Facts about the animal kingdom
Learn more about facts about the animal kingdom by exploring our site and become a true expert on the animal kingdom. You'll find content created for the best professionals with pictures, videos and opinions.
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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...
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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...
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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....
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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...
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Since childhood, 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 want to learn...
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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...
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Bats have inspired myths and stories for generations. Their reputation is that of 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...
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Beavers are iconic mammals renowned for their incredible engineering skills and aquatic lifestyle. These large rodents are native to North America and Eurasia, where they play a vital role in shaping their environment. Their dam-building activities create wetlands, which are crucial habitats for a diverse...
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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...
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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 insects, which is needed to live a healthy life. But which are...
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Even for those who have kept rabbits as pets for a long time, it is common to refer to them as rodents. As small furry animals that run about on all fours, they bear certain similarities to other rodents such as mice, shrews and rats. In behavior, they procreate rapidly, gnaw continuously and live in...
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The anatomy of the domestic dog (Canis lupus familiaris) is difficult to qualify. The main reason for this is that 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 many mixed-breed variants which are not recorded. The...
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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...
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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 against moisture...
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Each animal species and plant type in nature has a specific function. These functions contribute to the conservation and balance of the ecosystem to which they belong. Pollination, for example, refers to the transfer of pollen from a male anther to a female stigma and plays an incredibly important role within...
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Trophic levels are analyzed and studied under the discipline of ecology, a subset of biology. Ecology is the science that studies the relationships established between an environment and the organisms within it. This includes the relationships and interactions that species in these environments have with each...
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Crabs are highly evolved arthropod animals. While we may associate crabs most often with the sea, there are freshwater 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...
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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, and others are stubby and don't seem to...
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Do you know how reptiles breathe? Reptiles have varied anatomies that adapt to their environments. Some reptiles are terrestrial, while others are marine, and for this reason, different species have different mechanisms that allow them to breathe.
Keep reading here at AnimalWised to find out how reptiles...
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This world is made up of a variety of animals, each with incredibly unique characteristics. There are, however, many animal species that resemble each other and are easily confused. The raccoon, for example, is among the animal species that are often confused with their ‘‘distant cousins.’’
For more about...
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Human beings have spent centuries studying animal behavior. Ethology, the scientific discipline devoted to this subject, 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...
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Cetaceans are marine mammals most commonly known 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,...
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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 these species are located at the top of their respective food chains. They are fascinating creatures which provide cultural touchstones...
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...
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, the activities performed and the needs of the specific species. Additionally, did you know that there are some animals that don’t sleep much?
For...
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 pollution and deforestation. Bees are incredibly organized flying insects that are able to build and run hives in...
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...
When we think of animals with shells, our first thought might be the turtle. Its shell is not only part of the turtle's body, but also 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,...
In a previous article, we looked at the animals that sleep the most. Often because of a 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...
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 those...
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...
The weever is any of the various fish species of the genus Trachinus. Eight extant species are currently recognized. Although they have certain differences, they share several characteristics. Perhaps most notable is their ability to sting with venom due to the presence of spines on their dorsal fins and...
There are more than 400 dog breeds, each with its own peculiarities that distinguish it from the others. Some of these characteristics might seem quite strange, such as having a blue tongue. Although they are normally referred to as blue, the dark pigmentation on a dog's tongue sometimes appears black...
In nature, both flora and fauna use various mechanisms to survive. One of the most peculiar and fascinating is the ability to change color. Animals have profound relationships with color. Camouflage to protect from predators is perhaps the most well-known way animals use color. The chameleon is the...
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...
Having an aquarium at home is ideal for those who do not have much space and want the company of a quiet and colorful pet. Aquariums, regardless of size, are relaxing to watch, because the comings and goings of the fish can be very entertaining. However, you may have noticed that fish sometimes begin to...
You have probably heard about birds that ‘head south’ for the winter, or seen videos of hordes of wildebeest travelling across the Serengeti. In fact, many animal species make long annual journeys, for a variety of reasons and in very different regions across our planet. Although we don't always understand...
There are many different types of animal communication, much of which we don't fully understand. Despite millennia of study, we are always finding new facets about how animals transmit information between one another. The reasons for communication are also complex and not always well discerned. Animals have...
Among the many myths which circulate about cats, the idea that cats are contemptuous of humans is one of the most damaging. While they are more independent and self-reliant than dogs, this does not mean cats don't have an important bond with their human companions. In extreme cases, such a view can encourage...
The llama and alpaca are both animals native to the Andes Mountains. Both are very important cultural, historical, and practical animals for the countries in this region. Their similarities in physical features and behavior show their close relation to each other. Despite such similarities and the fact...
Many feline behaviors make sense from a human perspective. The way they wolf down their food, curl up in a cosy ball or even purr in delight all seem reasonable to us. Walking in between our legs as if to trip us up or rubbing against us doesn't seem to be quite as understandable. When we guess reasons...
Communication is the foundation of any relationship. For a dog, this includes the relationship they have with us and with any other animal. We know much of what we do about canine communication thanks to studying how dogs interact with each other. However, it is often too easy to make assumptions on...
Chimpanzees share 99% of our DNA, yet they can't speak like us. So, why can parrots talk like humans, but other animals can't? When observing birds imitate sounds and even pronounce English words, we are often left amazed about how these small creatures can speak our language. They don't have lips and...
There are different types of birds that live in various environments. For this, they need useful feet that help them survive in their natural habitat. Their type of feet needs to be able to help them hunt, climb, swim, etc., depending on their environment and needs.
In this AnimalWised article we are...
Snakes are an animal which has fascinated humans since we have been aware of them. They have entered the folklore of ancient cultures which still resonate today. For some they induce fear and terror, others fascination and wonder. Many in the latter group even keep snakes as pets. Such fascination often...
We can often tell the difference between two similar animals by looking at their scientific grouping, known as their taxonomic order. However, when looking at the difference between a frog and a toad, you will see they actually belong to the same taxonomic group. This group is known as the Anura order....
Birds are endothermic vertebrates that come in all different shapes and sizes. Their main characteristic is the fact that their bodies are covered in feathers. However, many people ask themselves if featherless birds exist.
While some species of birds are already born without feathers, others are born with...
There are many different species of birds, not all of which you will want to keep in your house. Although all animals are beautiful, trying to keep a seagull in a cage is not going to be a happy experience for anyone. This is why some birds are kept as pets and others are not. Some pet birds are suited...
Snakes are carnivorous reptiles of the suborder Serpentes. These long and legless animals have a very unique anatomy that make us question how exactly their body works. This is especially true given that this group of animals have gone through a great variety of adaptations and physiological and anatomical...
Snakes are vertebrate and ectothermic animals. They are also one of the few organisms that propel themselves by sliding their bodies on the ground. This movement is called slithering. It's extraordinary how snakes are able to move their limbless bodies through various terrains including rocks, sand,...