenrecs. Some look like hedgehogs, some look like tiny shrews, some look like moles or rodents. But I think the lowland streaked tenrec is the coolest-looking of all!
Charlie’s choice
An elephant!
Simon Presents…
WHICH SPIKY CREATURE ARE YOU?
Think you’ve got a spiky side? I bet you have! In fact, I bet you’re just like a spiky creature…
Maybe you’re a prickly desert dweller, a sharp sea slicker or a spiked woodland warrior. Well, let’s see!
Pick the description below that mostly screams you, then flip to page 34 to discover your spiky match. But no peeking ahead or you’ll spoil the surprise!
Then hand the quiz to someone else and find out if you’d share the same habitat –or be completely different creatures!
WHICH OF THESE BEST DESCRIBES YOU?
A B
I go for bold, flashy looks. Well, I am bold – fearless, even! When I’m feeling it, I’m all about the spotlight. But if I don’t want to be bothered, I can quickly ‘disappear’.
C
I’ve got a punk vibe and I’m not afraid to show it! So don’t be shocked if I turn up with bright yellow hair one day. Am I musical? Well, I’m often humming tunes – but not loud enough for you to hear.
D
I’m happiest when I feel snug and well protected. Don’t get too close unless I know you’re a friend. I cover lots of ground when I’m out walking – and can be surprisingly speedy.
I’m proudly quirky, and happy to be odd. Who wants to be normal? BORING! Being unique is my thing. If that puts other people off, I like my own company, anyway.
Simon’s helper: JD Savage
I’m always creating something cool and wouldn’t mind being a web designer when I’m older. I can look quite tough although I’m pretty small.
I’m constantly munching – and growing fast. I love decorating my room with cool stuff. But, hey, I mostly look ahead – I’m sure big, exciting changes are just around the corner!
Don’t mess with me, or you’ll be truly sorry! But I’m fair – I give plenty of warning first. OK, so I’m defensive and quick to lash out, but I’m shy, really, and I don’t get so grumpy if you leave me to chill.
K LDon’t mess with me – seriously. But I’m a friendly, supportive softie, really, who loves helping out. Oh, and I know my hair looks cool. Let’s just say, I use some unique products.
I may not look it, but I’m gentle and harmless. I love eating plant-based food and late nights. And I’m good at mimicking other people!
I like hanging around with my family, including my older crew. I also love juicy plant snacks –slurp! My special skill? Tricking people!
I’m a slow walker who keeps stopping – which can annoy my friends. Some also think I’m picky with my food. Nope, I just know what I like! And you know what I don’t like? Extremely hot or cold weather!
People think I’m a messy eater, but I’m just doing me! And I don’t care who’s grossed out. (Come to think of it, why do so many people seem to pick on me?) Speaking of many people, I plan to start a big family in the future!
Have you chosen? If so, and only then, flip to page 34…
EXPERT Ask the Pangolin Secrets
Interview by Daisy Fox
Sam: Can a pangolin swim? Can they run fast?
Surprisingly, yes! Pangolins can swim, though it’s rare to see. Pangolins have been caught on camera swimming in places like Kruger Park, South Africa.
They aren’t fast runners; their strong front legs and big claws are built for burrowing, not speed. The larger, ground-dwelling pangolins often move on their hind legs. They hunch forward as they go.
Temminck’s ground pangolin
Researchers from Florida State University have even developed a small camera to record their movements. They call it the pango cam. It can be safely attached to the scales of a pangolin, capturing incredible footage. This helps us understand the elusive behaviour of these shy creatures.
Paul De Ornellas is chief wildlife advisor at WWF-UK. He works with colleagues around the world to support the conservation of pangolins.
John: Why are pangolins endangered?
There are eight species of pangolin and, sadly, they are all threatened with extinction. They are targeted for trade in meat and body parts.
Pangolins have the unwanted label of the most trafficked wild mammal in the world. More than one million pangolins were trafficked over a 10-year period. According to data, a pangolin is caught illegally every three minutes.
All pangolins are protected under national and international laws. But that does not stop the illegal trade. It has increased in recent years because of growing demand. Their meat is considered a delicacy in some countries, and their scales are used in traditional medicine. In the Americas, their skins are used to make leather goods like boots, bags and belts.
Pangolin scales
Bella: What does a pangolin eat?
One of the names they are sometimes known by is scaly anteaters, which gives the game away. They are greedy insect eaters. Most pangolin species eat ants and termites that they catch using a long sticky tongue. Their scales help protect them from stings and bites. Pangolins help to regulate insect populations, which is really important for the ecosystem.
Holly: Where do they live, and are their habitats safe?
We lack information on their wild populations. We know pangolins inhabit parts of Africa and Asia, but they are increasingly rare. There is no such thing as a typical pangolin habitat. They can be found in dense tropical forests, forested savannahs, farmbush and grasslands. Some species, like the black-bellied pangolin, are found only in forests. They spend their life in the trees, while others, like the giant pangolin, dwell on the ground. Unfortunately, their habitats are under threat, too. The land is being converted for things like agriculture and building roads.
Emily: How big is a baby pangolin?
Little is known about the reproductive behaviour of pangolins in the wild. But we do have some information from studying captive animals.
The length of pregnancy, number and size of their offspring can vary depending on the species.
For example, newborn Chinese pangolins weigh about 125g – the same as an average banana. Baby pangolins are born with soft scales that start to harden soon after birth. They stay with their mother for three to four months, hitching a ride on the base of her tail while she forages for food.
That’s a tough question. Pangolins are shy, typically solitary and often nocturnal, making them hard to monitor. They also live in dense, hardto-access forests. This makes estimating their wild population extremely challenging.
Elle: Are pangolins related to any other animals?
Pangolins are uniquely their own. It was once thought they were related to the anteater and armadillo species of Latin America. But we now know that isn’t the case. Their closest relatives are actually carnivores, like cats, dogs and otters. But their last common ancestor lived nearly 80 million years ago!
Brianna: What do you like most about your job?
I have been involved in pangolin conservation for nearly 15 years. I have been part of large-scale studies that have captured footage of pangolins in the wild. But I have never managed
Kyle: Do pangolins have any predators?
Sadly, humans are the biggest threat to pangolins. Many other species, such as leopards, hyenas and lions, also prey on pangolins. When threatened, pangolins roll up into a tight ball, scales outwards. This serves as a pretty effective defence against most animals.
To learn more about pangolins, see www.worldwildlife.org/species/pangolin
to see a live pangolin face to face! What I love most is being able to make a contribution to the conservation of these incredible animals. I help communicate the threats they face. I also support colleagues around the world in their efforts to secure a future for pangolins.
Vocabulary
Trafficked: Captured and sold illegally.
Mexican Hairy Dwarf Porcupine Costa Rica
Wildlife News!
My annoying little brother Rusty hogged a whole page earlier with his silly dinosaurs. So, I asked for this issue’s whole Wildlife News section to myself. Guess what? He said no. Typical!
Rhona Reports! N0. 57
And don’t forget about me – Rusty!
Rhona’s helper: JD Savage
The Wildlife Photographer of the Year Competition is in its sixtieth year! Run by London’s Natural History Museum, the contest is open to nature snappers of all ages. This year, 59,228 entries flooded in from around the world. While we’re still waiting to hear who the big winners are, here’s a sneak peek at some Highly Commended entries – meaning the judges think these photos are amazing!
TWIST AND JUMP
Jose Manuel Grandío snapped this stoat leaping high over snow. Jose was on the last day of a winter trip to France, where the
temperature was below zero (brrr!). Suddenly, he saw the small mammal hurling itself about. Experts call it dancing, but they aren’t sure why stoats do it. Jose thought the stoat was simply loving the fresh snowfall!
NEWSFLASH!
In Meeniyan, Australia, a curious koala wandered into a supermarket. He calmly strolled down the aisles, climbed up the newspaper stand, checked out the herbs, and reached for soft toys on display!
AS CLEAR AS CRYSTAL
Now enjoy a stunning photo of a manatee mum and her calf in Florida’s Crystal River. Photographer Jason Gulley says that the river was an underwater wasteland just a few years ago, with no plants growing. Thanks to dedicated conservation efforts, it’s now bursting with eelgrass – which is exactly what manatees need to thrive.
Look at the bubbles trickling up from the mini manatee’s flippers!
NEWSFLASH!
A man swimming for charity in the deepest part of Loch Ness’s chilly waters in my wonderful country Scotland says he felt something big rise up from the deep and brush against him!
He got a nudge from Nessie! — Rusty Rusty, stop – there’s no such thing as the Loch Ness Monster!
Jason Gulley/Wildlife Photographer of the Year
NEWSFLASH!
A plane to Spain had to make an emergency landing after a mouse jumped out of one of the in-flight meals! Airlines can’t allow rodents on board in case they chew through electric cables.
PRECIOUS ROCKS
Here’s another Highly Commended contest entry. Samual Stone from the UK spotted a pair of jackdaws building a nest in a half-fallen willow tree in London’s Bushy Park. He watched them gather nesting materials, including hair from local deer. But the real surprise? One of the jackdaws brought back clumps of rocks – and seemed to be holding them in size order!
Jackdaws are clever birds, often staying with the same mate for life. Every year, they build fresh nests, using everything from twigs and dung to –yes – small stones!
LEAVING THE NEST
I’m sure you’ll want to see an entry from the contest’s Young Wildlife Photographer section, and this one’s from the 10 Years and Under section. Now 11, Sasha Jumanca, from Germany, has loved snapping bird photos since
NEWSFLASH!
In Kent woodland, the UK’s first-ever bison bridges are being built, costing a whopping one million pounds! These four bridges will let the recently introduced bison pass under public footpaths while visitors watch them from above.
he was seven. He caught these adorable tawny owlets watching park visitors near his home.
Did you know that owlets leave their nests before they can fly? They jump, flutter and flap around branches of nearby trees for a few weeks to make their wing muscles stronger, while begging for food from their mums and dads. Then, after this wing-testing time (called branching), off they go!
I’ll be sure to let you know who wins the competition when it’s time.
NEWSFLASH!
Three runaway emus caused chaos in Suffolk, chasing kids through a market town’s high street and forcing cars to swerve out of their way! An experienced emu keeper stepped in to give them a safe new home.
Here in my wonderful country, the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland prepared thousands of superrare Partula snails, bred at Edinburgh Zoo, for release in French Polynesia!
Before making the 15,000km journey, each tiny snail got a special mark – a dot of yellow ultraviolet (UV) reflective
paint. Now they’ll glow under UV torchlight, helping researchers track them at night, when they’re most active. Here’s hoping they slither back from the brink of extinction!
BUTTERFLY EMERGENCY!
A UK wildlife charity has declared a national butterfly emergency. Its annual Big Butterfly Count recorded its lowest-ever numbers in the 14 years since it started.
Wet weather played a part, but the drop is expected to continue. The charity Butterfly Conservation called on the government to ban pesticides that harm butterflies and bees. As future UK prime minister (I’ll probably have to finish my
schooling first), I’ll protect butterflies from day one!
In the meantime, there are ways to help them. If we leave fallen fruit under fruit trees, butterflies feed on their juices in late summer. Also, longer lawns increase butterfly numbers. They come for caterpillars that feed on grasses and they may breed more in the long grass. Not that we kids always get to rewild our gardens! When will adults realise they need to listen to us?
NEWSFLASH!
Candy-striped spiders are out and about. These colourful creatures live in many – if not most –UK gardens, so look out for them guarding their eggs in vivid blue spider silk balls!
A SEAL CELEBRATES!
Sheba, a grey seal rescued back in the 1970s, celebrated her 50th birthday at the Cornish Seal Sanctuary! Her special treat? A birthday cake made of ice and fish! At 50, She’s probably the oldest grey seal living in human care.
I bet Sheba has better table manners than Rusty – who I now have to hand over to… Sigh!
SMART FISH?
Hi, Rusty fans!
I’m always checking myself out in mirrors. It drives Rhona the Moaner up the wall, especially when I keep stopping in the street to look at myself in car wing mirrors. What can I say? I have to make sure my hair looks cool and that my face isn’t doing anything weird.
Anyway, Rhona had better start moaning at fish, too, then. Yes, fish! Some check themselves out in mirrors, too. They use the mirror to figure out how big they are – and then remember their size. A brand new report says so – and fish scientists are amazed!
Some tiny bluestreak cleaner wrasse fish checked their own body size in a mirror before deciding whether or not to fight other fish. After sizing themselves up, they only went after fish that they knew were smaller than them!
(Cleaner fish, by the way, are fish that make friends with bigger fish by eating
their dead skin, parasites and mucus. Bleugh! I would rather eat Rhona’s cooking, and that’s saying something!)
So, are fish way smarter than people think? Totally! Some fish learn stuff, remember things, and make fishy friendships. Sounds pretty smart to me.
And they’ve now got the best proof out of any animal for being able to recognise themselves in a mirror!
I wish we had some in our garden pond but our cat Luke Skywhisker would just try to eat them. Rusty
I am a brilliant cook, Rusty, as you well know!! Rhona
No point in lending me a hand mirror…
…but do you have a fin mirror?
SPIKY SEA CREATURES
Amy’s helper: Christine Modafferi
BOO! Did I scare you, Eco Kids? No? Well, in that case let me introduce you to the creepiest creatures of the sea. That’ll do the trick. Some words of advice: try not to get pricked!
It’s a tough life living under the sea. The depths of the waters are packed with hungry predators on the hunt for their next meal. EEK! So, many creatures have had to adapt to life underwater and toughen up – by growing their very own set of long, scary-looking SPIKES. YIKES!
Thanks to their pointy, prickly spines and spikes of different shapes and sizes, these incredible underwater species can defend themselves, blend into environments and even fight back if any pesky predator tries to hurt them! I’ve done all the research, and here’s what I’ve discovered during my investigation, starting from the smallest of the bristly bunch.
SPIKY SEA URCHINS
These little sea creatures don’t look scary one bit, do they? In fact, they look very similar to a spiky porcupine! Their name actually comes from an old English word meaning hedgehog. But don’t let them fool you with their tiny size. Just like a prickly porcupine needs its quills, sea urchins need their spines to stay safe from hungry fish, sea stars, crabs and even some birds and foxes. If they try to eat a sea urchin, they get STUNG! Plus, some species’ spikes are venomous. Ouch!
If sea urchins manage to stay safe long enough, they can live up to 100 YEARS. And they do it all without having any blood, bones or even a BRAIN.
What else can they do?
A sea urchin’s spines are its alarm system – and transportation system! Scientists are still figuring out how these small swimmers can move without a brain, but they believe it may be thanks to special nerve cells that wrap around each of their spines. The spine nerves are also helpful to smell predators, sense their movement and even POINT at them.
Did you know that sea urchins are actually related to sea stars? But that’s not all –some sea stars have spines, too! Meet the spiny starfish, our very own British sea star, living on the south-west and west coasts of Britain. It is really big and can grow up to the size of a PIZZA.
But let’s row our boats a bit further, shall we? All the way out to the Great Barrier Reef! Here lives the crown-of-thorns starfish, a MASSIVE sea star with up to 21 arms and HUNDREDS of thorns. If a predator gets too close, this smart sea
star has another trick up its sleeve – er, I mean spines – toxic, pain-inducing SLIME! The sting and slime will have you bleeding, swelling and vomiting for weeks. Don’t mess with this sea star!
Stop those sea stars!
Many marine biologists fear the crownof-thorns starfish, but not for its stingerstabbers. As babies, these starfish are content munching on algae, but once they grow up, they develop a taste for hard corals. Yes, the very corals that form a precious and endangered reef ecosystem.
A single starfish can release over 200 million eggs in just one year – imagine all those hungry mouths! With their insatiable appetite, they can devour coral reefs at an alarming rate. Scientists keep a close eye on these eager reef-eaters, making sure there are never too many in the sea, to keep corals safe.
THE KING OF CORALS
Who else has spines and lives in coral reefs? LIONFISH! They’re majestic creatures – if you can spot their brown and white stripes camouflaged against the colourful corals. But don’t get too close! Along its back are 13 long, pointy spines, also known as their dorsal fins. They also have a spine on each of their side fins and, for good measure, three extra spines IN THEIR BUM (also known as the anal fin).
Here’s how it works in the sting zone: you only get stung if you are disturbing a lionfish. If you do, first it STABS you and then it injects venom produced in special
sacs under its dorsal spines. The venom is very similar to a cobra’s and is called neuromuscular toxin. This type of venom stops predators from being able to use their brains and nerves properly.
Lionfish invasion!
Scientists keep a close eye on lionfish, too. While the fancy-looking fish save their stingers for any creature that tries to eat them, they are predators to over 50 tiny underwater species. Because they are voracious eaters, marine biologists are worried they may wipe out some native fish species!
Spiny devilfish also have dorsal spines to ward off dangerous predators, but their venom is slightly different. It’s called verrucotoxin and it directly hits their enemies’ breathing and muscles. They can’t move, they can’t talk, they can’t inhale or exhale… They’re done for!
A fish for Halloween
Because of this fish’s knobbly look and short body, one of its nicknames is SEA GOBLIN! You’ll have to travel to the seabed to see one, though – this fish enjoys burying itself in the sand, and if it does leave its hiding spot, it uses its special side fins to WALK along the muddy floor!
These are only some of the SHARPEST species living undersea, but there are so many more out there you definitely don’t want to meet. There are triggerfish, which search for small crevices to hide and then use their spines to LOCK themselves in place, so no predators can grab at them. And lots more, from thornback rays, with pointy thorns called buckles lined across their backs, to many different species
of pufferfish, each with their own set of spiny scales they PUFF OUT when they need to defend themselves.
If you find yourself meeting any of these underwater warriors, you’ve certainly got yourself into one PRICKLY situation! Titan triggerfish
Vocabulary
Ecosystem: A place where plants, animals and other forms of life live together.
Nerve cells: Tiny units that tell the body what to do.
Voracious eater: Someone who eats a LOT!
Spiny devilfish walking in the water
Simon’s helper:
JD Savage
WEIRDNESS!
If it’s weird, I’m on it! And trust me, when it comes to spikes, there’s no shortage of strangeness…
I’ll show you the spikiest weird stuff nature has to offer. Hmm, but this is just a regular, thorny branch, right?
Nope – look closer. This branch, growing in Florida, is crawling with thorn treehoppers! Each insect has a spike on its back to disguise itself as a thorn. If a predator still spots it, the sharp-looking ‘thorn’ may put them off anyway!
Fun Fact
Female thorn treehoppers are good mums. After cutting into a branch to lay their eggs, they often stick around to babysit – and kick at attackers!
Turns out there are lots of other thorn bugs out there – and many other spiky insects, too. Here in the UK, we have some seriously spiky caterpillars. Would you dare touch this peacock butterfly caterpillar?
They’re often found feeding on stinging nettles, which surely put many predators off, too!
Think they’re hardcore? Wait until you meet a giant regal moth caterpillar – also known as a hickory horned devil. They may be North America’s scariest looking. Their bodies are not only covered in spikes, but they rock huge horns, too. Hey, is that a caterpillar or a mini dragon?
Mess with them and they rear up and click at you. But fear not – they’re harmless. Those scary spikes? Just for show!
Don’t touch spiky caterpillars – many can sting or give you a rash.
The saddleback caterpillar from eastern North America packs a very painful sting. Its spines are attached to venom glands. Touch one and snap. The top breaks off, letting the venom ooze through the hollow hair!
It really does look like it’s wearing a saddle!
SIMON’S STUMPER
These spiky things are found on rose bushes in North America. There can be up to 100 on a single leaf! See if you can guess ‘wasp’ it is (that was a clue!) and check your answer below.
Spiky spiders, anyone? Meet the spinybacked orb weaver.
Meanwhile, the African crested rat turns its spiky hair into a toxic trap. It chews on poisonous tree bark and slobbers the poison on to its spikes. If a predator dares take a bite, they get a nasty surprise. It’s the world’s only known poisonous rodent!
I'm tiny...
...but my orb-shaped webs aren't!
Maybe its spiked ‘crown’ puts birds, wasps and other predators off attacking it. I guess the spider hopes so!
Yet some insist the echidna is even weirder. It’s an egg-laying mammal – the platypus is the only other. They blow snot bubbles to keep their noises moist –which helps them detect prey!
Fun Fact
Baby echidnas are called puggles!
The wasp inserts an egg that creates the spiky growth on rose leaves. Inside each one, a wasp larva (yep, a baby wasp!) feasts away. There are many different wasp galls to look out for, some spiky or prickly, others smooth, on trees and other plants in the UK, too.
It’s a gall, created by a spiny leaf gall wasp.
SIMON’S STUMPER
WEIRD WORM!
One of the weirdest spiked creatures from the distant past was a walking worm with a ring of teeth! Hallucigenia (say “halloo-si-jeen-i-a”) were finger-sized ocean dwellers that lived 500 million years ago. They had seven pairs of claw-tipped legs pointing down and seven pairs of stiff, pointy spines pointing up!
Hallucigenia fossils were studied upside down and back to front. For many years, scientists thought their heads were their tails, and their tails were their heads. Their back spines were mistaken for legs and their legs were mistaken for tentacles on their backs. They’re still weird the right way up!
SPIKY PLANT FOLKLORE
People tell such weird stories about spiky plants. In Irish folklore, blackthorn trees were fairy trees. Parents warned their kids, “Don’t mess with their flowers or break their branches, or the fairies will get you!” But let’s get real – I reckon they just didn’t want their kids getting spiked. Or were they fairy trees???
Hawthorn trees? Same deal – under fairy protection and guarding their realm. If you fell asleep under a lone one, you might wake up in the Otherworld, chilling with the fairies who whisked you there!
Chopping down a holly tree was also a oneway ticket to Badluckville. But here’s the twist – you could bring branches home to hang at your door or windows to keep evil away. Sound familiar? Yes, many people still deck out their homes with holly at Christmas!
Dare you snooze under this hawthorn tree?
I can’t even think about sticking my hand between holly leaves or into a bramble patch without yelling “OUCH!” Yet I see birds flying in and out of holly trees where they nest, and voles dashing into brambles without suffering a scratch. Weird, right? How do they do it?
They’re small enough to weave through the gaps between the sharp bits – no sweat. They even take full advantage of the spikes, which act like bodyguards, protecting them and their nests from larger animals. Plus, holly’s spiky leaves stick around all winter, giving extra warmth and protection in cold times. And
SPIKY CREATURES OF FOLKLORE!
Cryptids (say “crip-tids”) are those fantastic animals claimed by some – but never proven – to exist. There are some sharp ’n’ spiky ones!
The cactus cat was a green, mythical moggy said to prowl deserts in the American Southwest. It had thorn-like fur and a sharp, branched tail with long, stiff spines! It was only dangerous to cacti, which it slashed open to slurp their sap.
because spiky bushes want their seeds spread around, they create fruit just the right size to attract those small, berryloving birds and mammals!
Fun Fact
People put sharp, metal anti-bird spikes on buildings to keep birds off. In Rotterdam, magpies pinched them to protect their own nests from predators!
Sometimes weirdness comes with spikes!
The Hodag from Wisconsin was scarier. Picture a creature with a frog’s head, a dinosaur-like spiky back, and a tail tipped with spears. Now it’s the mascot of a high school there.
1. Scaly anteater known for its hard protective armour of scales.
3. Colourful reef fish that uses its spiny fins to lock itself into cracks and crevices.
4. Some of these creepy crawlies, like the saddleback, have venomous spikes.
5. This spiky egg-laying mammal uses its stiff hairs for protection.
8. This spiky creature curls into a ball for protection when it feels threatened.
11. Coral reef predator with venomous spines along its back.
Across:
2. A plant with spikes that can act as sunshades and collect water.
Down:
6. This animal’s quills detach when they stick to predators.
9. Spiky sea creature that can live up to 100 years without a brain!
1. Scaly anteater known for its hard protective
7. Spiky mammal from Madagascar that can use its spikes to communicate.
Across:
10. A bizarre spiked worm-like creature from 500 million years ago.
2. A plant with spikes that can act as armour of scales. sunshades and collect water.
12. A spiky fish that inflates its body to ward off predators.
3. Colourful reef fish that uses its spiny fins to 6. This animal’s quills detach when they lock itself into cracks and crevices. to predators.
4. Some of these creepy crawlies, like the
Prickly Puzzles Quiz
7. Spiky mammal from Madagascar that saddleback, have venomous spikes. use its spikes to communicate.
5. This spiky egg-laying mammal uses its stiff 9. Spiky sea creature that can live up to hairs for protection. years without a brain!
Test your knowledge of spiky and thorny creatures by choosing the correct answer for each question!
8. This spiky creature curls into a ball for
1. Which sea creature can release over 200 million eggs in one year?
a) Sea urchin
c) Pufferfish
10. A bizarre spiked worm-like creature from protection when it feels threatened. 500 million years ago.
11. Coral reef predator with venomous spines
b) Crown-of-thorns starfish
d) Lionfish
2. What nickname does the spiny devilfish have?
3. What makes the African crested rat unique?
12. A spiky fish that inflates its body to ward along its back. off predators.
a) Sea goblin
b) Spiky dragon
c) Thorny beast
d) Ocean ghost
®
a) It has a row of spines along its back to scare predators
b) It uses thorn-like quills to defend itself
c) It covers its fur with poison from thorny plants
d) It has a thorny tail that it waves to warn enemies
Cactus maze
Help the bee find its way through the prickly cactus maze to reach the flower!
Moonlight mystery
Which spiky creature, known for its fiercelooking horns but harmless nature, is silhouetted in this image? (Hint: It was featured in this issue!)
Over to You
We were absolutely amazed by the incredible photos sent in for our July/August ‘Animal Workers’ photo competition! From bees buzzing busily among flowers to birds hard at work collecting food and building nests, your entries captured the spirit of nature’s tireless creatures beautifully. A huge thank you to everyone who took part and shared your fantastic snapshots of hardworking animals in action!
Congrats to our four winners!
Rose, age 7, Cranstock
Silvia, age 11, Broxbourne
Mischa, age 11, St Clears
Simon’s Quiz Answers
Did you take Simon’s questionnaire on pages 10-11? Here’s where you’ll find out which spiky creature you’re most like.
If you answered:
A
A lionfish.
GA peacock butterfly caterpillar.
A European hedgehog.
A lowland streaked tenrec.
An echidna.
B C D E
A spiny-backed orb weaver spider.
F
A giant prickly stick insect.
A horned treehopper.
A porcupine.
A thorny devil.
An African crested rat.
H I J K L
A crown-ofthorns starfish.
Spooky Spikes Story Contest
Do you have a spine-tingling imagination? It’s time to put your creativity to the test with our Spooky Spikes Story competition! Write a short, spooky tale (150-200 words) featuring a spiky creature –whether it’s a hedgehog on a Halloween adventure, a porcupine solving mysteries, or even a creature of your own invention.
Let your imagination run wild! The spookier and more creative, the better your chance to win!
Four lucky readers will win this colourful book from our friends at Phaidon. 4 TO WIN!
SPOOKY CELEBRATIONS AROUND THE WORLD
By Matt Ralphs, illustrated by Veronika Kotyk
This beautifully illustrated book takes readers on a fascinating journey through 21 festivals from around the globe, all focused on honouring spirits and celebrating the supernatural! From Mexico’s Día de Muertos to Japan’s Setsubun, each festival is brought to life with vibrant artwork and fun facts. Perfect for young readers aged 5-8, this book will spark curiosity about different cultures and the ways people celebrate the spooky side of life.
RRP: £16.95
Published by Phaidon (www.phaidon.com
Secret Forests of the World
Weird Woodlands
From Britain’s mystical woodlands to Japan’s rainforests Big vs Small: Which Forests Matter Most? Eco Kids debate Charlie Meets Tiny Forest Friends
