Seabury Pioneers: Sloths, Pangolins and Sea Otters, oh my!

We started learning about animal variations and adaptations this week, and there is no better place to learn about animals in Tacoma than the Slater Natural History Museum at the University of Puget Sound! This tiny gem of a museum houses a large collection of specimens used by students in classes such as Zoology, Ecology and Evolution as well as thesis research; researchers studying mammals, birds, reptiles and amphibians, and insects of the region; local birdwatching groups to learn about plumage; and classes such as ours through the museum's educational outreach program and science teaching kits. I think this is my absolutely favorite field trip!

Museum Director Peter Wimberger introduced us to the museum and talked about how we can learn about animals using specimens such as these stuffed birds and bird skeletons.

Then we broke into small groups for a series of short classes. UPS docent Zach showed us the difference between short, wide turkey wings; long, skinny albatross wings; and bald eagle wings that combined the qualities of both. He talked about how short, fat wings help birds fly upward, while the longer, thinner wings help them move forward and glide. Some of our students were amazed to learn that turkeys could fly, but quickly understood that big turkeys who fly only for short stints need more help getting into the air, while birds such as albatross, who spend much of their time flying over oceans, need to be able to glide for long periods, while eagles need a combination of both abilities.

UPS docent Eliza showed us specimens of sloths, armadillos and anteaters, all animals in the same family (or superorder), Xenarthrans, and asked us to look closely at the different species and think about what helps them get their food. We noticed similarities and differences in their claws and nose shapes and talked about the length of their tongues, discussing how these things helped each animal get its food and how it helped it thrive in its particular environment.

We also looked at these funny creatures, Pangolins. Although they share many similar characteristics to armadillos, their scales are made out of Keratin and we learned that they are actually more closely related to dogs and cats than to Xenarthrans.

We also got to take a look at the "fur fridge," which was a little like walking through the fur coats in the wardrobe into Narnia. Here, Eliza showed us the difference between sea otter vs. harbor seal fur and we felt how soft and thick the otter fur is to keep them warm in cold water.

UPS docent Meghanne showed us the skulls of a bear, beaver, wolf, and raccoon, and we sketched the teeth and talked about how sharp carnivore teeth are designed for ripping meat, while short herbivore teeth are more useful for grinding leaves and herbaceous materials.