Facts about the animal kingdom

Fish are one of the most diverse types of vertebrate animals on the planet. Inhabiting all kinds of fresh and seawater environments, there are so many types that we need to classify them into different groups. How these are categorized is complicated, but often it is due to certain types of fish sharing...

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,...

Water birds are a group of birds which make up one of the most charismatic fauna which inhabit wetlands. There are many types of birds which live on and around bodies of water. Some water bird species are not fully adapted to the aquatic environment and only use these locations part of the year, depending...

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...

Fish are a paraphyletic group that describes aquatic vertebrates. These animals vary greatly in size. In this AnimalWised article, we're going to take a look at the largest fish in the ocean, as well as other large fish that swim in our oceans. We'll start with the largest fish, the whale shark, and continue...

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...

Have you every heard of bioluminescence? It is the phenomenon whereby a living organism can produce light from its own body. This means they are animals which can glow in the dark. It is something which is seen most commonly in the world's oceans as the vast majority of glow in the dark animals live...

Fish are the most diverse vertebrates when it comes to aquatic environments. In fact, there are about 28,000 species of fish around the world. They have a large number of anatomical and physiological adaptations that have allowed them to evolve successfully over the years. In this AnimalWised article...

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...

Cockatiels are beautiful and playful birds that make wonderful house pets. They are very curious and enjoy playing with new objects, socialising and imitating song and talk. These birds have an impressive vocal capacity, but can cockatiels talk like parrots? In this AnimalWised article, we're going to talk...

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....

Procreation through sexual reproduction implies the necessary presence of two different sexes. The competition for resources, the risk of predation, the energy expenditure of finding and courting a mate have made many animal species evolve to facilitate this entire process. In this AnimalWised article we will...

Spiders are arachnid arthropods, meaning that they are related to mites, scorpions and opiliones. This is one of the most diverse orders in the animal kingdom with more than 45,000 known species and 114 families. Arachnids have a very interesting reproduction process that involves sexual dimorphism,...

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...

Parrots are birds that belong to the order Psittaciformes. There are roughly 393 species of parrots . They mostly live in tropical and subtropical habitats. Unfortunately one-third of all parrot species are threatened by extinction. In this AnimalWised article we're going to talks about the different types...

A beak, also called bill or rostrum, is an external anatomical structure mostly found in birds. It's used for eating, preening, manipulating objects, killing prey, fighting, searching for food, courtship and feeding their young. Beaks can vary significantly in size, shape, color and texture, but are...

Biology has a wide range of vocabulary to classify and characterise different species. In this AnimalWised article we are going to talk about endemism. We will define what an endemic species is and give examples with photos and descriptions so that you have a good understanding of what it is. Continue...

For many years, humans have been changing the ecosystem in many ways. However, in the recent years we have started to realise the negative consequences to our actions and begin to implement certain strategies. After all, we can only thrive on a healthy planet. This is where the umbrella species comes in. What...

Since childhood we have been taught that roosters crow in the morning as the sun rises. However, if you have pet chickens, you must've noticed that your rooster crows might also crow in other times of the day. In this AnimalWised article we will explain why roosters crow in the morning, as well as other...

Swallows are small and beautiful birds that are known to overseas in winter. They often go to Africa, Argentina or even Australia and then return home when the heat begins. In this AnimalWised article we are going to talk about swallows, their habitat, diet, characteristics, etc. We will also mention the...

Birds have long been recognized for their beautiful and melodic chirps. We praise their beauty, singing and graceful movements in our poetry, stories and even music. We often observe and hear birds chirping during the day, especially when the sun comes out. However, not all birds follow the same singing...

There are different types of birds that live in different environments. For this, they will need useful feet that will 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...

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...

Cats often “meow” to communicate certain things, however we've all seen videos of cats meowing similarly to an English word. Can cats talk like humans? In this AnimalWised article we are going to elaborate on cat communication. We will share with you how a cat communicates with humans, if cats can really...

Rabbits are small mammals that are now a common domestic pet. We are oftentimes surprised and entertained by our pet's behaviour. We try to understand their behaviour and experience so as to provide them with a good quality of life. A common question rabbit companions have is, what do rabbits see?...

According the Maya peoples, “the feathers of hummingbirds are magical”. The Mayas were a Mesoamerican civilization who lived between the 3rd and 15th centuries in a region spanning central Mexico to the north of Costa Rica. Their legends, mythology and folklore still resonate today, perhaps most famously...

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...

Having a companion animal in our life is known to be beneficial for people with anxiety. Petting them and reciprocating affection can be great ways to ease stress. Even just watching them sleep can be a very relaxing experience. When we see that our cat is twitching in their sleep, this relaxation may...

The saying claims that dogs are ‘man's best friend’, but it is often with adolescents and the young that dogs are most connected. A well-educated and positively reinforced dog often creates a very strong bond with their human family. Some are particularly fond of children and babies. While they may be willing...

Ants (Formicidae) are part of the hymenopteran family. They are well known for their interesting social behavior as these insects form large colonies that cooperate as a single unit. This feature has allowed them to take advantage of all available resources and thrive all over the planet. We often see...

Even for those who have kept rabbits as pets for a long time, it is common to refer to them as rodents. As a small furry animal which runs 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...

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...

Perhaps the most famous marsupial animal is the kangaroo. They are known for having a pouch in which they develop their embryos and carry their young. This pouch is known as a marsupium and this is from where the collective taxonomic name marsupial is derived. Although not all marsupials live there, many...

The llama and alpaca are both animals native 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 they...

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...

Chickens, despite being one of the common farm animals, have recently become more popular as pets. There are many reasons for this, not least the fact that cruel farming practices mean many chickens will have a better life in a domestic setting. However, since chickens being kept as a pet is a new idea...

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...

The fastest Olympic swimmer may be impressive on the medal table, but their speed is nothing compared to the fastest marine animals. We can see why when we think of morphology. Our bipedal stance, lack of buoyancy and other physical characteristics mean we are not built for aerodynamic swimming in water....

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...

The American Pit Bull Terrier and related Pit Bull types are among the most controversial dogs, often appearing in heated media debates. Under these circumstances, it is normal that several myths have developed surrounding this breed. How can you separate the myths from the facts? There are a number of...

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...

Cats like to explore. Their curiosity leads them to running around the house and investigating every nook and cranny. You can also see it in evidence when they stare out the window for long stretches at a time. The interior world holds much interest, but going outside can become a deep fascination for...

Using a hamster wheel, also know as an exercise wheel, is many a hamster's favorite activity. Unless you have a silent hamster wheel, you can hear them rotating with gusto in the early hours of the morning. While every hamster is an individual, if your companion doesn't seem to want to use their wheel,...

Are they dogs? Are they raccoons? Are they a hybrid of the two species? As the name suggests, raccoon dogs appear to be a combination of the two, but this is not the case. Only under very specific circumstances can two animal from different species mate. Raccoon dogs are members of the genus Nyctereutes,...

The world's oceans cover over 70% of the earth's surface. Unfortunately, climate change is meaning this surface area is increasing to the detriment of life on land. While humans are fascinated by what occurs under the sea, according to the U.S. National Ocean Service, more than 80% of the world's oceans are...

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...

Looking into another pair of eyes can be an intense experience. We call them the window to the soul for a reason. If a person has eyes of two different colors, the effect can be magical. When a dog displays this feature, the impression is no less enchanting. The medical terminology for this phenomenon...

The color of an animals skin and coat are one of the many characteristics which allow us to distinguish one species from another. Our fascination with the colors and coat patterns is seen throughout history, in particular with art, design, textiles and many other industries. However, there are some animals...

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...

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...