Facts about the animal kingdom of Exotic
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Beneath the serene ocean surface lies a world of intriguing secrets, and one of these mysteries revolves around the fish's tongue. Have you ever wondered if fish have tongues? Well, their tongues are not quite like ours. Fish, known for their remarkable diversity, also boast a wide array of feeding...
Cockatiels do recognize their owners thanks to their intelligence and sociability. Also known as weiros, the cockatiel (Nymphicus hollandicus) is a psittacine bird native to the Australian continent. Although wild populations thrive in their native habitats, they are kept as a popular companion animal...
Found in various regions across the globe, giant tortoises and turtles have managed to thrive in diverse environments, both on land and in the vast oceans. Their resilient nature and ability to adapt to different conditions have allowed them to become living relics of the past, embodying the essence of...
As with all insects, ants have six legs. They are an invertebrate from the order Hymenoptera, an order which also includes bees and wasps. Ants are grouped in the Formicidae family, a diverse group of insects with an almost global distribution. They are known to be eusocial, the highest level of sociability...
Embarking on epic journeys that span continents and defy geographical barriers, bird migration is a captivating natural phenomenon. With remarkable navigational skills and unwavering determination, millions of birds take to the skies each year, traversing vast distances in search of seasonal havens. From the...
Sparrows have a different lifespan in captivity than they do in the wild. There are two birds we know of as sparrows, Old World sparrows and New World Sparrows. They are from the families Passeridae and Passerellidae, respectively. Only Old World sparrows are known as true sparrows and it is these birds...
River turtles are various species of reptile within the order Testudines, the order to which all turtle species belong. What sets them apart is their habitat is specific to rivers, although there may be some individuals of a species who are not limited to rivers alone. They are still types of freshwater...
Sexing turtles requires looking for the reptile's sex organs, although there are other indicators. This is not an easy task and it is relatively common for pet owners to not know whether their turtle is male or female for a long time after adoption. Part of what makes determining the sex of a turtle so difficult...
Flies are an incredibly diverse and abundant group of insects. With over 150,000 known species worldwide, flies belong to the order Diptera, meaning "two wings," as they possess a single pair of functional wings. These small, agile creatures can be found in almost every corner of the globe, occupying...
Birds exhibit an astonishing diversity in terms of species, habitats, sizes, shapes, behaviors, and adaptations. With over 10,000 known species worldwide, birds can be found in virtually every corner of the globe. Birds have diversified their behaviors to occupy various ecological niches. From their exceptional...
Fireflies are able to light up due to bioluminescence, a production of light from a biochemical reaction. Although many marine animals and even some plants have bioluminescent abilities, only a relative few terrestrial animals have the ability to emit light in this way. Most of these animals are arthropods...
Worms are neither insects nor amphibians, but it is easy to understand why many confuse them as such. Worms have a slimy body and can often be seen in wet soils, just like amphibians. They can also be described as ‘creepy crawlies’, a term used to describe all kinds of insects. Since they have similar...
Octopuses are members of the molluscan phylum, class Cephalopoda, and the order Octopoda. What makes them particularly interesting is that they possess unique characteristics that set them apart not only from other invertebrates, but also from other mollusks. Their remarkable abilities have captured the...
Cockroaches are a group of insects that belong to the order Blattodea, an order which also contains termites. They are particularly well distributed in tropical and temperate climates since they like warmth and humidity, but they have an almost global distribution. In fact, they are famous for being able to...
Axolotls are fascinating aquatic creatures that have become increasingly popular as pets in recent years. As amphibians, they are uniquely adapted to life in water and depend on it for survival. However, many pet owners wonder if it is safe to take their axolotls out of the water, either for cleaning or handling....
How a mollusk reproduces varies greatly since there are many different types of mollusks in nature. Their reproductive strategies depend on various factors, including their individual morphology, environment, climate and many others. Despite such variety in how mollusks reproduce, almost all do so through...
Have you ever wondered how birds are able to digest their food, given their unique anatomy and physiology? Understanding the digestive system of birds is essential for bird owners and lovers, as it can affect their health and well-being. Unlike mammals, birds lack teeth and a separate stomach for breaking...
Birds are among the most fascinating creatures on our planet, and their nesting behavior is both complex and diverse. Nesting is an essential part of a bird's life cycle, providing a safe and secure place for them to lay their eggs, incubate them, and raise their young until they can fend for themselves....
Frogs are amphibians, types of vertebrate animals in nature which have the ability to live between water and land. Frogs are perhaps the most emblematic of these animals, but there is also great diversity among the many frog species we can find. All of them have certain physical and behavioral characteristics...
Ladybugs, also known as ladybugs or lady beetles, are a type of beetle belonging to the Coccinellidae family. They are widely known for their small, round, brightly colored bodies and the black spots on their backs. They have a relatively short lifespan compared to other insects, but this can vary depending...
Geckos are small lizards from the infraorder Gekkota. Within this infraorder are 7 families, around 125 genera and many more individual species. While these lizards all share certain characteristics, their diversity in appearance is incredible. Some are dull in color, allowing them to camouflage against...
The monarch butterfly is a fascinating insect that is famous for its remarkable migration. Every year, millions of monarchs make an incredible journey that can take them thousands of miles, from their breeding grounds in North America to their wintering grounds in Mexico. The migration of monarch butterflies...
There are many reasons one might think to ask is a crocodile a lizard? They have a scaly body with four legs, a long tail and a prehistoric face. They are both reptiles and have various similarities physically, taxonomically and otherwise. They both look like contemporary dinosaurs, creatures whose...
The ocean sunfish, also known as the mola, is one of the most fascinating and unique fish species in the world. With its distinctive flattened shape, long dorsal fins, and enormous size, the sunfish has captured the imagination of marine biologists and casual observers alike. Despite its impressive appearance,...
Within the group of vertebrates we find the order Testudines, to which all turtles belong, both aquatic and terrestrial. They are among the oldest and most primitive of all reptile groups, evolving millions of years ago. They are easily recognized by their hard shell, which protects them from predators....
There is increasing awareness of ticks in relation to public health. Much of this is due to the increasing cases of Lyme disease being diagnosed, a condition which can also affect dogs. Ticks are arthropods of the Arachnida class, a category which includes fellow invertebrates such as spiders, scorpions and...
Turtles are one of the most fascinating vertebrates in the animal kingdom. They are particularly well known for their hard shell which provides protection from both predators and the elements. Since not many animals have a carapace like turtles, it can be difficult to think of them as anything but unique....
Spiders are a very extensive and diverse group of arthropods belonging to the class Arachnidae. There are more than 45,000 known species of spiders that occur in habitats around the world. Although all spiders are more or less venomous, only a few of them are dangerous to humans. They are known to be...
Spiders are a very extensive and diverse group of arthropods belonging to the class of arachnids. Spiders are related to scorpions, ticks, and mites, and only very distantly to insects, with which they should not be confused. They have four pairs of segmented legs and can regenerate a leg if they lose...
Spiders are arthropod animals that belong to the order Araneae. Within this order is a great diversity of species, being the most varied group identified as arachnids. There are many people who believe spiders are insects, but they are a different type of arthropod. Spiders have eight legs and no antennae...
Axolotls are animals whose name literally means strange water monster in Nahuatl, an Uto-Aztecan language spoken in Mexico. There is no doubt that this animal is strange in more ways than one, and not just because of its almost mythical appearance. Axolotls are unusual among amphibians in that they reach...
Seahorses are tiny fish that get their name from the shape of their head, which resembles the head of a small horse. Although they look like something out of a fairy tale, seahorses are found in oceans all over the world. Seahorses are unique not only because of their shape, anatomy, colors and facial...
Birds have many characteristics in common, including feathers, beaks, lightweight bones and other features. Despite these similarities, the physical and behavioral characteristics of these animals are incredibly diverse. With around 10,000 extant bird species, we need to find ways to group them together...
When we think of feeding birds, we might associated it with seeds in bird feeders or perhaps slurping up worms from the dirt. The diet of birds is as varied as birds themselves, with around 10,000 different species in various ecosystems finding their sustenance from a variety of food sources. There are...
Birds are warm-blooded vertebrates that walk, hop, or stand only on their hind legs, while their front legs have evolved into wings, which enable them to fly in most cases, although not all of them do. Birds are descended from bipedal, carnivorous Jurassic dinosaurs that lived 150 to 200 million years ago....
Ants are common insects, but they have some unique characteristics. More than 10,000 ant species are known worldwide. They are especially prevalent in tropical forests, where in some places they can account for up to half of the insect population. Ants are hypersocial insects that usually live in organized...
Turtles are an order of reptiles known as testudines. There are 360 living and recently extinct species of turtles, including land-dwelling turtles and freshwater turtles. Turtles are distinguished primarily by their solid shell, which protects their vital organs and from which their head, legs, and...
Along with barbets, toucans make up the birds found in the Ramphastidae family, itself belonging to the order Piciformes. Toucans are arboreal and inhabit the forests of the Americas with a habitat ranging from Mexico to Argentina. Toucans are very intelligent birds, but they are particularly noted for...
Turtles are an order of reptiles known as testudines, characterized by a shell developed primarily from their ribs. There are 360 living and recently extinct species of turtles found on most continents, some islands, and, in the case of sea turtles, in much of the oceans. For a long time, people thought...
It's a familiar sight, especially in summer: moths, fireflies, flies, mosquitoes, and other flying insects flocking around lights like bulbs and lamps. The creatures attracted to this light are often eaten by predators, overheat, or die from exhaustion while circling the bulbs. Although commonplace,...
Reptiles are a very diverse group of animals which inhabit various habitats across the world. Although these habitats can have extremely different conditions, they are animals which have adapted to thrive in them all. Many reptiles can survive on land, in water or even between both. Some reptiles live permanently...
All jellyfish sting and produce toxic substances, but not all of these substances are equally harmful. Jellyfish, like all cnidarians, have stinging cells called cnidocytes. These cells contain a venom that is usually inoculated into the prey by a spiny thread. Upon contact with the prey, the cells...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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