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 »
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 »
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 »
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 »
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 »
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 »