It is often said that the chimpanzee is the closest relative to humans but did you know that one of the species of marsupials are a lot more like us than we can ever think of? Koalas may not appear to have anything in common with humans, but if you were to look at their hands thoroughly, you would see that they have fingerprints that resemble those of humans’. Koalas are marsupials – animals that have permanent poaches in which they carry their youngs. These marsupials have almost identical fingerprints to us humans. If you look closely between a human’s […] Read more »
So you think you’re a badass, huh? Well, you’re no match for the most robust creatures on this planet. This list will show you the toughest creatures in the animal kingdom. Prepare to be amazed as you read about extreme animal strengths only the strongest humans could only ever dream about. Number 5: Ox The big rig of the animal kingdom is a farm vehicle that runs all day. They have been helping farmers for over 6000 years and can carry heavy loads of up to 900 pounds over stiff terrains. Those in the wild use their enormous strength differently; […] Read more »
Blue eyes are truly mesmerizing, we can easily get lost in them. Did you know that blue-eyed lemurs are one of two (non-human) primates to have truly blue eyes? Lemurs are animals that live on the island of Madagascar right off the east coast of Africa. They have big eyes because they are nocturnal animals that are normally active at night, like owls! Blue-eyed black lemurs are herbivores, which primarily consume fruit, nectar and pollen. In the dry season, they may eat leaves, berries, and seeds with insects being a rare addition. They help spread many rainforest plants by distributing […] Read more »
Our eyes are incredibly impressive and complex. The human eyes can differentiate millions of colors and receive huge amounts of visual information. The farthest edge our eyes are able to see is about 3 miles away. This is pretty impressive but how does it compare to that of our canine friends? Well, on average, dogs have better eyesight than humans, but not as colorful. Although it is not true that dogs only see in black and white, they only have 2 types of cones which limit their color recognition. However, dogs beat us, hands down in the aspects of visual […] Read more »
A good gauge of a male lion’s age is the darkness of his mane. The darker the mane, the older the lion. The lion is a species in the family Felidae; it is a muscular, deep-chested cat with a short, rounded head, a reduced neck and round ears, and a hairy tuft at the end of its tail. It is sexually dimorphic; male lions have a prominent mane, which is the most recognizable feature of the species. With a typical head-to-body length of 184–208 cm they are larger than females at 160–184 cm. It is a social species, forming groups called prides. A lion pride consists of […] Read more »
Sea Turtles Sea turtles have roamed the Earth’s oceans for the last 110 million years. An important link to marine ecosystems, such as coral reefs and seagrass beds, some sea turtles also eat large numbers of jellyfish and provide a source of income to local communities as a draw for ecotourism. But sea turtle populations have been on the decline. Thousands of marine turtles are accidentally caught by fishing gear each year, and the beaches upon which they depend for nesting are disappearing. How long do sea turtles live? The actual documentation of the age of any species of sea […] Read more »
Reindeer Eyes Turn Blue In The Winter Reindeer don’t fly, but they do sometimes have red noses. These animals are part of the deer family, or Cervidae, which includes deer, elk, moose, and wapiti. Like others in their family, reindeers have long legs, hooves, and antlers. Reindeer are also called caribou, depending on their location. They are called reindeer in Europe, but in North America, reindeer refers to Eurasian populations, and caribou refers to wild populations in North America, according to the San Diego Zoo. Reindeer also often refers to domesticated animals, while caribou refers to wild populations. More Facts About […] Read more »
Marine Iguanas Marine iguanas are most noted for their ability to feed in shallow, marine waters. They are herbivores and eat marine algae growing along rocky shores and underwater. In the water, they swim with a snake-like motion and hold themselves against the bottom with their long claws in order to graze. Though they feed in the water, marine iguanas are predominately terrestrial. They are often observed warming themselves in the sun, and they nest along the shore. Marine iguanas are also known for their very efficient salt glands, where they “sneeze” out salt. Because they feed underwater, they ingest a large amount of saltwater. In order to […] Read more »
Giraffe Facts Giraffes are native to Africa, but each subspecies inhabits a different area where exist diverse types of vegetation. While giraffes used to roam most of the continent, now all subspecies dwell in defined areas where several of them are national parks. There are four beautiful species of giraffe (Masai Giraffe, Reticulated Giraffe, Rothschild Giraffe, West African Giraffe) that embellish the African landscapes, and although they are similar to each other, each one has its own characteristics. Giraffes are the tallest mammals on Earth. Their legs alone are taller than many humans—about 6 feet. They are social animals that live in herds with dozens […] Read more »
Rats breed so quickly that in just 18 months, 2 rats have created over 1 million relatives. Before their offspring are born, rats build nests from any material that can be foraged from the area, including branches, grass, trash, and paper. These nests are usually built in crevices, in rotting trees or in buildings. Rats, generally, are baby-making machines. Female rats can mate around 500 times in a six-hour period and brown rats can produce up to 2,000 offspring in a year, according to Discover Magazine. Brown rats can have up to 22 young at once, though eight or nine is […] Read more »