Animal fun facts

Cats progress through a number of life stages in their lifetime. As a cat guardian, learning how they change physically and behaviorally will help you to provide the right level of care at every stage of development. Remaining ignorant of these stages can mean you provide the wrong care, making natural...

The red panda is slightly larger than a domestic cat, has a bear-like body and dense, reddish-brown fur. It lives in temperate zone forests with bamboo understory in the Himalayas and other high mountains. Red pandas, like giant pandas, are bamboo eaters native to the high altitude forests of Asia....

When we think of the relationships between humans and dogs, we think of them being our best friend. This is reasonable considering the relationships we see with our friends and their animal or even on various social media platforms. If we adopt a dog and find they are not immediately our best friend, it can...

Animals come in all shapes, sizes, and species. The Dreadnoughtus was the largest animal ever known to exist. This Tintanosaurus lived 77 million years ago and measured about 85 feet (ca. 27 meters) long. It was the largest animal ever known. Today, the African elephant is the largest land animal, with an...

Reproduction is a fundamental process for all animal species on our planet. Without it, there wouldn't be any animals left to populate it. Reproduction has to adapt to each specific animal for it take place correctly. This is due to various factors, including individual morphology and external environment. The...

There are many species of cetaceans, which are divided into two major groups: Mysticetes, which have beards, and Odontocetes, which have teeth. There are several families of dolphins, and most of them are distinguished by their social skills, even with humans, and by their striking way of communicating....

The term killer whale is partly very apt. Although beautiful and fascinating marine mammals, they are intelligent and prolific hunters. Although they survive only in water, they are able to catch prey from land close to the water's edge. Their massive strength, sharp teeth and great intelligence make them...

Cats are almost synonymous with sleep. Although they can be very active and agile, they need to spend the majority of their dat at rest. While asleep, we may see them make noises or movements, something which can lead us to ask if cats can dream? Taking it further, if they can dream, do cats have nightmares? In...

Many of us may think there is only one type of tapian snake, but there are more. All snakes within the genus Oxyuranus are types of tapian snake, of which there are three individual species. They are known as being one of the most venomous snakes in the world. Combined with the fact they can strike incredibly...

Turtles of all kinds, both aquatic and terrestrial, belong to the order Testudines, characterized by a shell mainly made up of their ribs.Turtles are an ancient order, but modern turtles differ significantly from what is documented in fossil records.There are 360 living and recently extinct species of turtles,...

We know that cats do not show love to their guardians in the same way humans do with each other. They cannot speak verbally with us, so they have to rely on body language and other forms of communication. When we see them rubbing their face against us, it is a clear sign of affection or perhaps a petition...

It is often believed there are two types of camels. These are recognized as a camel with two humps versus a camel with one hump. There is some truth to such conventional wisdom in that we can broadly recognize two distinct camelid groups, but their classification is more complicated. All camels are camelids...

Birds are a group of vertebrates with an impressive diversity in the animal kingdom. Aside from their beautiful physical features and the variety of their songs, birds also vary greatly in size. While there are some birds that are quite small, like insects, there are others that are so large that they remind...

If you were to think of a pigeon, there is likely one specific species which springs to mind. Perhaps it is surprising that we can find 369 identified species within the Columbidae family, the family in which all pigeons and doves can be found. These birds have various sizes, but generally all have...

The Iberian lynx (Lynx pardinus) is a wild cat found on the Iberian Peninsula in southwestern Europe, and more specifically Spain. It is currently listed as Endangered on the IUCN Red List, which is the world's most comprehensive inventory of the global conservation status of biological species. In the last...

When we talk about squirrels, we are referencing animals of the Sciuridae family. While many of us will immediately think of a bushy-tailed red squirrel running up a tree, we should know the diversity of this family is great. In fact, there are so many different rodents in this mammal family that they...

Seals, sealions and walruses are often confused with each other. While they do have specific differences, they are all marine mammals with similar body structures. They have flippers to swim, canines to eat fish and fur to protect them from the cold. When spotted in the water, it can be difficult to tell these...

The cougar is a large felid native to the American continent. Their habitats range over large areas from north to south of the region, making it a mammal with one of the widest distributions of the entire Northern Hemisphere. Such large distribution means it has been given various names by various communities....

The diversity of birds on the planet ranges from tiny to very large species. These large species often remind us why birds are one of the closest living relatives of extinct dinosaurs. Birds are also quite different from one another. Some possess a hypnotizing colorful plumage and their feathers are even...

Turtles are known for various characteristic features which are not shared by many others in the animal kingdom. Perhaps most noticeable is their hard carapace or shell which helps protect them from predators. Although there are some turtles which may prey on smaller animals, most are mainly herbivorous....

When considering adopting a cat, many people see their supposed independence as a benefit. Irresponsible guardians will think they can leave the cat alone all day and they will not care. Although it will depend on the individual, cats are much more social than their reputation suggests. Some are more...

The diversity of birds is incredibly vast, so it is interesting to wonder why some stand out in the public imagination. The swan is a bird which has come to have great significance for many cultures, its white plumage and graceful appearance making it a common wonder. However, many of us might not even know...

If we were to ask you about jumping mammals, the first animals which come to mind may be kangaroos, gazelles or even rabbits. For this reason, it can be easy to forget that dolphins are mammals and that they are some of the best jumpers in the animal kingdom. The difference is that they are aquatic mammals,...

A common phenomenon in domestic cats is sitting by a window and make a chattering sound. The exact reason for this sound is unknown, but it occurs when they see potential prey. Such prey can range in size and species. They might do it when they see a bird, a rodent or other small mammals. However, they...

Some animals are almost defined by a certain characteristic. While this can be somewhat reductive, the reason it happens is because these animals may have a feature which is so unique, we can't help but associate them with it. Such is the case with the giraffe. There are many fascinating facts about giraffes...

When we think of the mongoose, many of us might picture a ferret-like creature which is known for attacking snakes. However, the animal we call a mongoose is actually a term used for all the mammals in the Herpestidae family. This is a more diverse group of animals than you might think. It even includes...

For many, the cuteness of animals is what first interests us in the animal kingdom. From the time we are children, we have plush toys, cartoons and images on cereal boxes showing us adorable animals. The red panda is an animal which provides stiff competition for being the cutest. Their cherubic faces and...

Did you know that deer have existed on our planet for over 34 million years? This large family of herbivorous mammals began their long evolutionary journey in the Oligocene period. Many changes have affected the various deer species over these years, but the end result is the taxonomic family known as Cervidae....

Although the diversity among birds is vast (think of the difference between a penguin and a hummingbird), it is true there are some bird species which closely resemble each other. Sometimes we can't even tell the difference until we are up close. To understand the difference between these birds, we can look...

Dogs are animals with qualities, instincts and reactions different from those than we humans possess. The fact we live longer, but seem to take so long to mature implies animals have certain advantages over us. Too many people see animals, even dogs, as inferior. At AnimalWised, we see things differently....

When living alongside them, humans are often surprised by certain strange behaviors cats exhibit. Most of these behaviors, however peculiar they may seem to us, are completely natural and are part of their social order. They play an important role in how they interact with other animals and people....

While we may love our dog enormously, too many of us see petting them as a right rather than a privilege. Even though a healthy dog will want interaction, it doesn't mean they don't have boundaries. Dogs have sensitive areas on their bodies just like us. These are places where they either don't like to...

Cheetahs, leopards and jaguars are all types of big cat, wild cousins of the domestic feline. They all come from the Felidae family, meaning they share certain traits and similarities. They are expert hunters, have excellent vision, can run at high speed and are extraordinary stealthy. Their teeth and...

We usually associate certain traits or particular characteristics with certain animals. It is hard for us to imagine them without these distinctive features. For example, when we think of an elephant, its large size, long trunk and striking tusks immediately come to mind. But is it true that all elephants have...

In this AnimalWised article, we want to address a common doubt about animals which can enter our home. While we may see rats, mice and insects as nuisance pests, lizards can often be more welcome guests into our home. Unless you have a particular fear of lizards, they often seem to be more docile and we...

What a cat will look like physically is, for the most part, dictated by their genetics. The genes carried by their parents will determine what is their eventual body shape, coat type and color. Although cats will look different when compared to being a kitten with being an adult cat, it doesn't mean they...

If we have a cat in the family, it is likely we love nature and have a respect for living beings. We might not think about it too much, but our cat likely feels the same. While many housecats are happy to remain indoors where it is safe, those with experience of the outside world have their curiosity...

When we think of trunked animals, the first one we might think of is the elephant. This large mammal has a large appendage sprouting from their face which is known as a proboscis. There are other animals with trunks of varying size, some of which appear in place of a nose or seem to emanate from their mouths....

Whether we like it or not, dogs will not keep the same sleep schedule as their human guardians. While this can be disruptive if they are making noise when we are trying to sleep, it actually offers us an opportunity to observe them. A dog's health and well-being can be assessed in many ways and watching...

Cats are world-champion sleepers. While it will depend on their age and health status, cats will sleep an average of 13 to 20 hours per day. The type of sleep will vary with some periods of light dozing and others of REM deep sleep. However, there are many factors which affect the quality of their sleep,...

The natural world never fails to amaze us with the wide range of fascinating animal behaviors. The incredible feats some animals can perform with only their instinct to guide are incredible and can help us humans better understand the world around us. These behaviors don't occur in a vacuum. They are...

Each cat has their own individual behaviors and idiosyncrasies. While we might think drinking water with their paw is unique to our cat, it is actually a fairly common behavior. Not all cats will do it all the time, but some will almost exclusively only drink with their paw. There are several perfectly...

You may heard it said that cats choose their humans, not the other way around. We may have spent a lot of time considering what cat might best suit our needs, perhaps the decision wasn't down to us in the end, at least not entirely. There is truth the maxim that cats choose their owners. They are intelligent...

Few reactions a cat makes receive the attention of hissing. It is a sound not quite unique to cats, but it is one we don't want to hear with any regularity. If we get scared, worried or defensive when we hear a cat hissing, it is not surprising. This is the point of the cat making this particular sound....

Can dogs understand that we love them by how we care for them and the affection we give them? Dogs are actually able to understand more than what we give them credit for. In this AnimalWised article we're going to explain how dogs know we love them. We will also answer other questions related to this...

Dogs have a complex body language which is relayed through body postures and facial expressions. They can often go unnoticed if we don't pay enough attention. It's harder not to notice when the dog leans on us directly. For many of us, this is not only a normal occasion, but it is welcome behavior. Our...

Any responsible guardian sees happiness as a basic care need for their dog. If we provide them with food, shelter and security, it's a good start to keeping them happy. However, since canine and human communication is different, we also need to know how to confirm our dog is happy. While we might simply...

Understanding canine behavior is all about context. A dog will often act differently around their family than they do with a stranger. The same can be said when they greet other dogs or animals of a different species. As a species, the domestic dog is a gregarious animal and very sociable. Greeting is a...

We know that many companion animals go into heat and behave erratically, but not all do. Known as the estrus cycle, the heat period can cause dogs and cats to behave erratically and present various symptoms. The estrus cycle can also influence the animal's health and well-being in various ways. For those...

Cats are affectionate animals that love to relax on the sofa with their companions. They love being caressed in the back of their ears and their neck. Others love being scratched at the base of their tail, however, what does it mean when a cat lets you touch its paws? In this AnimalWised article we're going...