Explore the Outdoors!
Here, I write about animals and their small curiosities, feeding habits, and their role in the ecosystem!
Insects are small animals that have six legs, three body parts, and a hard exoskeleton. They can be found in nearly every environment on Earth and are essential to the survival of many ecosystems. More than 50% of all insects are herbivores, meaning they only eat plants. Some of the most important insects, like bees…
Daphnia are planktonic creatures that are classified as crustaceans like crabs, lobsters, and crayfish! They are small in size around 0.2 mm-6.0 mm and are aquatic planktonic crustaceans which are commonly called water fleas. They come under the category of consumers that are typically found in freshwater environments. As secondary consumers, they play an important…
Flatworms are the types of worms that belong to the Phylum Platyhelminthes. A commonly known flatworm is a tapeworm. They are small, slimy creatures with a flat body that can be found in a variety of habitats all over the world. While they may not look like much, flatworms play an important role in the…
Mosquitoes as a group are omnivorous insects that are found all over the world. They are considered to be one of the most dangerous animals on the planet due to their ability to transmit diseases like malaria, dengue fever, and yellow fever. But do they do not mainly eat blood although it might sometimes feel…
Sea squirts are filter feeders that consume plankton and detritus. They play an important role in the ocean food web by removing these particles from the water column and providing a nutritious meal for many other animals. Sea squirts are opportunistic feeders that will eat anything they can get. In the wild, they mainly eat…
Clams are a type of bivalve mollusk that lives in freshwater or saltwater. Clams are filter feeders, meaning they strain small food particles from the water around them using their gills. Clams are predominantly primary consumers because they mostly eat plant material, such as phytoplankton and pant detritus floating around in the water. However, they…
Catfish are carnivores that mainly eat other fish. However, they are also scavengers and will eat just about anything they can find. This includes dead animals, insects, worms, and even smaller Catfish. Catfish are tertiary consumers in the food web. This means that they are predators that eat other predators. In the wild, they are…
Octopuses are among the most intelligent animals on the planet. They are capable of learning quickly and solving complex problems. Octopuses are also highly aggressive, cannibalistic, and curious. Octopuses are carnivorous animals, which means that they only eat meat. They are not omnivores, but predators that exclusively hunt other animals, including fish, crustaceans, and mollusks.…
There are a variety of small birds that call California home. Some of the more common species include the house finch, American goldfinch, and black-capped chickadee. While each bird is unique, they all share a love for the Golden State. The small birds listed here can be observed in Northern California as well as in…
Most bees are primary consumers because they mainly eat plant-based food, such as nectar, pollen and sap. However, some bee species, like the vulture bee, will also eat meat and are therefore secondary consumers. Bees are flying insects that are closely related to wasps and ants. They are known for their role in pollination and,…
