PREDATORS

Hi Sea Fans!

It's been a scorcher the last few days, our air conditioning in the aquarium has had to work overtime!!  Not to mention the chillers for the tanks!  Well, I hope you're all doing well and getting ready to read about my next adventures because Book II is coming out this month. 

Publishing books is an expensive exercise and I'm always looking for companies who are willing to sponsor a print run or part thereof so that I can keep the price of the book at a decent level. New Era joined me on this next book as a part sponsor because they believe in Marine Education.  Check out their website (http://www.new-era-aquaculture.com/home.html) if you're looking for good fish food!

Speaking of hot days and wanting to cool down, have you ever wondered what it's like to be the opposite: an animal who has to live in ice and snow?  Well, if you'd like to know how marine mammals are adapted to the cold, try this:

• Get a bowl of water with ice cubes in it.
• Put on a rubber glove and stick your hand into the water for a while (not too long!) - time yourself if you'd like.
• When you can't stand the cold anymore, take your hand out of the water and glove.
• Take butter and smear a layer over your hand and then put it back into the glove and then back into the ice water.

Can you feel a difference?  Amazing what fat can do to keep you warm, right?  Blubber is a layer of fat that marine mammals, like seals, have under their skin to keep them warm.

So on a beautiful hot day, appreciate that you don't have that layer of blubber but on the cold days...hmmm, you'll just have to add more layers!

Have a great week Sea Fans and don't forget to write.
Cheers
Abby
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