Facts about the animal kingdom

When we look at our dogs we see the beautiful, affectionate and wonderful companions they are. For a rat, this may not be the case. In the wild, a dog would see a rat as a potential meal rather than a friend. Due to their omnivorous diet, their instinct would often compel them to hunt, kill and eat a rat...

Have you ever noticed the hair on your dog's back stand on end? It might be the hair along their spine stands up, almost like a hedgehog backed into a corner. These hairs are known as hackles and raised hackles are a normal reaction for the dog, similar to how we humans can experience goosebumps. Similarly,...

Cats are well-known for enjoying heights. With their supreme jumping ability, it would seem a shame not to use their natural skills. Cats will not only jump up to high places, but they can spend long periods sleeping there. It is a behavior of both cats in the wild and domestic cats. Although the impulse...

Food shortages and low temperature pose two serious challenges for small rodents living in the wild. These two factors become more serious during winter. This is why we can observe many species hibernating through winter for survival. However if you have a domestic hamster, you may be asking yourself whether...

There are many important reason to neuter your dog. For the larger animal community, sterilizing dogs lessens the problems caused by overpopulation. For the individual, sterilizing can help the dog avoid various behavioral and health problems caused by the reproductive organs. These can range from avoiding aggression...

The deep sea is full of interesting and weird animals. Many of them seem to come from a horror movie as they share certain characteristics such as large teeth, blindness or even transparent skin. Little is known about this ocean layer however marinebiologists are now making more expeditions in order to...

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...

Frogs are rough-eyed, large-eyed amphibians belonging to the genus Rana of the Ranidae family. There are various species of frogs distributed on Planet Earth and it is estimated that practically a third of all of them are in a vulnerable or endangered state. In this AnimalWised article we're going to...

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...

A dog's sense of smell is impeccable. Their olfactory ability has led them to be employed as working animals in various roles. Many people are aware of drug sniffing dogs, tracking dogs and even water rescue dogs. Some may not be so familiar with a dog's use as medical detection dogs. Since the field is...

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...

It is an all too common belief that cats are cold and distant animals. They are often unfavorably compared to dogs which paint the latter as being warm and affectionate where felines are cold and aloof. The truth is this is an unfair and unhelpful characterization, something anyone fortunate enough to...

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...

It's your dog's birthday, why not celebrate it with their neighbourhood dog friends and some cake made for dogs? In this AnimalWised article we are going to help you organize and throw a dog party for your dog's birthday. Continue reading to learn some dog birthday party ideas and an easy step-by-step...

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...

Before going to sleep, we often see our dogs circle before laying down. This instinctive behavior comes from their ancestors and continues to be part of their daily routine. But why do dogs spin in circles before lying down? Does it help them in some way? In this AnimalWised article, we are going to...