Facts about the animal kingdom

Steppes are plains characterized by low rainfall and a semi-arid, temperate climate. As a result, not much vegetation grows on the steppes, which are usually grassland or shrubland biomes usually covered in short grasses or sparse vegetation. Steppes occur in temperate regions - between the tropics...

The octopus is undoubtedly one of the most fascinating marine animals in the world. Their complex physical characteristics, great intelligence and behavioral eccentricities have aroused the interest of marine biologists, school students and pretty much anyone who has even a casual interest in the animal...

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...

If you have lived with cats you will already be familiar with their characteristic meows. You have probably also noticed that cats emit different meowing sounds depending on what they want to convey or achieve. If you can understand a cat's language you will be able to care for them better. So, it is important...

We can sometimes forget the extent of the diversity of our oceans. Since much of its ecosystems lie fathoms under the sea and most of us don't spend much time there, we don't witness much of its wildlife. Even though many documentaries have been made and articles written about sharks, there is still much...

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

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...

The lion is at the top of the food chain. Its imposing size, strength and roar make it a difficullt opponent to overcome within the ecosystem. Despite this, however, there are still some lives in danger of extinction and/or that have died of entirely. Are you looking for a full list of types of lion?...

Cows go ‘moo’, pigs go ‘oink’ and dogs go ‘woof’, right? Canine communication is a little more complicated than children's books may lead us to believe. Dogs are capable of a range of vocalizations and barking is just one of them. Not all dogs will do it to the same degree. A dog's system of communication...

Cats are supposed to be excellent hunters. The fact that various cats have been brought onto ships, into businesses and even into the Houses of Parliament in the UK shows they are valued for their hunting abilities. Like working dogs, these cats are used as mousers as their hunting instincts draw them...

If you are thinking of blue animals in nature, certain birds, insects or even reptiles might spring to mind. However, not everything is as it seems. Many blue animals only appear blue to the human eye, but this is due to the dispersion of light. It's a similar trick of the eye which makes the oceans appear...

Are you looking for short dog quotes or sentimental dog quotes? Do you want to express your friendship with your pup with a photo and a quote which does your relationship justice? Whether you are looking for funny dog quotes, dog quotes for Instagram, short dog quotes or cute dog quotes, this article...

Few animals have had as complex relationship with humans as cats. It is believed the domestication of cats began around 9,000 years ago, but the actual date is difficult to determine due to the limits of historical and archaeological evidence. We do know they were revered in antiquity as incarnations...

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, inluding pollutiong 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...

Agnatha are fish that have existed for over 470 million years. Although most agnatha are now extinct, some have found unique and interesting ways to survive. Agnatha or jawless fish can be found in waters all over the world, and they share few characteristics with other marine mammals. But, what is...

Hybrid animals are a result of a crossing from two animals of different species. These such crossings result in animals whose appearance presents mixed characteristics, and trust us, they are beautiful! Some of these animal hybrids are so incredibly fascinating that it’s hard to believe they are even real. Additionally,...

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...

We have all heard the phrase ‘sweating like a pig’ to describe a person who is overheated and sweating profusely. While it creates an evocative image, it is not an accurate one. As with many phrases associated with pigs, they are misleading. Pigs are seen as gluttonous, filthy, stupid and sweaty. In actuality,...

The life cycle of butterflies is one of nature's most interesting processes. The birth of these insects requires several stages, during which they undergo incredible transformations. Not only is this process detailed, but butterfly metamorphosis is also incredibly interesting. Do you want to know how...

Jellyfish are one of the most feared animals that inhabit the world’s oceans, usually because of their painful and sometimes deadly bite. Have you also heard of the classical legends of giant jellyfish capable of sinking ships? There is no denying that many jellyfish are extremely dangerous, but this is...

Mollusks refer to are a large group of soft-bodied invertebrate animals. Although the phylum Mollusca are made up of a set of incredibly diverse animals, there are certain characteristics which aid to classify them. Whether you are looking to discover mollusks characteristics, classification of mollusca...

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 thought to be very sociable and even friendly animals. We can see this by their gregarious nature, creating complex social dynamics in their pods. We also know of various instances where dolphins have built personal relationships with humans. While they have the potential to be friendly, we...

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...

Snails are shelled gastropods most commonly recognized for their slimy shell-covered bodies. Did you know that there are are roughly 43,000 snail species in the world? These snail types are classed into groups which include land snails, sea snails and freshwater snails. Whether marine or terrestrial,...

There are many different species of fish in the world, and if you have an aquarium at home, it is essential that you are up-to-date on all things fish related. The first thing you need to remember is that not all fish species can live together in harmony. In fact, the fundamental aspects of fish behavior...

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...

Unless we break one of its constituent bones, we may not give a lot of thought to our skeleton. It resides within us, doing the hard work and letting us get on with our day. If it was on the outside of our body, maybe we'd be a little more considerate of its purpose. These exoskeleton animals have a different...

Our planet are full of extraordinary organisms and animals, capable of living under the most extreme conditions. Organisms that live in extreme environments are also referred to as extremophiles and they can include bacteria, Archaea and Eukarya. Keep reading here at AnimalWised for more about the animals...

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,...

Ants are a common insect distinguished by their surprising sense of organization. These eurosocial insects evolved about 140 million years ago and can now live and survive in almost any type of habitat around the world. But, because these insects are so small and we have become so used to them, some of...

When you look your canine best friend in the eye, it is undeniable to some they have feelings. On a daily basis, we build the bond of friendship and mutual trust with our dogs. Each shared moment is further evidence to support dogs having emotions and expressing them through body language and vocalizations....

Many animals breathe through the skin, although some of them, due to their size, combine this with other types of breathing. Did you know that some of the animals that breathe through their skin may also modify the shape of their bodies to increase surface/volume ratio? Animals that breathe through the...

Did you know that some animals don’t have brains? Contrary to what many people believe, despite the lack of this important organ, these animals can still function normally, but how? Thanks to evolutionary processes, these animals have developed alternative methods to help them survive. For more about these...

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...