Animals

Tuesday, 17 February 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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Northern pike
They exhibit cannibalistic behavior.
At about five weeks of age, the first signs of cannibalism may appear if there is not enough food av ...
Crested gecko
However lizards can regenerate amputated tails, crested geckos do not possess this ability.
Once lost, it’s gone forever.
Arabian oryx
By the early 1960s, the population of oryx had declined to between 100 and 120 individuals, and in 1972 the Arabian oryx was seen in the wild for the last time.
Oryxes were hunted extensively for their meat and as trophies. In the 1930s, oryx hunting with motor ...
Guinea pig
In 1961, a guinea pig was placed aboard the Vostok-type spacecraft Korabl-Sputnik 4.
Along with a dog, several mice, and a dummy, one or two guinea pigs circled the Earth once and landed safely.
Grey heron
As the name suggests, their plumage is steel gray.
The neck and head are white, from the eyes to the back of the head there is a blue-black strip toppe ...
Snails
The largest sea snail is Syrinx aruanus.
It is a shell snail that can grow up to 91 cm in length and weigh 18 kg. It inhabits the waters around Australia, where it hunts polychaetes.
Luna moth
While caterpillars often fall prey to insect parasitoids, adult forms are being hunted by nocturnal birds and bats.
Attacked caterpillars make clicking noises with their mandibles. They are also able to release distasteful fluids capable of fending off insects and even a small rodent.
Grey heron
Their breeding season begins at the end of February and lasts until early June.
In the beginning, males look for a convenient location to build a nest, most often in the branches o ...
Pink river dolphin
They are sexually dimorphic.
Males are approximately 16% larger and 55% heavier than females. Their pink hue is also more vibrant.
Manatees
They have only six cervical vertebrae.