Facts about the animal kingdom

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...

Nature is many things. It can be as beautiful as it is frightening, as delicate as it is powerful. Our existence on this planet has many repercussions, many of which we are only beginning to understand. What we do know is that in our desire to consume and our reliance on unsustainable practices, we are detrimentally...

From birth, all animals undergo various morphological, anatomical and biochemical changes. Even after they reach adulthood, there are still some changes which occur as cells replicate and die in constant order. Many of these changes are physiological and affect body size, shape, etc. Others are hormonal,...

Horses are noble, intelligent and sensitive animals, which explains why they are considered one of the most popular animals in the world. Throughout history they have been respected and commended for their noticeable elegance and charm. Additionally, they have inspired writers, poets and artists for centuries. To...

Did you know that 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? Animals with scales, for example, use this characteristic feature to help them move comfortably and safely as well as protect...

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...

The anatomy of domestic dog (Canis lupus familiaris) is something which is difficult to qualify. The main reason for this is because 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 the many mixed breed variants which...

There is no doubt over the adorability of kittens. While they will eventually turn into a cute adult cat, it can seem their kitten stage passes by in moments. Cats go through various stages in their development process, evolving as much in physical appearance as maturity and temperament. Each stage is unique,...

We keep receiving news about the decline of our precious bee population. Not only is climate change and human intervention having a negative effect on our world’s bee population, but many are choosing to ignore these important facts. The fact of the matter is, the importance of bees in the ecosystem...

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 these insects, needed to live a healthy life. But which are the...

As a dog lover, you’ve probably noticed that your dog shakes itself a lot, but why? Dogs shake themselves for many different reasons, some being shaking to relieve stress, tension or irritation and or as a symptom of a health problem. If you’re wondering why do dogs shake when they get up and more, this...

Dogs are capable of experiencing a wide range of emotions. Among them is joy. Those of us who have the gift of sharing our lives with a dog will know how happy they can be. While a healthy dog without stress should be happy on a daily basis, there are some occasions when they are particularly ecstatic....

There are more similarities between dogs and humans than we often think. By asking ‘are dogs ticklish?’ we can see another reason for this. As with humans, dogs can be ticklish, but this doesn't mean all are as ticklish as each other. A happy and healthy dog should enjoy being tickled. They enjoy being...

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...

You may have noticed your cat keeps their mouth open when they smell something. When they do this, they make a kind of grimace with their face. You may think they are surprised by a certain odor, but there is something much more fascinating going on. We humans have a certain tendency to associate certain...

The truth is that any animal can be preyed on, but this does necessarily make the animal a prey animal. In fact, prey animals are are easily distinguishable from those that are not. However, the relationship between prey and predatory animals is fundamental when it comes to ecological balance. For...

Many dog guardians ascribe specific personalities to their dogs. Dogs do indeed have personalities and getting to know them is one of the most rewarding aspects of living with canines. However, the extent of this inner life is difficult to determine due to the limits of human/canine communication. We know...

As with terrestrial animals, fish need oxygen to live. Unlike land animals, they have to live the majority of their lives completely submerged underwater. We lung users might be biased on our ideas about breathing. It is true that we have evolved to the point we can breathe on land, but the over 33,000...

Bats have inspired myths and stories for generations. Their reputation is as 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...

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...

Since we were little 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 are wanting to...

Like ‘the bee's knees’, the phrase ‘the cat's whiskers’ has become a common expression meaning “an outstanding person or thing”[1]. The reason is because they are something seemingly small and insignificant, but we attribute them as being something amazing. For the cat, they are anything but insignificant....

All dogs have whiskers, be them short or long. These whiskers are visible on a dog’s snout as rigid and firm textured hair. Some people cut their dogs’ whiskers for aesthetic reasons in an effort to meet certain breed "standards." This is, however, incredibly dangerous and can cause unnecessary damage. For...

A navel reminds us of the deep union that once existed between child and mother before birth. It’s quite normal that, as an animal tutor you may to wonder, do dogs have belly buttons? And if they do, where is my dog’s belly button? For more about which animals have belly buttons and whether or not dogs...

Cats are animals that are found in abundance in our streets. This is mainly because they have a very short gestation period, which means they can cause overpopulation in a very short period of time, but this is a discussion for another day. In this article we will try to give you some tips for shooing...

Cats are notoriously curious animals. They are relatively independent and like to explore the limits of their territory, marking this territory with their unique scent. In doing so, they communicate with other animals. The purpose is generally to either warn rival cats to stay away or to signal availability...