Animal fun facts

A dog's nose can change color due to benign changes in skin pigmentation, but there are some pathological reasons for a dog's nose to change color. The color of a dog's body is determined similar to humans, even their nose. Melanin is a pigment which binds to amino acids to create various shades and...

Haven't we all dreamed of seeing a whale up close? There are many reasons to marvel at these incredible and beautiful animals. What fascinates us about whales? Maybe it is because we have heard since childhood that whales are the largest living animals in the world; or because we know they are mammals...

In nature, both flora and fauna uses various mechanisms to survive. One of the most peculiar and fascinating is the ability to change color. Animals have profound relationships to color. Camouflage to protect from predators is perhaps the most well-known way animals use color. The chameleon is the figurehead...

There are more than 400 dog breeds, each with their own peculiarities that distinguish them from one another. Some of these characteristics might seem quite strange, for example dog breeds that have blue tongues. Although they are normally referred to as blue, the dark pigmentation on a dog's tongue...

Wolves are carnivorous mammals very similar to dogs. They belong to the genus Canis and are generally considered the genetic ancestors of dogs. Unlike domestic dogs, however, wolves in the wild live in packs. A pack is a group of related animals that hunt, live and move together. They also live in very...

Have you ever seen a giraffe sleeping? Probably not. You might have wondered how an animal with such a long neck can sleep comfortably. You have probably asked yourself, “Do giraffes sleep standing up or lying down?” As you might have guessed, a giraffe's sleeping habits are very different from other...

All living beings on this planet need to reproduce to perpetuate their species, but not all animals reproduce in the same way. Moreover, not all individuals of a species will reproduce. This is either because they don't have the opportunity or they were never intended to do so. For example, animals within...

In a previous article we have looked at the animals that sleep the most. Often due to slow metabolism, these animals need a lot of rest to conserve their energy and survive. On the other hand, some animals seem to never sleep or at least we have seen little evidence of it. But are there animals that don't sleep?...

When we think of animals with shells, our first thought might be the turtle. Their shell is not only part of the turtle's body, but part of a larger cultural identity and historical mythology. However, there are many types of animals with shells. They are designed to protect animals against predators,...

Even the most experienced biologist will have a hard time naming all the animal species on our planet. The diversity and range are staggering. The list gets bigger since we are discovering new animal species all the time, with over 500 in 2021 alone[1]. Unfortunately, not all animal species we discover...

Bees are an incredibly essential species for the balance of the world’s ecosystems. Sadly, however, there are several threats that are putting the world’s bee population at risk, including polluting and deforestation. Bees are incredibly organized flying insects that are able to build and run hives in...

Did you know that there are some animals that are capable of sleeping more than 20 hours in a row? These long sleep patterns are related to factors such as food, performed activities and needs of the specific species. Additionally, did you know that there are some animals that don’t sleep much? For...

The term fish is used to refer to an incredibly diverse group of animals. There are certain similarities they share, but almost all of them have some sort of exception. For example, all fish are vertebrates, but hagfish technically don't have a spine. This means the taxonomy of fish (i.e. how they are...

The use of a muzzle in dogs is sometimes an unfortunate necessity. For example, some jurisdictions have laws requiring dogs to be muzzled on public transport. Dogs with traumatic backgrounds or with poor socialization may need to be muzzled when walked in busy areas. Some people think they should be...

Dolphins are very social animals and are even considered friendly to humans. However, this can obscure the complexity of dolphin behavior. Their gregarious nature creates complex social dynamics in their pods. While they have the potential to be friendly, we should not consider them frivolous animals. They...

All life as we know it began in water. While it is difficult to prove, evidence suggests that gills existed before lungs. It is not that breathing with lungs is better or worse than breathing through gills. These different methods of animal respiration exist because of the different environments in which they...

Bears are terrestrial mammals which inhabit different ecosystems across the world. From lush forests to barren tundras, it is possible to find various bear species. All of said species are located at the top of their respective food chains. They are fascinating creatures which provide cultural touchstones...

To know how dolphins breathe, we should get rid of some preconceived notions. Just because a dolphin lives in the sea, does not mean they are a fish. As they are not fish (or some other aquatic creatures such as crabs), they do not use gills to take oxygen into their body. Despite having fins and spending...

Cetaceans are marine mammals most commonly know for their presence in mythical stories and ancient legends. Cetaceans are considered the most peculiar of all mammal orders. Unfortunately however, with the passing of time, these animals are slowly disappearing...but why? For more about cetacean examples,...

Human beings have spent centuries studying animal behavior. Ethology, which defines this specific scientific discipline, aims among other things, to distinguish whether animals think or not. Humans generally assume that the main difference between animals and humans is the level of intelligence, but is this...

This world is made up of a variety of animals which each carry incredibly unique characteristics. There are, however, many animal species that resemble each other and are easily confused. The raccoon, for example, is among these animal species that are often confused with their ‘‘distant cousins.’’ For...

Exoskeletons and endoskeletons carry out some of the same basic functions, especially when it comes to protection, movement and structural support. Despite this, an animal will have an exoskeleton for specific reasons, something we can see in the types of animals with exoskeletons. These animals tend to be...

Do you know how reptiles breathe? Reptiles have varied anatomies that adapt according to their appropriate environment. Reptiles are either or both terrestrial and marine animals and for this reason, depending on the species, they carry different mechanisms which allow them to breathe. Keep reading...

Would you think it strange if we were born with horns? We might think they would get in the way, but many horned animals seem to be able to put them to good use. Not all horns are the same. There are different types of animal horns. Some are long, some curly, others are stubby and don't seem to have...

Crabs are highly evolved arthropod animals. While we may associate crabs most often with the sea, there are fresh water crabs and land crabs which live outside of the world's oceans. Some have adapted certain abilities to spend time both on land and in water. It is not only this type of adaptability...

Trophic levels are analyzed and studied under the discipline of ecology, a subset of biology. This is the science which studies the relationships established between an environment and the organisms within it. This includes the relationships and interactions the species within these environments have with...

The wolf is a carnivorous animal which is considered a relative of the domestic dog (Canis lupus familiaris). While this is true, the extent of their connection is complicated and you can read up about the genetic history of dogs to learn more. While we know there are many different types of dog breed,...

Each and every animal species and/or plant type in nature carry the responsibility of fulfilling a specific function. These functions allow for both the conservation and balance of the ecosystem to which they belong. Pollination, for example, which refers to the transfer of pollen from a male anther...

Although rabbits have the reputation of being quiet animals, this doesn't mean they don't make noise. In fact, rabbit sounds have a wide variety of function and purpose. Rabbits make noise to communicate with other rabbits, other animals and even we humans. As rabbit guardians, it's imperative we learn what...

In nature, some of the rarest animals are also the most beautiful. Their unfamiliarity gives them an exotic aura which is made more powerful by their scarcity. This is not always the case. While the vaquita is noted for its beautiful expression, the hagfish's mouth is a thing of nightmares. Both are...

From birth, all animals undergo various morphological, anatomical and biochemical changes. Even after they reach adulthood, there are still some changes which occur as cells replicate and die in constant order. Many of these changes are physiological and affect body size, shape, etc. Others are hormonal,...

There are many reasons we might be looking for inspirational horse quotes. Horses are animals which have been directly influential on the success of human civilization. They teach us a lot about life. Whether we are taking inspiration directly from horse behavior or we use them an the epitome of certain virtues,...

Animals with scales, hair and/or feathers have evolved in such a way that these features aid in protecting them and helping them maneuver among their environment. For example, animals with scales use this characteristic feature to help them move comfortably and safely as well as protect moisture loss in...

All animals need periods of rest to help conserve energy and maintain life. While this rest takes many forms, one of the most important types is a state of sleep. However, not all animals sleep in the same way or for the same length of time. For example, many ungulate prey animals sleep for very short...

The anatomy of domestic dog (Canis lupus familiaris) is something which is difficult to qualify. The main reason for this is because there are so many dog breeds in the world. More than 300 are officially recognized by standardization bodies such as the FCI as well as the many mixed breed variants which...

Insectivorous or entomophagous animals base their diet, or part of it, on the consumption of insects. There is a great variety of animals that eat insects, from amphibians to mammals. These animals obtain an important source of protein from these insects, needed to live a healthy life. But which are the...

Dogs are complex, fascinating and interesting animals that do things which sometimes, we as humans, do not quite understand. One of the most common dog habits which people tend to question is butt smelling. ‘‘Why do dogs sniff each other’s butts?’’ Did you know that the main reason dogs smell each other’s...

There are many people who are motorcycle enthusiasts and dog guardians. Unfortunately, if a motorbike is your only mode of transportation, it is not always the best idea to bring the two together. This doesn't necessarily mean it's not possible. It just means that there are certain considerations to ensure...

Bats have inspired myths and stories for generations. Their reputation is as a vile creature, dirty in its own right and linked to mysterious creatures of the underworld. They are the one animal Ace Ventura, defender of the entire animal kingdom, couldn't stand. Part of their reputation is that some bats...

It is estimated that dogs and humans have lived together for around 3,000 years. Despite our long and happy time together, there are still some new discoveries to be made. Every year new studies in canine ethology are produced, enlightening us about a dog's biology and behavior. Some of these revelations...

Since we were little we have been taught that, just like a cat ‘meows,’ a horse neighs. Have you also heard of a horse’s whinny? It’s important to know, however, that there is a slight difference between a horse’s neigh and whinny, which is usually lower in both pitch and frequency. If you are wanting to...

Cats are animals that are found in abundance in our streets. This is mainly because they have a very short gestation period, which means they can cause overpopulation in a very short period of time, but this is a discussion for another day. In this article we will try to give you some tips for shooing...

Antarctica is the coldest and most inhospitable continent on planet Earth. In fact, the coldest temperature ever recorded on Earth was -90 ºC at Antarctica's Vostok station. Contrary to this intense cold , there are also relatively warm regions in Antarctica, such as the Antarctic Peninsula, where temperatures...

The North Pole is one of the most mysterious and inhospitable places on planet Earth. The Arctic North Pole, situated in the Northern hemisphere, is known for its extreme weather, climate and incredibly diverse fauna and flora. But which animals make up this full list of arctic animals living in the North...

Dogs, like all animal species, have a different way of expressing themselves. Dogs use specific body language and vocal sounds to communicate their mood and feelings. As dog tutors, it is important to both understand and respect canine nature in order to learn to communicate better with our furry friends....

It's not always easy to tell the difference between a bunny vs. a hare if we catch one running across a meadow. Even up close their similarities are stark. In many cases, we have to look at the taxonomic classification of these two species to see how they differentiate. Although are rabbits and hares are...

Puppies, as with human babies, do not have any teeth at birth. Eventually newborn puppies will develop one or two deciduous teeth (also known as milk teeth) which are only partly developed and temporary. During breastfeeding, puppies will exclusively suckle from their mother's breast and don't require...

Australia, as you probably already know, is rich with incredible fauna. From the famous Kangaroo to dingoes to freshwater crocodiles, Australia’s animal world is incredibly diverse! Did you know that many Australian animals, having evolved in an environment devoid of predators, are extremely confident despite...

There are currently 8 different types of bear species in the world. We use the word ‘currently’ for the sad reason that some species are no longer with us and others have dwindling populations. Part of the reason for this is due to the complex relationship bears have with their environment. These environments...

In recent years, the definition of ‘ungulate’ has been up for debate. The debate centers around which animals should be categorized under this term as it is a word applicable to a diverse range of mammals. A common ancestor is believed to link the animals together, but some zoologists and taxonomists disagree...