If you think it’s tough work giving birth to a human child, just wait until you see the most extraordinary births in the animal kingdom. Breathe deeply as we deliver the planet’s top 5 toughest birthing mothers. Discover things that’ll make your eyes water when giving birth is pushed to its limits. #5 Suriname Toad (Star-Fingered Toad) You thought stretch marks are bad? Compared to other toads who lay their eggs someplace in the water, the Suriname mother gives birth to her offspring through holes on her back. This toad species’ offspring develop from 100 tiny little eggs to frogs […] Read more »
They may be small, but the mantis shrimp has the world’s fastest punch! The mantis shrimp packs do the most powerful punches in the animal kingdom. How fascinating! The mantis shrimp is not, in truth, a shrimp despite its common name, but a stomatopod. It is distantly related to lobsters and crabs. They are aggressive and can sometimes severely damage other animals with their jabs. The key to their strength lies within a pair of hinged arms folded away under their head that they can unfurl which can knock its enemy down at tremendous speed. Wondering why their jabs are […] Read more »
Interestingly, elephants gentle giants that you would definitely love to know more about. Their physical and social attributes are truly fascinating! For starters, did you know that a single elephant tooth can weigh as much as 9 pounds? Wow, that’s as heavy as a human baby! Elephants are the world’s largest land animals. During their adult lives, they will have four molars and each of these is located in each jaw. Later in life, a single molar can be 10-12 inches long and can weigh more than 3.6 kg. The molar of an elephant is perfect for grinding because it […] Read more »
Bet you’ll think twice before walking on grass now. Did you know that there is an average of 50,000 spiders per acre in green areas? Wow, that’s really a lot! If you want to get rid of spiders on your lawn you can: Spray insecticides to control the insects on your lawn. Mow your lawn regularly. Remove spider webs frequently. Clean up your yard. You can get rid of the spiders on your lawn but just so you know, spiders are virtually everywhere. There are about 35,000 known species of spiders and they are endemic to every continent except Antartica. […] Read more »
Goldfish The goldfish is a freshwater fish in the family Cyprinidae of order Cypriniformes. It is one of the most commonly kept aquarium fish. A relatively small member of the carp family, the goldfish is native to East Asia. It was first selectively bred in ancient China more than 1,000 years ago, and several distinct breeds have since been developed. Goldfish breeds vary greatly in size, body shape, fin configuration and coloration (various combinations of white, yellow, orange, red, brown, and black are known). As of April 2008, the largest goldfish in the world was believed by the BBC to measure 19 inches and to be living in the Netherlands. At the time, a goldfish named “Goldie”, […] Read more »
Dolphins sleep with only half of their brain and with one eye open so they can watch for predators and other threats. Dolphin is a common name of aquatic mammals within the infraorder Cetacea. The term dolphin usually refers to the extant families Delphinidae (the oceanic dolphins), Platanistidae (the Indian river dolphins), Iniidae (the New World river dolphins), and Pontoporiidae (the brackish dolphins), and the extinct Lipotidae (baiji or Chinese river dolphin). There are 40 extant species named as dolphins. Although dolphins are widespread, most species prefer the warmer waters of the tropic zones, but some, like the right whale dolphin, prefer colder climates. Dolphins feed largely on fish and squid, but a few, like the killer whale, […] Read more »
Raccoons The raccoons are medium-sized mammals native to North America. The original habitats of the raccoon are deciduous and mixed forests, but due to their adaptability, they have extended their range to mountainous areas, coastal marshes, and urban areas, where some homeowners consider them to be pests. Recently, they have emerged in parts of Europe and Japan. In the wild, a raccoon has a life expectancy of about 2 to 3 years, but in captivity, a raccoon can live up to 20 years. Raccoon averages 61 to 96 centimeters (24 to 38 inches) in length and can weigh between 5.5 and 15.8 kilograms (12 and 35 pounds), depending upon habitat and available food. The most distinctive feature of the raccoon is the “bandit” like face mask around the eyes of […] Read more »
Killer Whales Orcas are often called killer whales. Though they don’t typically attack humans, this name is still well-chosen due to the animal’s ability to take down large marine animals, such as sea lions and whales. In fact, orcas will prey on almost any animal they find in the sea, in the air over the water or along the coastline. To hunt, killer whales use their massive teeth, which can grow up to 4 inches (10 centimeters) long. Size According to National Geographic, orcas are considered the largest species of the dolphin family. They weigh up to 6 tons (5,443 kilograms) […] Read more »
Lions Unlike other cats, lions are very social animals. They live in groups, called prides, of around 30 lions. A pride consists of up to three males, a dozen related females, and their young. The availability of food and water determines the size of the pride. If resources are scarce, the pride becomes smaller. Pride members keep track of one another by roaring. Both males and females have a mighty roar that can be heard up to 8 km (5 mi.) away. Males and females take on very different roles in the pride. Male lions spend their time guarding their […] Read more »
Reindeer Facts The reindeer, also known as the caribou in North America, is a species of deer with circumpolar distribution, native to Arctic, sub-Arctic, tundra, boreal, and mountainous regions of northern Europe, Siberia, and North America. This includes both sedentary and migratory populations. Reindeer are prominent in our holiday music and images. They pull Santa’s sleigh, have red noses, have names, and fly. But how much do you really know about this northernmost deer species? The fact that they eat moss because it contains a chemical that stops their body from freezing is extraordinary but we have also found some more […] Read more »