Mr. Gary

Marine Science & Biology Teacher and OSD Nature Center Caretaker

[Mr. Gary @OSDNatureCenter]

Happy Groundhog Day!

[Mr. Gary @OSDNatureCenter]

@DianeProvvido It’s actually a verse of a Sesame Street song. (I did perform it though)

[Mr. Gary @OSDNatureCenter]

Captain Sandy Bottoms came to the faculty picnic today to recruit and train young buccaneers. Quite a handsome pirate I might add ;)

[Mr. Gary @OSDNatureCenter]

Behold! The Mother of (Komodo) Dragons!
The Komodo dragon was thought to kill large prey species with infectious saliva that spreads from a bite. 28 years later (2009) this was disproven, and a venom that speeds the bleeding is now the known cause of death from Komodo bites.

[Mr. Gary @OSDNatureCenter]

@jmcgahan31 Because the glottis reaches to the end of the mouth, they have no need to separate the trachea and esophagus half way down via the epiglottis flap. Pretty cool.

[Mr. Gary @OSDNatureCenter]

Did you know? The left lung of most snakes is tiny and of no use. One large right lung is used for breathing. When eating a tube called a glottis sticks out the mouth as they swallow large prey whole! The Nature Center is home to two corn snakes.

[Mr. Gary @OSDNatureCenter]

The Nature Center welcomes our newest members, a pair of male Emerald Doves! Native to India, Northern Australia and the Indo Pacific, these juveniles will only get more bright and colorful as they age and mature. (Fitting for St. Patty’s Day too!)

[Mr. Gary @OSDNatureCenter]

Did you know? Iguanas (and other lizards) have a THIRD EYE! See the white spot between the eyes on the photo below? It can’t see, but senses light to help regulate temperature and determine daily and seasonal light changes.

[Mr. Gary @OSDNatureCenter]

Did you know? The Arctic Hare of Northern Canada has fur that changes color and length caused by temperature differences. They have long white fur in winter to keep warm and hide in the snow, then shed that hair and grow shorter grey brown fur in the spring as the snow melts.

[Mr. Gary @OSDNatureCenter]

The Nature Center Website is available for booking classes online!
Please check us out!
Click ‘Nature Center’ on the ‘Quick Links’ tab found on any of our school’s web pages.