Every month staff of The Northwood Omniscient recommends something for students and staff. For the month of April, staff members recommended animals. Continue reading to find a new favorite animal and read some entertaining commentary that is sure to put a smile on your face.
Cicadas
Eastern North America
2021 is the year of the cicada. The Periodical Cicadas will awake in late spring from their 17-year hibernation to scare unsuspecting Northerners who have moved south in recent years. Billions (yes, I mean billions) of cicadas are about to crawl out of the ground and join those residing in Eastern North America. I personally find much joy in the prospect of waking up each morning knowing that I won’t be able to walk outside without encountering a never-ending sea of cicada shells littering the ground. Not to mention the never-ending hum of the cicadas as they go about their daily business, which, fun fact, can be louder than a lawnmower. Music to my ears that I have missed dearly! And an extra special treat, cicadas are even edible! You can eat cicadas dried or in soft form. To find some recipes for cooking cicadas, checkout Cicada-licious, a cookbook published by University of Maryland students. Don’t feel bad about trying a few recipes. As I mentioned before, there will be billions of cicadas flying around; a few gone won’t be missed. Whether you choose to eat or simply observe, cicadas are the loveliest of creatures simply waiting to be praised. I mean, why would their grand entrance take 17 years otherwise?
-Co-Editor in Chief Ella Sullivan
Crabs
Worldwide
Crabs. What can be said about them that isn’t readily apparent simply from a simple glance upon their crustacean form? They have ten legs, which is a perfect decimal amount of legs. Insects only have six legs, spiders only have eight, and I’m going to pretend that I don’t know what a millipede is. They are also the quite possibly the most perfect lifeforms to ever crawl upon this green Earth. They can survive both on land and underwater. They have a chitinous exoskeleton to protect their squishy innards. They have survived since the Jurassic Era, almost 200 million years ago. Even if you don’t agree, it doesn’t matter. Evolution agrees with me. Within evolutionary biology, there lies a phenomenon called carcinization, which is an example of convergent evolution. In layman’s terms, that means that multiple, unrelated species have evolved into the general shape of a crab. Mother Nature loves her clawed sons, and so should you. Start now, and you may be spared during the inevitable crabpocalypse.
-Co-Editor in Chief Torin Priddle
Sloths
Central & South America
Sloths are world-renowned for their leisurely, lethargic movements. They spend much of their lifetime snoozing away the days high up in the canopy without threat of predators. So why should this abnormal creature become your favorite animal? I’m sure you really don’t care, so no worries; you can just embody the sloth, and therefore become immune to such worries. Move away from the fast pace of life and the endless hustle by spending your time avoiding your problems. It’s much easier that way, trust me. I mean, just look at those sloths, lazily munching on leaves all the while maintaining that lucid smile on their face. They seem so content. So the next time someone asks for your favorite animal, tell them it’s a sloth, and then go right back to snoozing on the couch. Or better yet, just don’t bother; it’s too time-consuming anyway.
-Staff Writer Olivia McMurray
Fly
Everywhere people inhabit
Flies are one of the few animals that can be found almost anywhere, from your favorite bakery to right at home in your own kitchen. There are an estimated 17 million flies per person, so, no worries, they are not going extinct anytime soon. Flies are always around to keep you company, especially if you have food with you. Their small size and their never-ending buzzing noises make them the perfect companion almost anywhere. Who wouldn’t love such a creature?
-Staff Writer Loren King
Domestic cat
The household of the lowest pain tolerance
Cats are known for their status on the internet. Snuggling in its owner’s arms, basking in the sun, and knocking various things off of tabletops, cats are well known for their patience. From screaming for their food when you’re holding it, to scratching when you show too much affection, the domesticated kitty is on the more docile side of common household pets. When they see another neighborhood feline, they get so excited they run straight to whatever window they can see out of and start yelling greetings in their friend’s direction. Cats are such simplistic, peaceful creatures, it can be hard to figure them out. So, what is your cat thinking about? Likely, not a single thing.
-Staff Writer Hannah Barnes
Otters
Living on all continents except Australia and Antarctica
Otters tend to catch the eye of many because of their cleverness and playfulness. I mean, who could deny an animal that adorably slides downhill on surfaces like ice or mud for fun? (This also helps them efficiently save their energy) If you are fortunate enough to own an Asian Small Clawed Otter as a pet, you might have the chance to be awakened to a wonderful (loud) high-pitched screeching sound in the morning. Or later in the day, trigger your sense of smell, for this species’ feces has a distinct aroma some scientists would claim are similar to violets. The poop even has its own name, “spraint.” After spending a fun day with your otter, it can snuggle and play with you until your heart’s content, which sounds quite enjoyable if you ask me.
-Staff Writer Nellie Errett
Emu
Australia
The emu is quite possibly the fiercest animal known to man. An emu can run at speeds of up to 30 miles per hour, making it even faster than the well-known roadrunner. No wonder Wile E. Coyote never went after an emu. The emu can also outjump your favorite NBA player. Actually, being able to jump up to seven feet vertically means an emu could probably jump OVER your favorite NBA player. These elite stats combine to create a creature so powerful, it doesn’t even need the ability to fly. Honestly, it would be a little unfair to other animals if it could. Emus are just gracious like that, trying to make the playing field a little more even. Luckily for you, the emu is usually a solitary creature. However, it can also form gigantic flocks with other emus when migrating. Just imagine a huge herd of emus stampeding towards you at 30 miles an hour. That’s right; you’ll probably give emus the respect they deserve after thinking about that.
-Staff Writer Lily Kate Witcher
Feral Pigeon
All continents but Antarctica
Deriving from a species of dove, the feral pigeon has managed to escape domesticity to live a life of mingling with tourists in big cities. Formerly integral in the deliverance of messages, their main goal in life is littering your car windshield, taking revenge for the post office’s rise in popularity. And who could blame them? I’d be angry if I was pushed out of a job too. In addition to their mountains of wasted potential, feral pigeons are marvelous creatures to behold. Their feathers shine in rainbow colors, reflecting the light of the day. It almost makes you forget the possible diseases each one is carrying. So the next time you scrape offensive white spots from your vehicle’s mirror, power wash your front stoop or are in the hospital for a bird-related disease, remember their title as the first bird domesticated by man, and know you have no one to blame but yourself.
-Staff Writer Gianna Cacciato
House Centipedes
Homes across the world
Originating in the Mediterranean, house centipedes can be found in basements around the globe. The nocturnal animals favor the dark, and often spend their lifetime hiding- you could have the cute little animals living in your house, and never know it! They are recognized by their 15 pairs of characteristic legs, which are used for amazing speeds, up to 1.3 feet per second. Pretty fast for creatures of their size, if you ask me. Their beautiful long legs are also used when catching and killing prey. Two of the centipede’s legs carry venom, perfect for preparing their delicious meals- silverfish, cockroaches, spiders and more. Luckily, they’re friendly to humans! The only side effect that accompanies house cockroaches is increased heartbeat when you notice them crawling up your walls, and who doesn’t love the occasional fun scare?
-Staff Writer Revy Godehn
Cockroaches
Anywhere and everywhere you don’t want them to be
My relationship with cockroaches is and has always been rather tense, to say the least. This ancient insect, whose existence predates human evolution, possesses a self-sufficiency that is both impressive and horrifying. It is able to perform feats that other creepy-crawly species cannot, such as the ability to run around with its head cut off for up to one week. Perhaps the worst part about them is that they can fly, a fact that is easily forgotten until you try to smash one with a giant book, and the thing starts zooming at you at up to 3 miles an hour (true fact). If you’ve never known the experience of stumbling to the bathroom in the middle of the night, only to turn the light on and find six or seven of the little beasts crawling all over the walls and floor, consider yourself blessed.
-Ms. Eliza Brinkley, Adviser
Graphics by Ethan Westmoreland.
