Mangrove Forests” Quiz
#1. Where’s someplace mangroves can be found that you’ve been?
Florida!
#2. What’s special about mangrove roots?
First off, their roots don’t just grow into the ground – parts of them stick up aboveground into the air and are called aerial roots. They act
like snorkels for the plants when the soil is flooded or has little oxygen in it.
#3. True or False: one way mangroves get rid of salt from the water is to
have their leaves “poop” it out.
True! They have special cells that remove the salt from the water and getrid of it through pores on the leaves. So basically, their leaves POOP salt!
#4. How can mangrove forests help coral?
They help prevent coral bleaching and the underwater roots act like shelters for the coral, and also reduce the acid in the water that kills
the coral.
#5. What are horseshoe crabs related to?
They are related to spiders & scorpions.
#6. What do horseshoe crabs use their tails for?
It’s used to flip themselves back over when they get turned upside down.
#7. Why is horseshoe crab blood so special?
Scientists use the blood to check if a vaccine is “clean” because the blood COAGULATES
if there’s even a tiny bit of bacteria in the vaccine.
#8. True or False: the Hoatzin bird is also sometimes known as a “flying
cow”.
TRUE! That’s because Hoatzins are the only bird species that digest food the same as cows & sheep & goats. They’re ruminants.
#9. What do Hoatzin chicks use their wing claws for?
The Hoatzin babies use their little claws to climbup the tree & back into
their nest after they have fallen in the water.
#10. Do Hoatzins have any living close relatives?
No, they’re the only living species of the Opisthocomiformes, which branched off from other birds 64 million years ago. That means they have noclose relatives that aren’t extinct.
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