Nature facts from NC and a few photos.
Recently Auntie's NCRGEA (North Carolina Retired Government Employee's Association)
monthly magazine arrived. It always has some fun puzzles etc in it. This month it was
A Fall 2024 Word Search
"All Things North Carolina"
They wrote a sentence with facts about NC things then you had to find it.
I'll be sharing them this month
Today I'm sharing two
1. State Sea Shell aka Sea Snail
The Scotch Bonnet was designated the state shell in 1965. The shape of the shell is also said to resemble the traditional Scottish wood bonnet called Tam o 'Shanter
A few facts from website
The shell is egg-shaped and fairly large, 2 to 4 inches (5 to 10 cm) in maximum dimension, with a regular pattern of yellow, orange or brown squarish spots. The surface sculpture of the shell is highly variable: the surface can be smooth and polished, have grooves, be granulated, or even be nodulose on the shoulder of the whorls.
Bonus photo of my sea shell and sand dollar collection
Have you ever wondered about the 5 slits in a Sand dollar?
The five oblong holes, known as lunules and reflected in the skeletons, let water pass through them to reduce the lifting pressure of the current. The holes also let sand pass through and help them disappear into the bottom faster. When they die and wash ashore, their skeletons become works of art
Any beachcomber who finds Sand Dollars along their stroll considers it a lucky omen! They aren't likely to be found on many beaches, but there are several spots around the United States where you'll find them.
I adore sand dollars. Thirty + years ago, I was fortunate to find four whole sand dollars at Atlantic Beach.
Here are my collection of Sea Shells and Sand dollars
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2. State Marsupial
In 2013 when the General Assembly was selecting North Carolina's State Marsupial, it was easy since the Virginia Opossum is the only marsupial in the State. *Read below photo why it is called Virginia
Few facts from NC wildlife site.
*The Virginia opossum (Didelphis virginiana), also known as the North American opossum, is a member of the opossum family found from southern Canada to northern Costa Rica (making it the northernmost marsupial in the world). Commonly referred to simply as the possum,[7] it is a solitary nocturnal animal about the size of a domestic cat, and a successful opportunist.
Feline Friday Flash back with a bit of sparkle
Madi November 15, 2016
Hari Om
ReplyDeleteHmm, bit of a stretch on the Tam o'Shanter but it's a mighty fine shell! Love your collection, and I don't recall ever seeing the shot of Madi before... it's 😍 YAM xx
Like our friend Yam, we are struggling to see the Scotch bonnet/Tam o'Shanter likeness, but enjoyed the State Sea Shell and State Marsupial photos nonetheless!
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