Facts about the animal kingdom

It is not uncommon for rabbit owners to not know the actual age of their rabbits. The truth is that this is not easy to determine. While there is no truly accurate method, there are a number of parameters that can be helpful in estimating how old your rabbit is. In addition to taking better care of your...

Jellyfish are invertebrates that, along with corals, gorgonians, and anemones, belong to a group called cnidarians. Jellyfish are marine animals with umbrella-shaped bells and tentacles that contain stinging cells to capture prey and repel predators. The graceful glide of a jellyfish through the water, the...

Elephants are known for being the largest land mammals on earth and having a distinctly massive body, large ears and long trunks. Elephants are impressive not only for their size, but also for their intelligence and complex social structure. There are many interesting facts to learn about these amazing...

Raising the leg to urinate is a typical behavior male dogs, although not an exclusive one. Some females will also urinate in this way. Other males may rarely lift their leg or not at all, but they are in the minority of male canines. It is not a behavior which begins immediately. In fact, newborn puppies...

If you live in a quiet neighborhood, it possible a dog will hear a siren very infrequently and bark as the ambulance, police car, fire truck or other kind of emergency service vehicle drives past. If you live in a busy neighborhood in a city, it is possible this is frequent occurrence. A dog howling...

Hyenas are mammals of the carnivore order, taxonomically classified in the suborder Feliformia. Although phylogenetically closer to the felids and viverrids, hyenas resemble canids in behavior and morphology. Hyenas are generally associated with scavengers, but can also hunt live prey. Hyenas have several...

Although phylogenetically most closely related to cats, hyenas share many behavioral and morphological traits with dogs. Over time, there have been several genera of hyenas, but most of them have become extinct. Today, there are only four species left, making it the least common family of mammals. Despite...

Primates are a group of animals with a special relationship to human beings. This is due to our evolutionary closeness thanks to a common ancestor. However, the diversity of simians (higher primates which contains all apes and monkeys) is very wide. They have many features and behaviors which are distinguishable,...

Insects are the most diverse animals on the planet, of which more than a million species have been identified. Estimates indicate there is still between six to ten times this amount yet to be discovered. With such a wide distribution and diversity, they have inhabited practically every biome on the planet,...

Animals and insects are distributed throughout the world over very different habitats. However, 80% of the world's plant and animal species live in forests and jungles, environments characterized by high tree density. In fact, there are many species that spend most of their time in trees and rarely...

Contrary to what you might think, strength is not always related to the size of the body or the weight of the animal. You may be surprised to learn that some small animals have strength that far exceeds humans, and that some of them are capable of lifting, dragging, carrying, or pulling enormous weights....

We often wish our dog could simply communicate with us using words. Although they are non-verbal, dogs communicate everything we need to know about them. We simply have to pay attention. Body language and other physical signals are used to convey their wants, mood and emotions, but not all are as obvious...

Diversity refers to the vast variety of species which live in the animal kingdom. They are grouped according to various characteristics, some of which are more alike than others. Diet is one of the categories into which animals of various types and species are grouped. These groups are more diverse than...

We can tell whether a person is left- or right-handed by their actions. Their dominant hand is determined by how they eat, open doors, play music, write or do many other functions. Dogs do not use their paws in the same way as humans, so it can be more difficult to determine whether they are right-...

In the different regions of the earth there are animals that, although they are also found in other countries, are considered representative of these places. A concept that is relevant to this aspect of biodiversity is that of endemism, which describes species that are characteristic of a place and whose...

Swallows are a diverse group of birds in the family Hirundinidae, characterized in part by their typical way of drinking water and hunting in flight, as well as their ability to feed chicks while hovering in the air. These flying vertebrates are common in almost all regions of the world, and most species...

Swallows are several species of birds that belong to the Hirundinidae family and have a wide distribution. Some are migratory birds, others are not. Those that are migratory can travel thousands of miles south to below the equator to find warmth and food during cold months. When winter is over, they...

Normally, we think of squirrels as very active animals and skilled climbers. Some species are even able to glide from one tree to another. However, as is usually the case, these behaviors are closely related to their environment and the habitat in which they live. Squirrels are widespread throughout the world...

Although they communicate mainly through body language, cats make all kinds of sounds that have different meanings. The meow is certainly the best known of all. If you share your home with a cat, you have probably asked yourself questions like “Why does my cat meow when it sees me?”, “Why does my cat...

The majority of us live in cities, where birds have adapted to the new conditions and become urbanized, so we see birds every day – in the garden, on the street, in the park, and of course in the countryside. Although birds can bring color and music to your yard, but they can also cause chaos by eating plants,...

When it comes to chickens, the average person usually has a few questions. You may be wondering about the difference between chickens and roosters. While it is unmistakable when a rooster crowls and struts, it is sometimes difficult to tell which is which. But how can we know at 3 months of age if it is a rooster...

Flightless birds are birds that have lost the ability to fly through evolution. There are over 60 species of flightless birds, including the well-known ostriches, emus, kiwis, and penguins. There are several domesticated birds, such as the domesticated chicken and some domesticated ducks, that have also...

Chickens are one of the most common and widespread domestic animals. There are more chickens in the world than any other bird.Although hens are birds and have wings, they cannot fly, at least not like sparrows or pigeons, for example. Contrary to what one might expect, the ancestors of hens were decent...

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...

There are few creatures in the animal kingdom which are so similar, yet have such different reputations. One is considered a wonder of nature and a joy to witness. The other is generally perceived as a pest and a threat to wool cardigans everywhere. Despite having many similarities, there are key differences...

Parrots belong to the family Psittacidae, which in turn is divided into three different subfamilies: Lorinae, Cacatuinae and Psittacinae. Together, these three subfamilies comprise the more than 350 species of parrots. All species are monogamous, meaning they have a single partner throughout their lives, which...

A famous axiom claims ‘dogs have owners, cats have staff’. This is due to the cat's reputation as being aloof and even contemptuous of their human guardians. While dogs may bound to our side if they hear us shuffling in a different room, you could call all night for a cat and they won't leave their comfy...

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...

The pine processionary moth (Thaumetopoea pityocampa) is a moth in the subfamily Thaumetopoeinae in the family Notodontidae, known for the irritant hairs on its caterpillars, its processions, and the economic damage it causes in coniferous forests. It is notable for the behavior of its caterpillars, which overwinter...

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...

Also known as a woodchuck, the groundhog belongs to the order Rodentia and the family Sciuridae. This is the family to which squirrels belong, making them very close relatives of tree squirrels. Theirs is the genus Marmota which is divided into two subgenera, 15 species and 42 subspecies. They are generally...

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....

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? 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,...

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...

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...

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...