Animals

Bats are the second most diverse mammal order, second only to rodents, with over 1,400 species described. Bats have incredible adaptations to accommodate their high-flying, … Read more

THE ORDER PRIMATES Primates – Mammals of the First Order (About 180 species) Some 195 species of lemurs and their kin, monkeys, apes, and man, … Read more

THE ORDER PERISSODACTYLA Perissodactyla – Odd Toed Mammals (18 species) All the hoofed mammals, thought to be closely related, were once even placed together in … Read more

THE ORDER ARTIODACTYLA Artiodactyla – Even Toed Mammals (About 180 species) These are even-toed hoofed animals, also known as “cloven-hoofed.” All hoofed animals were once … Read more

THE ORDER SIRENIA Sirenia – Marine Mammals – Sea Cows (4 species) When looking at a manatee or a dugong up close, it is difficult … Read more

THE ORDER HYRACOIDEA Hyracoidea – Hyrax-Like Mammals (11 species) The hyrax, or dassie, is an odd mammal that superficially resembles a guinea pig and is … Read more

THE ORDER PROBOSCIDEA Proboscidea – Eat with Nose Mammals (2 species) The sole survivors of a once prevalent order are the two species of elephants, … Read more

THE ORDER CARNIVORA Carnivora – Meat Eating Mammals (About 230 species.) Just as rodents identify themselves by their long incisors, members of the order Carnivora … Read more

THE ORDER CETACEA Cetacea – Whale-Like Mammals (76 species.) In every ocean of the world, and in a few rivers as well, are found whales, … Read more

THE ORDER RODENTIA Rodentia – Gnawing Mammals (About 1700 species.) Almost anywhere you look, except on the polar ice caps, you can find a rodent. … Read more

THE ORDER LAGOMORPHA Lagomorpha – Hare-Like Mammals (About 45 species.) Who is not familiar with rabbits and hares? They have been among the first mammals … Read more

THE ORDER TUBULIDENTATA Tubulidentata – Tube Toothed Mammals (One species.) Perhaps we think of the aardvark only as being the first word in the dictionary, … Read more

THE ORDER PHOLIDOTA Pholidota – Scaly Anteaters – 7 Species In the tropical and subtropical regions of southern Asia and Africa are found seven species that … Read more

THE ORDER XENARTHRA Xenarthra – Strange Jointed Mammals (About 30 species) Southern North America and South America is their distribution, and the Xenarthrans consist of … Read more

THE ORDER SCANDENTIA Scandentia – Climbing Mammals (19 species.) The tree shrews, all in one family are placed in an order of their own, Scandentia. … Read more

THE ORDER CHIROPTERA Chiroptera – Finger Winged Mammals (About 970 species) Flight clearly distinguishes bats from all the other mammals. Not just jumping or gliding, … Read more

THE ORDER DERMOPTERA Dermoptera – Skin Winged Mammals (2 Species) Only two living species, in a single genus, compose the entire order of flying lemurs. … Read more

THE ORDER MACROSCELIDEA Macroscelidea – Big Pests – Mammals (About 15 species.) Mammals of the Southern African Sub-region The elephant shrews are the only members … Read more

THE ORDER INSECTIVORA Insectivora – Insect Eating Mammals (About 350 species.) Shrews, hedgehogs, moles, and a number of other small animals native to Madagascar known … Read more

THE ORDER MARSUPIALIA Marsupialia – Pouched Mammals (About 270 species.) Although marsupials join the ranks of other mammals as distinct from egg-layers, they are nevertheless … Read more

THE ORDER MONOTREMATA Monotremata – One Holed Mammals – Three species. There are only three living species of monotremes in the world: the duck-billed platypus, … Read more

Emu and cassowaries are the last remaining endemic large, flightless birds in Australia. Ostriches are also found here but are exotic, having been introduced for … Read more

Red Fox Facts Red foxes are native in North America and can be found throughout the United States and Canada except in the far north, … Read more

Is Your Dog Smarter Than a 2-Year-Old? Your pet dog is as smart as your two-year-old child when it comes to understanding words, counting, and … Read more

Intelligence of Cats Genetics, environment, and other trainability factors play a role in a cat’s level of intelligence. But much depends on how intelligence is … Read more

Amazing Facts About The Puffer Fish The pufferfish is one of the most poisonous animals in the world, but that’s not their only weapon when … Read more

All About Bats for Kids Find great teaching tools that can introduce children to bats through observation, online resources, and children’s books. Few people know … Read more

Ostrich’s eyes are bigger than its brain Ostrich eyes are indeed large (it is the biggest bird eye and even larger than that of many … Read more

Bunny Twitch It is true, the twitch, wiggle of a rabbit’s nose is a very obvious characteristic, and very important to its survival.  Not only … Read more

Flitting boldly about the world’s coral reefs, the vibrantly colored and charismatic butterflyfish are helping provide an early warning system. This small, flat fish is … Read more

Living Dino-Fish The coelacanth (“see-la-kanth”) was found to be ‘alive and well’ in 1938 after millions of years of hiding, but is he really a … Read more

Facts About The Oceans Greatest Predator It has taken 300 million years of evolution to create such a formidable predator as the shark, and the … Read more

Yes, Fish Have Complex Personalities The study of animal personalities has become a hot topic in behavioral biology. Bring up the possibility of fish personalities … Read more

Endangered Reptiles From the Age of the Dinosaurs Tuatara are endemic to New Zealand, quite unlike other reptiles, and have become endangered through mammal predation. … Read more

Bioluminescence of Fireflies Bioluminescence is how fireflies and other living organisms produce light. Bioluminescence is an interesting phenomenon that occurs in organisms such as fireflies. … Read more

Facts about Leeches With sufficient preparation, travelers can learn to appreciate Madagascar’s leeches as part of the incredible rainforest experience. Slimy, black, amorphous creatures slink … Read more