Unicorns By Mr. White Pd 1

Taxonomy Kingdom – Animalia Phylum – Chordata Class – Mammalia Order – Perissodactyla Family – Equidae Genus – Equus Species - Hornicus

Habitat Live in only one place on Earth, Candy Land. Prefer temperatures between 65 and 85 degrees Fahrenheit. Only two season rainy and dry, with 20 inches of annual rainfall. Prefer the dense lollipop forests during the dry season. Will come into the licorice grass lands when the candy corn is in season.

Predators and Defenses The Yeti is one of the primary predators, they hunt unicorns while they sleep and eat them from the tail first. Griffins will also attack unicorns when they are young. They usually only attack the horses that are light enough to fly away with. Unicorns use their sharp horn to fend of predators. They also have a strong smell that is not pleasing to most animals. People usually describe the odor as vanilla bean. Unicorns live in large herds that help them keep an eye out for predators.

Obtaining Food and water Unicorns mainly eat candy corn, marshmallows, and broccoli. They use their horns to dig marshmallow seeds from the ground to eat them while they are still tender. Unicorns teeth are made of a diamond like substance so that they do not get cavities. Unicorn migrate with the rainy season so that they can eat under rainbows which produce the best candy corn crops. Unicorns often follow large herds of wood nymphs. The nymphs open the ears of candy corn first to feed, and then the unicorns what they nymphs drop on the ground.

Maintaining Homeostasis Unicorns are warm blooded. They have a thick hide that keeps them warm in the rainy season. They have two lungs for breathing oxygen. Unicorns need to eat between 20 and 30 lbs. of food a week. Unicorns drink about 20 gallons of Sprite a week.

Anatomy and Physiology Large horn on the front of their head usually 18 to 24 in. long when fully grown They have four extra ribs to protect their internal organs Can run in bursts up to 60 mph Strong rear leg muscles allow them to flee predators, or kick them if necessary Bones are hollow allowing them to be lighter so that they can swim easily when they are crossing rivers while following the rainbow.

Reproduction Males and females live together in herds. Breeding season is usually late March to early April. Males may breed with four or five females. Males parade with their heads high to show of their horns and entice females for mating. Females will often kill the male after mating, so that they can not breed with other females.

Growth and development The gestation period for a unicorn is roughly 36 weeks. Baby unicorns are called kernels. They don’t start growing their horn until they are two years old. They can begin breeding around 4 years old. They usually live until around 20 years old.

Human Interaction Unicorns were hunted for thousands of years for their horns and delicious meat. Farmers often kill unicorns in large numbers to protect their candy corn crops. Humans have tried to domesticate them for years, but they have not been able to keep them alive in captivity. Declared and endangered species in 1987. Humans are now only allowed to study them from a mile away, but ginger bread men, native to Candy Land, are still allowed to kill several a year for food.

Fun Facts Unicorns can jump higher than kangaroos. Unicorns horns were thought to have magical powers and were prized by students at Hogwart's as magical wands. Unicorns were once as plentiful as pigeons. Unicorns are more closely related to hyenas than zebras. Unicorns are the only member of the horse family not to have run in a Kentucky Derby.