SCAVENGER HUNT: EXTREME LIFE
What makes life extreme?
In order to survive and thrive in the conditions where they live
on Earth, species have evolved in many interesting and amazing
ways. They may have a bizarre behavior, an extraordinary
appearance, or even exceptional size or strength.
Tracking Extreme Life
Extreme life exists in all corners of the world, in every ecosystem.
Circle the location on the map where each scavenger hunt organism lives and label each with its
common name. If you need any additional hints, Naturalist Center staff will be happy to help you.
arctic Ocean Orca
Ochre sea star
North America
Sea lettuce
Asia
atlantic Ocean
Giant sea bass
Orca
Africa
pacific Ocean
Orca
Klipspringer
South America
Green anaconda
Indian Ocean
Orca
southern Ocean
Explorer Name:
Expedition Date:
Orca
Australia
SCAVENGER HUNT: EXTREME LIFE
You can discover examples of extreme life throughout the entire museum.
Begin your expedition in the Naturalist Center on Level 3. Be sure to use the
map to track where in the world each organism lives.
A.Hysert ©CAS
Use your tracking skills to find the skull of the largest member of
the dolphin family. These marine mammals are one of the ocean’s top
predators and hunt in groups, much like a pack of wolves.
Common name:
Orca
hint: Explore the Naturalist Center for this mammal that has large, sharp teeth for eating
everything from fish to walruses.
Dr. Lloyd Glenn Ingles © CAS
V. Young © CAS
This plant stores water inside its thick, spear-shaped leaves as it clings to
life on California’s coastal cliffs.
Common name:
Sea Lettuce
hint: Go to the highest part of the Academy to find this succulent plant growing among the
more than 70 species of California natives.
This small antelope can leap up to ten times its own height. Walking on the
tips of its rubbery hooves, it can balance on even the smallest ledges.
Common name:
Klipspringer
hint: This animal is at home in the steep, rocky terrain of eastern to southwestern Africa.
R. DeCloux © CAS
Despite being the heaviest snake in the world, this reptile is still a good
swimmer. Stretchy ligaments in its jaw allow it to swallow a whole deer.
Common name:
Green anaconda
hint: This snake lives in swamps, marshes and slow-moving streams in the tropical rainforests
of the Amazon and Orinoco basins.
R. DeCloux © CAS
R. DeCloux © CAS
Search for a fish that can live to be 100 years old and is critically
endangered because of overfishing.
Common name:
Giant sea bass
hint: This giant can weigh 227 kg (562 lbs) and lives off California’s coast.
This hardy, five-armed invertebrate holds onto wave-swept rocky shores
with thousands of tiny tube feet. Not only can it survive losing an arm,
but it also can grow a new one.
Common name:
Ochre sea star
hint: It is common along rocky areas of California’s coast and can be purple, reddish-brown,
orange or yellow.