Animals

Friday, 9 October 2026
27 facts about turtles
27 facts about turtles
The only vertebrates so armored
The first turtles appeared on Earth at the end of the Permian about 240 million years ago. Although the first ones had neither plastron nor carapace, ...

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Horseshoe crab
Limulus living today are saltwater animals. Fossil specimens also inhabited freshwater enviroments.
Currently living horseshoe crabs evolved 244 million years ago and are now considered living fossils as they didn't change a lot since then.
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Goblin shark
After death, skin color quickly turns dull brown or grey.
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Great spotted woodpecker
They are omnivorous, with invertebrates forming the basis of their menu.
Their diet includes beetle larvae, adult beetles, spiders, ants and caterpillars. They make up for t ...
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Great grey shrike
It has been listed under the least concerned by the UICN Red List.
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Snails
The largest land snail is the black snail.
It occurs throughout Europe, where it was introduced in the 16th century. This snail can reach 20 cm in length.
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Brown recluse spider
Brown recluse is often mistaken for wolf spider.
As a matter of fact, these two are not difficult to distinguish – brown recluse, apart from the violin-shaped marking, has also its legs uniformly colored.
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Snails
They appeared on Earth quite early, already in the Cambrian, although it is currently debated whether organisms from this period should be classified as snails.
These organisms had rudimentary and primitive shells. Over the next 80 million years, they slowly ev ...
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Spiders
The pedipalps consist of six segments.
They lack the metatarsus segment. In males, the last segment (tarsus) is used for reproduction, while the first (coxa) in both sexes is modified to make it easier for the spider to eat.
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Ball python
They feed on rodents and birds.
They are “used” as pest control in various rural communities.
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Hammerhead sharks
Pups are not taken care of after birth.
They are fairly independent, usually grouping with the rest of the pups in the warmer water, until they are large enough to survive on their own.
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11 facts about Syrian brown bear
11 facts about Syrian brown bear
The only known bear with white claws
The Syrian bear (Ursus arctos syriacus) is the smallest of the brown bears. It lives in the highlands of the Middle East, but its population is system ...
19 facts about moose
19 facts about moose
Alces alces
The moose, known in Eurasia as elk, is the largest and heaviest living mammal from the Cervidae family (deer) and one of the largest land mammals in t ...
14 facts about dodo bird
14 facts about dodo bird
An extinct species that may be making a comeback
The dodo bird (Raphus cucullatus) has gained notoriety as a symbol of extinction and extermination. It inhabited the remote island of Mauritius in the ...
18 facts about bonobo
18 facts about bonobo
An ape with an exceptionally exuberant sexuality
The pygmy chimpanzee (Pan paniscus), also known as the bonobo, is a fascinating species of great ape that has attracted the attention of researchers a ...
16 facts about European tree frog
16 facts about European tree frog
Hyla arborea
These popular anuran amphibians are small frogs with very interesting characteristics. They are excellent climbers, often living in trees but can also ...
15 facts about common Surinam toad
15 facts about common Surinam toad
Pipa pipa
An ugly pokey frog with a triangular head fixed lidless eyes, and a pair of tentacles on its mouth that draws attention by its unusual way of reproduc ...
14 facts about adder
14 facts about adder
Vipera berus
The adder is one of the most widespread venomous snakes in Europe. Although it does not attack humans, it sometimes bites in self-defense. It lives in ...
13 facts about Komodo dragon
13 facts about Komodo dragon
The world’s largest lizard
The Komodo dragon is an endemic reptile that belongs to the family Varanidae and can be found on the Lesser Sunda Islands. It is the only modern speci ...
14 facts about common kingfisher
14 facts about common kingfisher
A symbol of happiness
Common kingfisher (Alcedo atthis) attracts the attention of ornithologists and bird lovers worldwide because of its unusual appearance. This small bir ...
16 facts about manatees
16 facts about manatees
Peaceful sea giant
Manatees are gentle giants of the seas and oceans that fascinate with their unique nature and importance in aquatic ecosystems. These unique aquatic m ...
22 facts about hedgehogs
22 facts about hedgehogs
Insectivorous mammals of the Erinaceidae family
They share an ancestry with moles, shrews, and solenodons. Hedgehogs were introduced to Europe, Asia, Africa, and New Zealand, and currently cannot be ...
32 facts about tigers
32 facts about tigers
The largest of wild cats
This one of the largest terrestrial predators is a cunning, lone hunter, with perfect climbing and swimming skills. Equally fascinating and horrifying ...
12 facts about capybaras
12 facts about capybaras
The world’s largest rodent and social media star
The capybara, the largest rodent known to us today, is an animal with a very pleasant disposition and appearance, living both an aquatic and terrestri ...
14 facts about dik-dik
14 facts about dik-dik
Hare-sized antelope
Dik-dik is one of the smallest antelopes living in eastern and southern Africa. It is characterized by skittish nature and fast-paced movement. Dik-di ...
19 facts about Sea otter
19 facts about Sea otter
Animals nearly extinct due to fur trade
With their playful personalities, adorable faces, and impressive tool skills, sea otters are among the most fascinating and charismatic animals in the ...
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