Take a gander at these photos of some of the weirdest winged creatures ever caught on camera!
Find out why their special dance moves make them freaky! More to explore!
A red-bellied piranha calmly swishes through a river. Suddenly, it spots dinner: a shrimp swimming nearby. The fish glides closer and opens its mouth to reveal rows of razor-sharp, triangular teeth. Then it snaps up its prey in its powerful jaws and swallows the shrimp whole. Finished with its first course, the fish swims off in search of more food. ON THE HUNT Red-bellied piranhas live in lakes and rivers in South America. They sometimes use their mighty mouths to gobble up other fish or animals such as shrimp, worms, and mollusks. They swim and hunt in shoals, or schools, that can include more than a hundred individuals. According to legend, the animals, which can grow about 14 inches long, have even devoured human swimmers. MISUNDERSTOOD FISH Despite their big bite, scientists believe that the animals’ fearsome reputation has been exaggerated. Researchers think that these fish swim in groups for protection, not to carry out underwater takedowns . And reports of the fish going after humans are extremely rare. When some red-bellied piranhas do get aggressive, they have an interesting way of telling others to „back off“—they make bark-like sounds! Guess these guys are all bark, and just some bite. Text by April Capochino Myers
Save the Earth tips Find out how you can help make a difference.
Black-tailed jackrabbits are not actually rabbits, but are hares. Hares are born with fur and are larger than rabbits. They usually have taller hind legs and longer ears. These speedy animals are capable of reaching 40 miles (64 kilometers) an hour. They have powerful hind legs that can propel them on leaps of more than 10 feet (3 meters) . They use these leaps and a zigzag running style to evade their many predators, including coyotes. Jackrabbits produce a lot of young called leverets or bunnies. Females give birth to several litters a year, each with one to six young. The young mature quickly and require little care from their mothers. While the endangered status of most species is least concern, the Tehuantepec jackrabbit is considered near threatened. Other species of jackrabbits live in Mexico, the United States, and Canada.
Save the Earth tips Find out how you can help make a difference.
Learn about the life and achievements of this Founding Father of the United States.
Photograph by schankz / Shutterstock • You can find Hamilton’s face on the $10
Writing a report on a foreign nation or your own country is a great way to better understand and appreciate how people in other parts of the world live. Get started on your voyage with tips from the Nat Geo Kids Almanac.
sources, encyclopedias, books, magazine and newspaper articles, and other sources to find
Try this sweet science experiment from the Nat Geo Kids book Try This!: 50 Fun Experiments for the Mad Scientist in You.
Photographs byMATTHEW RAKOLA Find out how different pieces of candy react when placed
Snapping shots of fireworks can be challenging, but it’s not impossible!
That’s why all of our great photo stuff is in one easy-to-find place.
polls to find out which pop-culture ghost Nat Geo Kids readers most want to hang
In this issue of National Geographic Kids, photographer Joel Sartore gives you a behind-the-scenes look at his quest to save animals. The National Geographic Explorer travels to zoos, aquariums, and rescue centers around the world to snap pics for his project, the National Geographic Photo Ark. He hopes the photos will inspire people to help endangered animals. You’ll also learn about the threats facing the critters and how you can help.
Then find out how you help save the Earth!
Tips on keeping track of the animals you see
You’d be amazed at all the birds, bugs, and small critters you’ll find in your
