Halloween Classroom Science

Bat Flight

1. 100 Which winged mammals achieve true, sustained flight? Response: bats Bats (order Chiroptera ) are winged mammals, the only mammals capable of true and sustained flight. Source: Wikipedia, “Bat”
2. 200 What is the taxonomic order of bats? Response: Chiroptera Bats (order Chiroptera ) are winged mammals, the only mammals capable of true and sustained flight. Source: Wikipedia, “Bat”
3. 300 Which body structures spread beneath the thin flight membrane? Response: long spread-out digits Bats are more agile in flight than most birds, flying with their long spread-out digits covered with a thin membrane or patagium. Source: Wikipedia, “Bat”
4. 400 Bats are the second-largest order of mammals. About what share of all mammal species are bats? Response: about 20 percent The second largest order of mammals after rodents, bats account for about 20% of all classified mammal species worldwide, with at least 1,500 known species. Source: Wikipedia, “Bat”
5. 500 The smallest bat, Kitti's hog-nosed bat, weighs about how much? Response: 2 grams The smallest bat, and one of the smallest extant mammals, is Kitti's hog-nosed bat, which is 29–33 mm (1.1–1.3 in) in length, 150 mm (5.9 in) across the forearm and 2 g (0.071 oz) in mass. Source: Wikipedia, “Bat”

Owl Adaptations

1. 100 Which nocturnal birds of prey belong to Strigiformes? Response: owls Owls are birds from the order Strigiformes (), which includes over 200 species of mostly solitary and nocturnal birds of prey typified by an upright stance, a large, broad head, binocular vision, binaural hearing, sharp talons, and feathers adapted for silent flight. Source: Wikipedia, “Owl”
2. 200 About how many species of owl are there? Response: over 200 Owls are birds from the order Strigiformes (), which includes over 200 species of mostly solitary and nocturnal birds of prey typified by an upright stance, a large, broad head, binocular vision, binaural hearing, sharp talons, and feathers adapted for silent flight. Source: Wikipedia, “Owl”
3. 300 Owls are known for which kind of vision and which kind of hearing? Response: binocular vision and binaural hearing Owls are birds from the order Strigiformes (), which includes over 200 species of mostly solitary and nocturnal birds of prey typified by an upright stance, a large, broad head, binocular vision, binaural hearing, sharp talons, and feathers adapted for silent flight. Source: Wikipedia, “Owl”
4. 400 What are the two owl families called, by their scientific names? Response: true owls are Strigidae; barn and bay owls are Tytonidae Owls are divided into two families: the true (or typical) owl family, Strigidae, and the barn owl and bay owl family, Tytonidae. Source: Wikipedia, “Owl”
5. 500 What is a group of owls called? Response: parliament A group of owls is called a "parliament". Source: Wikipedia, “Owl”

Spider Anatomy

1. 100 Which eight-limbed arthropods use spinnerets to extrude silk? Response: spiders Spiders (order Araneae) are air-breathing arthropods that have eight limbs, chelicerae with fangs generally able to inject venom, and spinnerets that extrude silk. Source: Wikipedia, “Spider”
2. 200 Spiders belong to which taxonomic order? Response: Araneae Spiders (order Araneae) are air-breathing arthropods that have eight limbs, chelicerae with fangs generally able to inject venom, and spinnerets that extrude silk. Source: Wikipedia, “Spider”
3. 300 What are the fang-bearing mouthparts called? Response: chelicerae Spiders (order Araneae) are air-breathing arthropods that have eight limbs, chelicerae with fangs generally able to inject venom, and spinnerets that extrude silk. Source: Wikipedia, “Spider”
4. 400 Which silk-extruding structures distinguish another part of the anatomy? Response: spinnerets Spiders (order Araneae) are air-breathing arthropods that have eight limbs, chelicerae with fangs generally able to inject venom, and spinnerets that extrude silk. Source: Wikipedia, “Spider”
5. 500 Spiders live on every continent except which one? Response: Antarctica Spiders are found worldwide on every continent except Antarctica, and have become established in nearly every land habitat. Source: Wikipedia, “Spider”

Pumpkin Botany

1. 100 Which cultivated winter squash do people carve at Halloween? Response: pumpkin A pumpkin is a cultivated winter squash in the genus Cucurbita. Source: Wikipedia, “Pumpkin”
2. 200 Which genus of plants do pumpkins belong to? Response: Cucurbita A pumpkin is a cultivated winter squash in the genus Cucurbita. Source: Wikipedia, “Pumpkin”
3. 300 Why can no scientist say exactly what a pumpkin is? Response: the term pumpkin has no scientific definition The term is most commonly applied to round, orange-colored squash varieties, but does not possess a scientific definition. Source: Wikipedia, “Pumpkin”
4. 400 Between which dates, and where, were the first pumpkins grown? Response: 7000 BCE to 5500 BCE in Mesoamerica C. pepo pumpkins are among the oldest known domesticated plants, with evidence of their cultivation dating to between 7000 BCE and 5500 BCE in Mesoamerica. Source: Wikipedia, “Pumpkin”
5. 500 Inside its thick shell, which two parts of a pumpkin can you eat? Response: seeds and pulp The pumpkin's thick shell encases edible seeds and pulp. Source: Wikipedia, “Pumpkin”

Living Light

1. 100 What process produces light inside an organism? Response: bioluminescence Bioluminescence is the production of light by an organism as the result of a chemiluminescence reaction. Source: Wikipedia, “Bioluminescence”
2. 200 Which kind of chemical reaction makes living things glow? Response: chemiluminescence Bioluminescence is the production of light by an organism as the result of a chemiluminescence reaction. Source: Wikipedia, “Bioluminescence”
3. 300 In living light, a substance reacts with an enzyme called luciferase. What is the substance called? Response: luciferin In most cases, the principal chemical reaction in bioluminescence involves the reaction of a substrate called luciferin and an enzyme, called luciferase. Source: Wikipedia, “Bioluminescence”
4. 400 The glow reaction in living things pairs a substrate with an enzyme. What are the two called? Response: luciferin is the substrate; luciferase is the enzyme In most cases, the principal chemical reaction in bioluminescence involves the reaction of a substrate called luciferin and an enzyme, called luciferase. Source: Wikipedia, “Bioluminescence”
5. 500 Some animals glow to match the light around them and hide their outline. What is that called? Response: counterillumination camouflage The uses of bioluminescence by animals include counterillumination camouflage, mimicry of other animals, for example to lure prey, and signaling to other individuals of the same species, such as to attract mates. Source: Wikipedia, “Bioluminescence”

Final round: Adaptations After Dark

These winged animals are the only mammals capable of true and sustained flight. Response: bats Bats (order Chiroptera ) are winged mammals, the only mammals capable of true and sustained flight. Source: Wikipedia, “Bat”