Animals

Monday, 31 March 2025
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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Pterodactyls
Pterodactyl is a common name referring to two genera of the pterosaur clade.
A clade is a group of monophyletic organisms, meaning they share a common ancestor. Although it is n ...
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Dodo bird
The name dodo, adopted in the English-speaking world, first appeared in an account by the travel writer Thomas Herbert in 1634.
He assumed that it came from Portuguese. In this language, the word “dodo” means “stupid.”
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Komodo dragon
They are carnivorous.
However, it is claimed that they mostly feed on carrion, and they often attack living prey. They cha ...
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Okapi
For unexplained reasons, okapis also eat charcoal from burned trees.
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Glass frogs
Biggest threat to glass frogs eggs are wasps and flies.
Frog flies for example lie their own eggs among glass frog eggs. Flies’ eggs hatch faster so maggots start to consume embryos of a frog.
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True seals
Seals breathe using their lungs but are adapted to holding their breath for long periods. Some species can stay submerged for up to 40 minutes.
It allows them to dive to considerable depths and stay underwater for long periods. When diving, the ...
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Portuguese man-of-war
They were named after a wooden warship at full sail, that the British sailors called Man of War.
The resemblance is questionable because they rather resemble a floating plastic bag.
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Leeches
Leeches do not have a respiratory system.
They absorb oxygen with their entire body surface.
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European wildcat
Young are usually born in April or May.
A litter may consist of one to eight young. For the first month they are fed exclusively on the moth ...
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European pine marten
The average lifespan in the wild is about 4 years.
In the wild, they can live up to 11 years if they are lucky and as long as 18 years in captivity.
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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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