Another day in the Sonoran Desert of Arizona, a Harris' Antelope Ground Squirrel rushed onto a rock and sniffs as then a shadow flew over it. And the squirrel quickly rushed off as the shadow follows it, and soon finds cover.
And nearby at the Tortuga, Martin was outside with Amber and Tyrana as they explore the surrounding area as Martin sings.
I was walking through the desert 1 day
In the very merry month of May
And then a shadow flew over him as he froze and looks around.
"Who's there?" Martin looked back.
And Amber and Tyrana looked around and sniffed the air. But there was nothing in sight.
"Hmm, nothing." Martin said.
And then a shadow flew by him.
"Hmm?" Martin frowned.
He looks out ahead as there was nothing in sight.
"Nothing." Martin said.
And then he felt something sharp landed on his head.
"Ah, that's something!" Martin said.
And he glanced up and saw a Hawk with brown feathers, copper shoulders, bright yellow cere and feet.
"A Harris' Hawk!" Martin beamed in amazement.
And the Harris' Hawk flew onto a cactus and Amber and Tyrana went up to it, amazed by it.
The Harris' Hawk is a species of hawk with a special hunting ability. It is one of the only species of Birds of Prey that hunt in packs. And they're basically the wolves of the air and hawk world.
The Harris' Hawk is 1 of 3 hawk species in the Sonoran Desert. Along with the Red-Tailed Hawk and the Cooper's Hawk.
The Harris' Hawk was discovered by famed naturalist John James Audubon and named after his friend Edward Harris in the 1800's. They range in most parts of South America, including Brazil and northern Argentina in the south. And as far north to most of Mexico, and even Baja California and San Antonio Texas.
"So cool to see a Harris' Hawk." Martin said to the two young theropods. "I personally call them Wolf Hawks for their pack hunting style."
Though 'Wolf Hawk' is not another name, even though it should be, the Harris' Hawk is formally also called the 'Bay-Winged' or 'Dusky' Hawk, for a reason.
Also because of their hunting strategy, the Harris' Hawk is a popular bird used in falconry.
And soon the Harris' Hawk flies off and away.
"You know, it would be cool to do an adventure with those aerial wolves." Martin said to Amber and Tyrana. "Something to add on the Future Adventure List. Ooh, a Harris' Hawk Power Suit would be something."
They then begin to head back to the Tortuga, but then Amber and Tyrana noticed something by a bush. And then wander away from Martin.
Martin didn't truly realize they were gone until he got to the ramp leading to the garage.
"Huh?" Martin frowned looking around. "Amber? Tyrana? Where'd you go?"
He started looking around, and then a sudden screech was heard from Amber. Martin knew that sounded more like she was surprised.
He quickly rushed over to her and Tyrana, and soon found them as they were growling, and also face-to-face with the one of the most dangerous snakes in North America.
The Western Diamondback Rattlesnake.
The Rattlesnake was hiding in the shade as he was proven none too pleased of being disturbed by a curious young Raptor and T-Rex poking around. As he rattled his tail and curled in the famous S-shaped position ready to strike if either of them got any closer. And is armed with 1-inch fangs loaded with hemotoxic venom.
Fortunately though, Amber and Tyrana got the message as they decided to let him be and went back to Martin.
"Yeah, that's the warning of the Rattlesnake." Martin said. "It's like he's saying, "Don't come any closer, I really don't wanna bite you, honest, I don't, unless I have too."."
No one is sure how Rattlesnakes evolved a rattle, but it is believed that they started developing it to avoid being trampled by large animals.
1 thing that makes Western Diamondbacks so deadly is a hemotoxic venom that destroys skin, and the amount of venom they yield in a single bite, between 250 and 350 mg. Sometimes a max 700-800 mg.
"Okay, how about we let this guy be now?" Martin suggested.
They then begin to head off and let the Rattlesnake be.
An hour later, they were all relaxing doing their own thing as Martin was looking through a book on Rattlesnakes with Amber and Tyrana, who were sleeping by both his sides after being fed.
He then remembered the hibernaculum that he and Chris ran into during the Rattlesnake Crystal adventure, 5 days back.
(A Flashback Occurs)
That adventure almost permanently took down and destroyed the Tortuga. It started out when they were working out where to go next, when suddenly the Tortuga crash-landed in the Sonoran Desert. The cause was soon revealed as the tellurium crystals that powered the Tortuga were failing. Chris and Martin went out to find some, but tellurium is some of the rarest minerals on Earth, more amounts in Outer Space.
As they searched, they soon came across a Western Diamondback Rattlesnake chasing a Ground Squirrel. And soon they went into the tunnels to find the crystals, but didn't work out so well at first, Koki was concerned and unsure, but they decided to use Rattlesnake Power to find the crystals.
Jimmy soon got the Rattlesnake Power Discs to the brothers, and soon activated as they searched. They soon found one after the Rattlesnake missed the Squirrel after some dirt came loose, but lost it as it got buried which they thought went down the tunnels.
After a brief run-in with a Gila Monster, they came across a hibernaculum of Rattlesnakes. But also found several tellurium crystals, and they quickly got back to the Tortuga as Koki replaced the crystals at the very last possible second.
(The Flashback Ends)
Martin then turns to Skylie, Bumpo, Hornster and Grubby as they were also napping after being fed, and then he reaches into his pocket, bringing out his Rattlesnake Power Disc.
Amber and Tyrana then woke up and curiously sniffed it.
"You know, I don't know where we would be if it weren't for Rattlesnake Powers saving the Tortuga, 5 days back." Martin said.
"I know, and getting the crystals back just in time." Aviva said.
"1 heck of a very close call as well." Koki said, remembering the very last moment she replaced the crystals. "I'm also sorry for not believing that Rattlesnake Power was not the answer for finding the tellurium."
"It's okay, Koki." Martin said. "What matters is we still have the Tortuga."
Hours later, it was now night, and the brothers were stepping out of the garage going out at night exploring wanting to see what creatures come out at night. Aviva and Koki decided to join in as well, as Jimmy was asleep. As well as Amber, Tyrana, Skylie, Bumpo, Hornster and Grubby, as they were now old enough to keep up with them.
They had their headlamps on as well as having flashlights. And Chris has a black light which helps spot scorpions.
Then, no sooner as they got off the ramp, something caught Koki's attention.
"Whoa, what the heck is that?!" Koki exclaimed.
They then turned and saw right next to the ramp was a Giant Desert Centipede.
"Whoa, a Giant Desert Centipede!" Martin said, amazed.
"He's huge!" Aviva said.
The Jurassic Siblings curiously sniffed the Centipede as it crawls by.
"That's creepy-looking." Koki shuddered.
"Yeah, and they have a painful bite." Martin added.
Soon, they headed off.
Nearly half an hour later, they were still out exploring as they saw the Centipede and a Tarantula so far.
They soon maybe it down to the wash, which is like an animal superhighway. That way they won't run into any cactus, and easily spot animals.
They momentarily came across an active hill with Cone Ants, and soon Chris spotted another desert-dweller.
"Whoa, check it out." Chris said.
"What?" Aviva asked.
Chris then got down and gently scooped something with his hands. And then revealed a Solpugid or Camel Spider.
"Ugh. What is that?" Koki said, a bit disgusted.
"It's a Solpugid." Chris said. "Sometimes called a Camel Spider. And Wind Scorpion or Sun Spider."
The Solpugid then got into a defensive pose with 4 mandibles open just how a tarantula would do.
"Fortunately, this guy is all bark but no bite." Chris said. "He won't break skin even if he does bite. And no venom by the way."
"He's actually kinda cute in his own way." Aviva said.
"And here's a Wow Fact: Despite appearances, Solpugids are actually more closely related to Scorpions." Martin said.
"Huh, he kinda does have the look." Koki said, noticing it.
Soon, Chris gently lowered his hand down as the Solpugid crawled off his hand, and crawls away.
20 minutes later, they were still exploring as they were hoping for some reptiles this time.
Rattlesnakes are most active at night during the summer, which is when they will do most of their hunting. And the wash would be considered a good spot for a hunting rattlesnake looking for rodents.
As they walked, Martin shined his black light on the ground. And soon, a glowing shape was seen.
"Hey, come here, come here." Martin said.
"What do you got?" Chris asked.
Soon, it was revealed to be one of nature's showstoppers as the silhouette of a Scorpion was seen.
Soon it came crawling out from the branch as it was revealed to be a Desert Hairy Scorpion.
"Whoa, a Desert Hairy Scorpion." Chris said, amazed.
"Hey, and a tough little guy." Martin said. "At least their sting is no worse than that of a bee. But definitely give this guy respect."
"No need to tell me." Koki said.
But the Jurassic Siblings, on the other hand, were rather more intrigued by the Scorpion and curiously sniffed it, but, at the same time, were very careful to not get stung by it.
The Scorpion continues glowing under the black light.
"Why is it glowing like that?" Aviva asked.
"Well, from what we've learned from Prehistoric Park, with our old friend, Nigel Marven, Scorpions have a protein in their cuticle in the exoskeleton which allows them to fluoresce in ultraviolet light like that." Chris explained. "But nobody knows why that happens."
"But surprisingly, even fossilized prehistoric scorpions do it too." Martin added.
"Really?" Aviva and Koki said in bewildered unison.
"Yeah." Martin said.
Scorpions have been around for over 450 million years, first appearing in the Ordovician of Earth's history as Sea Scorpions. Known as Eurypterids, and some grew as big as 6 feet long. But some like Pterygotus and Jaekelopterus were the Titans of Sea Scorpions. And they were the two biggest Arthropods of all time. More than 3 meters long, Pterygotus was the size of a Crocodile. Their front limbs had bristled spines, and the rear limbs were flatten acting as paddles to swim. But they both did not evolve a venomous stinger.
And there's Pulmonoscorpius, the giant 8-legged scorpion from the Carboniferous Period.
Scorpions today even still have the ancient body shape of their sea-dwelling and giant land-dwelling past relatives.
Soon, they begin to leave as the Scorpion crawls off into the night.
Shortly later, they were still looking around the wash.
"Boy, I would love to come across a Snake right now." Martin said.
They continued walking as then Chris' light shined and movement was seen.
"Snake!" Chris called out.
Chris quickly went up to it, and soon caught it and revealed it as a Long-Nosed Snake.
"Cool, a Long-Nosed Snake." Martin said.
Chris soon placed the snake down as it slithers off as the group continues on.
A few minutes later, they continue walking.
"Whoa, whoa, whoa." Chris said, stopping them. "I heard something."
"What did you hear?" Aviva asked.
"Something in these grasses right here, let me take a look first." Chris said.
Chris went up to a bush, and soon quickly catches something.
"Whoa, check this out!" Chris said, bringing out a Gecko. "A Western Banded Gecko."
"Cool." Aviva said.
Soon Chris placed the gecko down, and it crawls back to the bush.
Nearly an hour later, after finding a Spadefoot Toad, they were beginning to head back to the Tortuga for the night.
And they soon came across another Western Diamondback Rattlesnake. And a Desert Hairy Scorpion crawls out of the way of the snake.
"Boy, this Snake is such a serious predator." Martin said.
At the moment, the Rattlesnake was relaxed and not rattling.
But they can't take their guard down.
Even Amber and Tyrana were keeping their distance, but they, especially, couldn't take their eyes off of this awe-inspiring extraordinary Snake.
"Hmm. It's almost like our dinosaurs, even Amber and Tyrana, have learned already not to get close to Rattlesnakes." Chris said.
"Yeah, they came across one earlier this morning." Martin said. "And it was more than enough for them to avoid them after hearing that rattle."
"Yep. That rattle is a clear warning." Chris said. "Plus, I recall all of us teaching them real well not to get too close to, or even mess with, venomous Snakes."
After having a good look, they begin to head home as the Snake slithers off.
10 minutes later, they were still heading back to the Tortuga.
"You know, Arizona happens to be home to more species of Rattlesnakes than anywhere else." Chris said.
"Really?" Aviva wondered. "How many?"
"13 species." Martin said. "More than any other state."
Then suddenly, movement caught Amber's and Tyrana's attention as their night vision is sharper than Skylie's, Bumpo's, Hornster's, Grubby's and a human's. Amber and Tyrana each then crouched into a stalking stance, and then quickly lunge and Amber caught something in her hands.
"Amber, what'd you got?" Martin asked.
They went over to her and Tyrana, and then poking its head through her hands was a Kangaroo Rat.
"A Kangaroo Rat!" Chris gasped and gently grabs it as Amber handed it to him. "She actually caught it."
"He's a cutie." Aviva giggled.
"And see the big hind feet, that's how he got his name." Martin said.
"Yeah, just like those of a Kangaroo." Koki said.
Chris placed the Kangaroo Rat down, and it hops off.
Shortly later as they walked, it's not long before they came across another Rattlesnake out hunting.
"Uh-Oh, another Western Diamondback." Koki said.
The Rattlesnake then rattled its tail.
"Wait a minute." Chris said, noticing something. "That doesn't look like a Western Diamondback."
Chris then used his Snake tongs, and pulls out the Rattlesnake, and revealing itself as not a Western Diamondback.
"That's not a Diamondback." Martin said. "It's a Mojave Rattlesnake. The most venomous Rattlesnake."
"But, it looks like a Western Diamondback." Koki said.
"Yeah, what's the difference between them?" Aviva asked.
"Well, even though they look similar." Chris said. "There are some major differences."
Amber, Tyrana, Skylie, Bumpo, Hornster and Grubby tilted and cocked their heads in confusion as they gazed in awe at the Rattlesnake.
"1 difference between them is that a Mojave's tail has thicker white stripes." Martin said and brought up a holographic screen from his Creaturepod showing a cross difference of the tail of a Western Diamondback and Mojave. "They're thicker than the black stripes. While the Western Diamondback's are equally in size."
"Hmm, interesting." Aviva said.
Then Martin's screen showed the 2 Snakes next to each other.
"And Mojave's actually have a slight greenish tinge to their coloration." Chris added.
Then the screen showed a closeup on their pattern.
"And look at the Mojave's pattern." Martin said. "Even though it looks like the Diamondback pattern, it's actually a little more oval shape."
"Oh, yeah. I can see that." Koki said.
The Mojave Rattlesnake rattled his tail as he was in the S-shaped position ready to strike.
"So... how bad is his venom?" Koki asked.
"Well, the venom of a Mojave Rattlesnake actually has 2 types, depending on what region they're in." Martin explained. "Type A or Type B venom. Type A is Neurotoxin."
"Type B is Hemotoxic." Chris said. "Their venom has "almost" 10 times the toxicity of the Western Diamondback."
Though unsure which venom it has, this Snake strictly commands respect.
Soon, they decided to leave the Rattlesnake alone as they walk away.
The group was halfway back to the Tortuga when then another Rattlesnake appeared.
"Whoa, a Sidewinder." Chris said.
"Also called the Horned Rattlesnake." Martin added. "Those little horns over his eyes."
"What are they for?" Aviva said.
"No one really knows." Martin said. "But 1 theory is that when they bury themselves under the sand, it keeps sand away from their eyes as they hunt. But the horns are actually scale protrusions that look like horns."
"Like any other snake, Sidewinders can slither." Chris said. "They make that sidewinding motion to keep their body cool while moving across the hot sand. So as the first half of the body is lifted, it cools as the second half projects the snake forward."
They then watched as the Sidewinder sithers underneath Amber and through her legs and leaves, and was soon gone.
The group then heads back to the Tortuga.
Early the next morning, as the sun rises and everyone was up.
They were by some cactus as Chris had a butterfly net as there was 1 insect that should be looked at before they leave the Sonoran Desert.
As Chris wanders away from the group, he rushed forward.
The others continues doing their own thing, when then suddenly Chris was heard screaming.
"AAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHH!" Chris screamed in pain.
"What the...?" Martin said.
They quickly rushed over to Chris, and saw him hunched over as he screamed in pain.
"Oh-No." Chris said in pain.
"What's wrong, what happened?" Koki asked.
"Well I caught something!" Chris said. "But something else caught me as well."
He then turns as his right arm had pieces of cactus caught on him. And also on his leg and back.
And the others were shocked.
The Jurassic Siblings just stared silently, unsure of what to think next.
"Oh my goodness." Aviva cringed.
"This is the worst cholla spike I've ever seen." Martin said.
Chris then sets the net down.
"They're all over you." Jimmy said.
"I know, I can barely move." Chris said, trying to move to a better spot away from the cactus. "How many are on my back?"
"A lot. Maybe like 10." Martin said.
"What cactus is that, anyway?" Koki asked.
"This is a teddy bear cholla." Chris said. "And trust me, it's not soft and cuddly."
"We can see that." Aviva said.
Martin then brought out his multitool.
"Hurry, I feel like a pincushion." Chris said.
"Okay, 1, 2, 3." Martin said quickly.
Martin pulls the cholla off Chris' leg as he screamed.
"Ow, that hurt!" Chris yelped.
Martin then moves over Chris' back to remove another, but then ends up getting his right hand pricked as he screamed in pain.
"Oh-No!" Chris laughed. "Now it's in your hand!"
"Chris?" Martin said.
"Yeah?" Chris replied.
"Why do you always get me in these situations?" Martin asked.
Martin then pries the cholla off his hand.
Martin then spent the next 10 minutes prying off the cholla as Chris screamed in pain and the others cringed in pain each time. And Chris made a breathless gasp that almost sounded like a Dolphin clicking.
"What was that noise?" Koki asked, trying not to laugh.
"I don't know! It hurts so bad!" Chris cried in pain.
5 minutes later, the last one was soon removed.
"Ow! Yep. That was painful." Chris said, rubbing his sore arm.
"What were you catching, anyway?" Aviva asked.
"Hold on." Chris said.
He then went over to the net, and grabs it.
"Okay, this creature packs the biggest sting out here." Chris said and reveals a large wasp in the net. "Meet the Tarantula Hawk."
"Whoa!" Martin said.
"That is one big Wasp." Jimmy said.
Minutes later, the Tarantula Hawk was placed in a small glass cage so they could get a better look.
"This Wasp actually has the 2nd most painful sting." Chris said. "And the largest Wasp in the United States."
"Really?" Aviva said.
"Yeah, only 2nd to the Bullet Ant." Martin said. "If one of us got stung, it would be like getting zapped by a taser, and you go into a state of pain of paralysis that lasts for up to 5 minutes."
Jimmy nervously gulped.
"But what makes Tarantula Hawks famous is that they actually hunt Tarantulas." Chris said.
"You're kidding me!" Aviva said, stunned.
"It's true." Martin said. "A female Wasp would hunt down a Tarantula, and paralyze it with its sting, and lay an egg. A meal for the larva later."
A female Tarantula Hawk hunts in the air and even senses chemicals in the air that will tell her where a Tarantula's burrow is. Then, she lands on the ground, skitters across and goes halfway down the burrow. Using their front arms to tempt the Tarantula out, fooling it as it thinks it's a prey animal. The Wasp would then taunt the Spider to rear up, but the Wasp is fast enough to dodge an attack and quickly lashes out the quarter inch stinger into the Spider's underside, paralyzing the Tarantula. Then, the Wasp would drag the Spider down its burrow. And then, like something from a horror film, the female would lay an egg on the Spider's abdomen. The Wasp then leaves the burrow, and the Spider being left in its burrow, though still alive.
When the egg eventually hatches, the larva then eats the Tarantula, from the inside out, alive.
They looked at the Tarantula Hawk for a few more minutes, before they released it as it flies off.
Later towards midday, they were relaxing as Amber, Tyrana, Skylie, Bumpo, Hornster and Grubby wander around by the Tortuga.
Then, a Sonoran Collared Lizard got their attention. Amber and Tyrana then crouch as they stalk towards it, but the lizard soon spotted them and takes off running. And Amber and Tyrana quickly chased after it, with Skylie, Bumpo, Hornster and Grubby right behind them, and the lizard quickly crawled up a cactus as Amber and Tyrana came to a stop.
As they all begin to head back, a Spotted Skunk suddenly appeared as they turned to him and he turned to them. But the Skunk was actually their friend who they and the Wild Kratts met a few days back named Mr. P.U. Skunk.
Amber, Tyrana, Skylie, Bumpo, Hornster and Grubby remember their Skunked adventure with P.U. as they tilted their heads, and then curiously, but cautiously, approached him, hoping that he still remembers them.
P.U. seems to remember the 6 young dinosaurs, since he saved them and the Kratt brothers from a hungry Cougar, and helped them take back the Tortuga from a couple of his fellow skunks who once took it over, and then Zach, who tried to do the same and captured his fellow Skunks.
So, he was more calm and relaxed, and felt safer around them. He and Amber then sniffed each other by the noses and then nuzzled them before he eventually crawled off with his young dinosaur friends following behind him.
Nearly 2 months old, Amber, Tyrana, Skylie, Bumpo, Hornster and Grubby still haven't learned all the dozens of warnings that animals give, but the rattle of a Rattlesnake and the foot-stomp and handstand of the Skunk are the only few of the several they've learned so far.
Nearly 10 minutes later, Amber and her adoptive siblings continued to follow P.U., until they soon came upon a small group of P.U.'s fellow Spotted Skunks.
Amber cocked her head, confused. Even she knew that Skunks sometimes den up, or lair up, in the same area, or sometimes gather whenever there's plenty of food in the same area for them to eat, but they don't live in groups.
P.U. then introduces his friends to the 6 young dinosaur siblings, and then uses a special type of Skunk body language to assure them that they are not going to hurt them. And so, Amber, Tyrana, Skylie, Bumpo, Hornster and Grubby are all accepted by P.U.'s friends. They then slowly and carefully make their way through the group, so as not to startle them or make any of them nervous, as they followed P.U., and then settle down with him in a shady spot of rock on the edge of the group and watch P.U.'s fellow Spotted Skunks doing their things.
Then suddenly, they all hear some rustling in the bushes nearby, and turn to them. And then, a female Cougar emerges from the bushes.
Amber, Tyrana, Skylie, Bumpo, Hornster and Grubby instantly knew that this meant trouble. Any sudden movement, and they could either easily startle and set off the Skunks, or could get the Cougar's attention and be declared as her next victim.
Just then, one of P.U.'s friends gets up and confronts the Cougar.
Amber, Tyrana, Skylie, Bumpo, Hornster and Grubby all watched him carefully.
P.U.'s friend then started foot stomping his front paws as a warning for the Cougar to not come any closer. Most animals would take that warning and leave, but not a predator who's desperate for a meal. And this Cougar was definitely in desperate needs of food.
Then, P.U.'s friend did a handstand and puffed up his body, showing his spotted stripes.
The Cougar still didn't take the warning, and she inches closer.
And then, P.U.'s friend sprayed the Cougar, and some of it hits her eyes, and she instantly started screaming and growling loudly and shook her head and jumped around madly.
And instantly, the Cougar took off running as P.U.'s friend settles down.
Amber, Tyrana, Skylie, Bumpo, Hornster and Grubby each inhaled a huge breath and waited for the Skunk stink to die down or fade away.
Meanwhile, the others were relaxing as Martin was looking for Amber, Tyrana, Skylie, Bumpo, Hornster and Grubby.
"Anyone seen Amber? And Tyrana? And Skylie, Bumpo, Hornster and Grubby too?" Martin asked.
"They couldn't have gone far." Aviva said.
And then they saw P.U. coming out from the bushes with Amber, Tyrana, Skylie, Bumpo, Hornster and Grubby behind him, as he was leading back to the Tortuga.
"Guess they were hanging out with our buddy, P.U., all along." Chris said.
"Hey, thanks for taking care of Amber, Tyrana, Skylie, Bumpo, Hornster and Grubby for us, P.U." Martin said.
P.U. blinks for a moment, as if he was saying "You're welcome.", then turns away and leaves.
"Well, at least we know that Amber and her siblings love Skunks, and know well not to mess with one." Martin said. "Because a predator only has to mess with a Skunk once to learn to avoid them truly."
"And speaking of which, anyone suggest that we should give Amber, Tyrana, Skylie, Bumpo, Hornster and Grubby a bath like right about now?" Koki said, holding her nose. "I think they've been hanging out with the Skunks for too long, and are already beginning to smell a bit like them."
Amber, Tyrana, Skylie, Bumpo, Hornster and Grubby sniffed themselves and each other a bit and soon realize that they all were starting to smell a bit skunky.
"I'll get the hydrogen peroxide, baking soda and dish detergent ready." Aviva said and heads into the Tortuga.
An hour later, Chris, Martin, Amber, Tyrana, Skylie, Bumpo, Hornster and Grubby were out exploring as the others stayed at the Tortuga.
And soon, they came across a Regal-Horned Lizard as Chris soon caught it.
"Cool, a Regal-Horned Lizard." Chris said.
Regal-Horned Lizards as though only as big as their hand, have an incredible defense. They'll partially hide under the sand, and even flatten their bodies making them wider which is difficult for a snake to get a grip. And a Coachwhip snake would have trouble getting pass the spines on its head. And they have good camouflage, but their best defense is that they can literally shoot streams of blood from their eyes.
Soon, Chris gently placed the Regal-Horned Lizard down and it crawls off under a bush.
And then Martin noticed something in a nearby creosote bush.
"Chris, look!" Martin said.
Chris turns to the bush, and laying on a branch was a Desert Iguana.
"Cool, a Desert Iguana." Chris said.
Amber and Grubby then sniffed the Desert Iguana.
Soon, the Desert Iguana crawls off.
Later towards sunset, they were still out, but near the Tortuga as they managed to locate a small burrow. And they both had a hunch of what was inside, they soon got Aviva's help as they gathered as many desert plant seeds as they can get.
Any rodent wanting to store the tiny seeds produced by plants faces a transport problem. It would be hopelessly impractical to carry them away one by one, as squirrels carry acorns.
But the rodent they're looking for, has solved that problem.
They soon met up at the burrow by a bush.
"Okay, got some seeds?" Chris said.
"Yep." Martin said, holding a handful of seeds.
"Same, here." Aviva said holding a handful as well.
Like all desert animals, the owner of the burrow doesn't come out till dark when it's cooler.
The 3 need to scatter the seeds around the entrance of the burrow, hoping it would tempt it out earlier.
An hour later, it was night as they're plan didn't work.
In fact, it wasn't until much later that when the moon is up, that the burrow's owner eventually shows itself.
Then, poking its head from the burrow, was a Kangaroo Rat.
They quietly watched as the Kangaroo Rat sniffs around the burrow, checking if the coast was clear. And soon went over to the seeds and started gathering them.
It can carry hundreds of seeds at 1 time, because it has expandable cheek pouches. The 3 can see the pink toes poking out from the fur, but are actually those of its back legs which are huge, and supporting its whole body.
That's why it's called a Kangaroo Rat.
Its front legs are working away hidden beneath its chin, shoveling the seeds into its mouth.
Normally, a Kangaroo Rat would have to travel quite a long way to find enough seeds to fill its pouches. But tonight, because of what they've supplied, this one's shopping bags are soon full enough to take back to its burrow.
Once the Kangaroo Rat stored enough, it then went back down into its burrow.
"Wow." Aviva whispered.
Inside the burrow, the Kangaroo Rat got to a corner in his burrow and brought them out. And it covers them over with sand, just to keep them safe.
And soon, it hopped over and lays down to rest.
Its deep burrow is a relatively safe place, and the Kangaroo Rat sleeps there throughout the day and much of the night.
Even so, the slightest suspicious sound from outside will wake it.
The Kangaroo Rat continues sleeping, but then a scuffle of sand stirring was heard. And it was enough for the Kangaroo Rat to wake up.
Outside, it wasn't from Chris, Martin and Aviva as they have already moved back a little. But nearby, was the real culprit as they soon saw it.
A Gopher Snake is crawling towards the burrow.
The Kangaroo Rat soon hops outside and saw it.
It might find its way inside, it had better be seen off.
They watched as the Gopher Snake slowly inches towards the Kangaroo Rat as it then started foot stamping the ground as a warning.
But that seems to have no effect, perhaps kicking sand in its face will do the trick.
The Kangaroo Rat then started kicking sand in the Snake's face, and it looks it was working.
The Snake doesn't like that, at all.
Victory to the Kangaroo Rat.
And soon, the Gopher Snake slithers away.
And the Kangaroo Rat hops back into his burrow as the 3 were amazed by what they saw, as were the 6 young dinosaur siblings.
"Now that's a tough little creature." Aviva whispered.
"Yeah, even Kangaroo Rats have defenses against predators." Chris said.
They soon got up, and headed back to the Tortuga to call it a night.
Author's Note:
The "Cougar getting skunked" part is a little something I remember from Dinosaur Revolution ep. 3, where the two Guanlongs got sprayed in the face by a Castorocauda.
And the Kangaroo Rat and Gopher Snake part is something inspired from the scene of the David Attenborough nature documentary, The Life of Mammals.
Now, just as a little heads up, I don't wanna say this to shock any of you, but, after this chapter, I'm gonna take a short break from this and work on finishing up my other project, as well as getting some personal things settled. But I both assure and promise you all that new chapters for this story will be coming very soon. I just ask for all of you to work with me on this time of patience of all of yours for just a little while. That is all.
Goodnight.