Animal fun facts

Animals and other organisms are distributed all over the world. Even in the seemingly most inhospitable habitats, life can often find a way. However, not all creatures are up to the task. For life to survive, organisms have developed various adaptations and processes to allow them to live in harsh environments....

Amphibians belong to a group of vertebrates with specific characteristics, because from the point of view of structure, they are between fish and reptiles, and because of this, they can live both on and off land in most cases. There are currently three types of amphibians, commonly known as frogs and...

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 have a reputation for being selfish and unaffectionate. While they may be generally more independent than some other pets, the bonds with they forge with their human guardians can be as strong as any companion animal relationship. Their level of affection and interaction will depend on the individual,...

Some animals have an intense coloration which can easily attract attention. Often these colorations can present in various patterns and shapes, with some animals looking as if they were painted by a Cubist artist. We can see these beautiful works of nature in frogs, butterflies, birds, insects and more....

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?...

If you are not familiar with rat behavior, it can be very difficult to drive them away. They reproduce extremely quickly and are capable of transmitting disease to humans and vice versa. In houses and apartments around the world, rats find shelter and food, trying to go unnoticed as much as possible. 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...

In the suidae family are several species of animals commonly known as pigs and wild boars. In the latter family, the wild boar sus scrofa is usually referred to as a pig. There are other species that are referred to this way, such as the desert warthog ( Phacochoerus aethiopicus ) and the common warthog...

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,...

Some dog behaviors, such as mounting, can make us uncomfortable and even embarrassed. However, it is important that you do not punish or suppress your dog for these behaviors, because they are perfectly normal. What may seem strange to us is often natural behavior in dogs. We tend to anthropomorphize our...

Seasonal changes are common in most ecosystems, and in some cases they can be very extreme. Animals are often affected by these changes as temperature and precipitation cycles change throughout the year. These changes affect, among other things, the animal's ability to reach food or water. For this reason, cold-blooded...

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...

Otters are perhaps best known for being adorable. Their expressive face, dexterous paws and mischievous manner make them prime fodder for memes and YouTube videos. Although controversial and something we believe should be discouraged, they are even becoming popular as pets. Despite such increased visibility,...

Koalas (Phascolarctos cinereus) can be found on every continent due to their unique and adorable appearance. Its long, stout, tailless body, large head with round, fluffy ears, and spoon-shaped nose make it impossible to miss. Though they appear to be bear-like with their round ears and big, black nose,they...

Mammals (Mammalia) are a class of vertebrates that includes many species, including humans and all other warm-blooded vertebrates. They are known to have more complex brains than other animals. They also have mammary glands to feed their young, which produce milk with the help of a neocortex. Most of...

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...

Snakes are chordates belonging to the class Reptilia, the order Squamata, and the suborder Serpentes. Snakes represent a unique group of reptiles. As limbless animals, snakes have inspired both fascination and fear, as many of them can be deadly venomous. However, snakes do not bite out of malice and do not...

All living beings have the ability to produce new cells and tissue. These are important actions for the organism as they help maintain functionality. They are also very important when they receive trauma or other damage such as when sustaining a wound. In the animal kingdom, there are some species which are able...

The lemur is a primate are wet-nosed primates of the superfamily Lemuroidea that is only found in Madagascar. Their classification has been controversial, resulting in the identification of a wide variety of species and whose number has changed as research progresses.There are currently 33 species of...

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...

In 2011, the animated film “Rio” was released in theaters. The movie brought to light an issue that had long been ignored by many, the devastating extinction crisis of birds around the world. In fact, in 2021, nearly 13% of the world's feathered species were listed as endangered. The movie, however, focused...

Flies are a group of invertebrates that belong to the class Insecta and the order Diptera. The name Diptera derives from the Greek and means “two”. Flies are included in this group because unlike most insects, they have two wings instead of four. There are several species of flies and these are classified...

For such small creatures, mice have a very acute sense of smell. It is a necessary evolutionary trait which allows them to find food sources in dark environments or areas where food is scarce. It is one of the reasons we can see a mouse has eaten through food packaging, since they can smell the food...

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...

When we discuss mammals, it is common for us to think of terrestrial animals. For this reason, many of us still confuse some aquatic mammals for other vertebrate animals. This can be seen when people confuse whales as fish. However, if we look closer at marine mammals, we can see they have the fundamental...

Raccoons are native to North America, similar in size to a small dog. Although they are mammals in the order Carnivora, they have a truly omnivorous diet. Thanks to human settlements developing in their natural habitats, raccoons are coming into contact with human populations more frequently. This is often due...

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....

Although Australia can have a sometimes inhospitable climate, its relatively small human population means there is much space for its animal life to develop. This has led to a great diversity of animal species. One of the most adorable animals we will find in Australia is the wombat. However, beyond...

Unfortunately, the cognitive functions of rabbits have not been studied as thoroughly as those of dogs or cats. Nonetheless, their growing popularity as companion animals makes us increasingly wonder about their level of intelligence and their ability to remember. Recent studies have shown that, not only do rabbits...

Alaska is the second youngest state in the United States of America, but only by a few months. Despite being only a recent official addition to the country, it is one of the US's most resource-rich areas. While it is the 4th least-populous state, it is the country's largest state by geographical size...

Reptiles and amphibians belong to the group of vertebrate animals, more specifically, tetrapod animals. Tetrapod is a term to describe animals that use four limbs to move or to manipulate things. Reptiles were the first truly terrestrial vertebrates, while amphibians are a group with transient traits between...

Some of us may not be aware there are different types of manatees. These often elusive creatures have a certain otherworldly mystique which has led to them having an almost mythological reputation. Although they may have one time been confused with mermaids, manatees are aquatic mammals which have been...

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...

We too often rank animals by speed or certain abilities without giving them the correct context. Some animals may be faster than others, but this is only because they have needed to adapt in the way they have. What is more important and more interesting is looking at how and why animals do the things...

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...