Facts about the animal kingdom of All animals
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Reptiles are a diverse group of vertebrates, with almost 12,000 individual species currently falling under this categorization. With such diversity, you may not be surprised to know reptiles differ in various ways, including physical characteristics, behaviors, habitat and diet. Many of these factors influence...
Birds are some of the most fascinating organisms in the animal kingdom. Although they are not the only animal to fly, their ability to do so allows for unique migratory behaviors and other impressive abilities. They also have a diversity and beauty in their appearance which has inspired naturalists since...
Echinoderms are a diverse group of marine animals belonging to the phylum Echinodermata. They are characterized by their radial symmetry, that is, their bodies are arranged in a symmetrical pattern about a central axis. Echinoderms are found in all oceans of the world, from shallow coastal waters to the...
Frogs are vertebrates, which means they have bones. However, the bones of frogs can tell us a lot about their anatomy, physiology, and evolutionary history. Frogs have adapted to a variety of aquatic and terrestrial habitats, and their bones reflect these adaptations. Moreover, development from tadpole to adult...
Sleep is a state of rest which allows animals to alter various physiological processes. This is necessary to conserve energy, help muscles rest and perform various other functions. Other organic processes change to facilitate this such as altering brain function and slowing respiration. Different animals...
The word "fish" refers to numerous species. So it should not be surprising that there is more than one way to reproduce and be born. Most fish are oviparous, that is, they reproduce through eggs that are hatched after being laid by the parents, as in birds. However, there are also ovoviviparous or viviparous...
Hair is a keratinized structure which can be of varying qualities. It is the same basic material which makes nails, yet it can also be incredibly soft and fluffy. The only animals that truly have hair are mammals. It is generally used for thermoregulation, both to keep the animal warm and to cool them when...
Ants belong to the class of insects and are grouped in the family Formicidae. It is a very diverse group, as there are more than 10,000 species, although it is estimated that this number could be much higher. The ants are distributed worldwide, except for some islands and Antarctica. One of their most outstanding...
Respiration is a vital function for all living things, from protozoa to higher animals and, of course, humans. Animals have different respiratory systems, depending on the species and the mechanisms that have developed over centuries of evolution. These systems vary in complexity depending on the species,...
The animal kingdom is characterized by a great diversity, in which each species has evolved different characteristics and strategies to ensure its biological success. Reptiles are a diverse group, so it's not surprising that they have developed different reproductive methods.
The following AnimalWised...
Amphibians belong to the phylum Chordatea. This is a taxonomic class that includes three orders. One of them is the anurans, which include frogs and toads. These fascinating amphibians are anatomically and physiologically adapted to a dual life in water and on land, and undergo metamorphosis to become adults....
Insects are the most diverse class of arthropods on our planet, exhibiting a wide variety of characteristics and adaptations. Depending on the species, they can walk, fly or swim and have conquered an infinite number of habitats. Insects differ from one another in their anatomical, biological, and ecological...
Canids are a very diverse family of carnivorous mammals, with about 34 species. Most of them have a very similar body structure as well as specific characteristics such as a highly developed sense of smell and hearing, which are crucial for their survival. Because coyotes and wolves are closely related and...
We group animals together taxonomically for many reasons. The research which is undertaken to investigate the animal kingdom is vast and incredibly complicated, so classifying animal species helps us to better understand them. Another reason is that the common names we give animals can be very confusing. A...
Ecosystems exhibit complex dynamics. They are made up of different components that constantly interact with each other. It is a process in which all living things participate, some as predators, others as prey. Snakes are undoubtedly dangerous species known for their hunting abilities, but snakes are also...
Whales belong to a group of marine mammals known as Cetacea. As mammals, whales also have lungs, just like us, and breathe air, just like us. Most people believe that whales are a type of fish because they are perfectly adapted to life underwater. However, this is not true at all. Whales are warm-blooded,...
The animal kingdom is one of life's greatest success stories, a collection of millions of species that swim, burrow, run and fly all over the planet. All this diversity, from bees to dolphins, evolved from a common ancestor that probably lived more than 650 million years ago. Recent studies suggest that...
Is there anyone who has not imagined being attacked by a shark on the beach? This widespread thought may have its origin in the ferocious appearance of these animals and in the numerous movies in which they star. Although they are among the deadliest predators in the marine world, there are very few attacks...
Annelids are a very diverse group of invertebrates which some people think of simply as worms. While all annelids are types of segmented worm, not all worms are annelids. There are more than 1,300 annelid species that we have discovered so far. Within this very large group we can find terrestrial, marine...
We often refer to nature's ecosystems as being in a delicate balance, but this estimation can be misleading. While science does its best to understand how these ecosystems might change under the influence of certain new developments, nature itself often finds ways to adapt which are extraordinary and...
Being the most diverse class of animals on the planet, insects have incredible differences in appearance when we compare one species with another. These variations apply to almost every physical aspect such as coloring, appendages and size. While we correctly think of insects as being small in size, this is...
The relationships different animals with each other in a given ecosystem can be incredibly complicated. It is difficult for us to know exactly how their interactions function to create a stable ecosystem, but the endeavor to study it is worthwhile. It is for this reason, we have categorized different types...
The interactions between plants and animals are very complex. Any disruptions to these relationships can be very disruptive to a given ecosystem. While the relationship between fruit-eating animals and the fruit they eat can seem straightforward, it is usually part of a very complex reciprocal relationship....
So much of biology is spent categorizing animals into different groups. This is based on various physical characteristics and behaviors. One of the most important areas of study in nature is the relationships animals have with other animals. Mutualism is one such example of the fascinating interspecies...
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...
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,...
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...
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....
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...
Mammals (Mammalia) are a class of vertebrates that includes many species, including humans and all other warm-blooded vertebrates. They are known to have more complex brains than other animals. They also have mammary glands to feed their young, which produce milk with the help of a neocortex. Most of...
Flies are a group of invertebrates that belong to the class Insecta and the order Diptera. The name Diptera derives from the Greek and means “two”. Flies are included in this group because unlike most insects, they have two wings instead of four. There are several species of flies and these are classified...
When we discuss mammals, it is common for us to think of terrestrial animals. For this reason, many of us still confuse some aquatic mammals for other vertebrate animals. This can be seen when people confuse whales as fish. However, if we look closer at marine mammals, we can see they have the fundamental...
Reptiles and amphibians belong to the group of vertebrate animals, more specifically, tetrapod animals. Tetrapod is a term to describe animals that use four limbs to move or to manipulate things. Reptiles were the first truly terrestrial vertebrates, while amphibians are a group with transient traits between...
We too often rank animals by speed or certain abilities without giving them the correct context. Some animals may be faster than others, but this is only because they have needed to adapt in the way they have. What is more important and more interesting is looking at how and why animals do the things...
The diversity of birds is incredibly vast, so it is interesting to wonder why some stand out in the public imagination. The swan is a bird which has come to have great significance for many cultures, its white plumage and graceful appearance making it a common wonder. However, many of us might not even know...
Slugs are animals belonging to the phylum Mollusca, a very large group of invertebrates which also includes animals as diverse as clams and octopuses. With such diversity, classifying these invertebrates is no easy task. It takes years of research and reviewing to define them taxonomically. Even when...
Both aquatic and terrestrial species of turtle are found in the order Testudines. They are easy to distinguish from other reptilian animals due to their carapace, an extension of their ribcage which helps protect their bodies underneath. Turtles need this protection as they are relatively slow-moving...
We associate certain animals with certain behaviors or characteristics. You can be as sly as a fox, as wise as an owl or have a memory like a fish. The last example is due to the commonly assumed fact that fish have very poor memories. However, the traits applied to such animals are generalizations...
Arthropods are the most diverse group of organisms on the planet, accounting for around 80% of all living animal species. Each individual species has adapted to their environment in certain ways. Some fly, some have long bodies and some have appendages which allow them to survive. The latter example can be...
We may associate mammals as a type of land animal. Since the vast majority of animals are terrestrial, we can understand. However, it leaves out important animals of the air and sea. In this AnimalWised article, we present one of the most recognizable of all aquatic mammals, the porpoise. You may know...
When we think of the mongoose, many of us might picture a ferret-like creature which is known for attacking snakes. However, the animal we call a mongoose is actually a term used for all the mammals in the Herpestidae family. This is a more diverse group of animals than you might think. It even includes...
Insects make up the largest taxonomic groupings of any animal with approximately 1 million known species. This makes the process of grouping them together a difficult task for scientists. Since some types of insect develop certain features they share with others, this can help us to group them correctly....
The quokka is an animal practically designed for social media. This is because they are adorable. Not only are they cute little mammals, but their morphology gives them an almost human-like smile which is not very common in the animal kingdom. Human interest in quokkas has gone further than simply making...
Although the diversity among birds is vast (think of the difference between a penguin and a hummingbird), it is true there are some bird species which closely resemble each other. Sometimes we can't even tell the difference until we are up close. To understand the difference between these birds, we can look...
The word ‘lizard’ covers a great variety of reptile groups which can be found in different types of habitats, almost anywhere in the world. This is why these animals are often present in our homes. This is especially so if we have gardens, orchards or any place they can enjoy the right conditions for...
In this AnimalWised article, we want to address a common doubt about animals which can enter our home. While we may see rats, mice and insects as nuisance pests, lizards can often be more welcome guests into our home. Unless you have a particular fear of lizards, they often seem to be more docile and we...
Every culture across the world and its history has used animals in their folklore and mythology. The natural world is an inspiring place in many ways, so it is understandable we might see different cultures let their imagination run wild. But how much of these legends are based on actual creatures?...
When we think of trunked animals, the first we might think of is the elephant. This large mammal has a large appendage sprouting from their face which is known as a proboscis. However, there are other animals with trunks of varying size, some of which appear in place of a nose or seem to emanate from...
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