Facts about the animal kingdom of Exotic
174 articles
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...
Turtles of all kinds, both aquatic and terrestrial, belong to the order Testudines, characterized by a shell mainly made up of their ribs.Turtles are an ancient order, but modern turtles differ significantly from what is documented in fossil records.There are 360 living and recently extinct species of turtles,...
Seasonal changes are common in most ecosystems, and in some cases they can be very extreme. Animals are often affected by these changes as temperature and precipitation cycles change throughout the year. These changes affect, among other things, the animal's ability to reach food or water. For this reason, cold-blooded...
Birds are a group of vertebrates with an impressive diversity in the animal kingdom. Aside from their beautiful physical features and the variety of their songs, birds also vary greatly in size. While there are some birds that are quite small, like insects, there are others that are so large that they remind...
The diversity of birds on the planet ranges from tiny to very large species. These large species often remind us why birds are one of the closest living relatives of extinct dinosaurs.
Birds are also quite different from one another. Some possess a hypnotizing colorful plumage and their feathers are even...
Turtles are known for various characteristic features which are not shared by many others in the animal kingdom. Perhaps most noticeable is their hard carapace or shell which helps protect them from predators. Although there are some turtles which may prey on smaller animals, most are mainly herbivorous....
All animals are beautiful, but few elicit as much fascination as the salamander. They are known for their alien-like appearance. Their face can have an almost humanoid expression, with expressive eyes and a mouth which can be seen to form a smile. Skin types and colors can range in color and pattern,...
Butterflies are beautiful insects that go through a four-stage process to become the lovely butterflies we see roaming in our garden.
If you're curious about these interesting insects, keep reading this oneHOWTO article where we will explain how long is the life cycle of a butterfly. We will also explain...
There are more than 5,000 extant species of lizard. Their diversity is incredible, as is their adaptability to some of the harshest terrains in the animal kingdom. From the smallest gecko to the largest monitor lizard, these reptiles have fascinating traits in terms of morphology, reproduction, feeding...
There are many interesting types of reproduction in our animal kingdom. In this AnimalWised article we're going to have a look at hermaphroditism in animals.
We'll explain what hermaphrodite animals are and include plenty of examples. We'll also look into how they reproduce and when they use this type of...
In this AnimalWised article we're going to talk about how ants are born, their reproduction system, the organization of their ant colony and more! Keep reading to learn more!
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...
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....
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...
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...
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...
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...
The octopus is undoubtedly one of the most fascinating marine animals in the world. Their complex physical characteristics, great intelligence and behavioral eccentricities have aroused the interest of marine biologists, school students and pretty much anyone who has even a casual interest in the animal...
Agnatha are fish that have existed for over 470 million years. Although most agnatha are now extinct, some have found unique and interesting ways to survive. Agnatha or jawless fish can be found in waters all over the world, and they share few characteristics with other marine mammals.
But, what is...
The term fish is used to refer to an incredibly diverse group of animals. There are certain similarities they share, but almost all of them have some sort of exception. For example, all fish are vertebrates, but hagfish technically don't have a spine. This means the taxonomy of fish (i.e. how they are...
The life cycle of butterflies is one of nature's most interesting processes. The birth of these insects requires several stages, during which they undergo incredible transformations. Not only is this process detailed, but butterfly metamorphosis is also incredibly interesting.
Do you want to know how...
Jellyfish are one of the most feared animals that inhabit the world’s oceans, usually because of their painful and sometimes deadly bite. Have you also heard of the classical legends of giant jellyfish capable of sinking ships? There is no denying that many jellyfish are extremely dangerous, but this is...
There are many different species of fish in the world, and if you have an aquarium at home, it is essential that you are up-to-date on all things fish related. The first thing you need to remember is that not all fish species can live together in harmony. In fact, the fundamental aspects of fish behavior...
Exoskeletons and endoskeletons carry out some of the same basic functions, especially when it comes to protection, movement and structural support. Despite this, an animal will have an exoskeleton for specific reasons, something we can see in the types of animals with exoskeletons. These animals tend to be...
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...
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...
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...
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. For example, animals with scales use this characteristic feature to help them move comfortably and safely as well as protect moisture loss in...
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...