40 Lesser-Known Facts About Animals That Made People Say ‘Aww’ (New Pics)
In all the time we humans have been discovering and describing the world around us, we've only just scratched the surface. In fact, scientists have estimated that there are about 8.7 million species of plants and animals in existence, however, only around 1.2 million of them have been identified and described so far (most of which are insects). This means that millions of other organisms remain a complete mystery.
But of course, even such a "small" number is too big for us regular folk to keep up with. And the subreddit 'Awwducational' is a great example of that. Its 4.9 million members keep sharing lesser-known facts about the animal kingdom, and even though the online community was founded all the way back in 2012, it doesn't seem to be running out of cute and educational titbits to surprise everyone with.
So even though we at Bored Panda have already written about 'Awwducational' here and here, we decided to compile the best posts that have since gone viral within the sub since our last publication. They're just too good to pass up!
This post may include affiliate links.
New Study Reveals That Bumblebees Will Roll Wooden Balls For Seemingly No Other Reason Than Fun, Becoming The First Insect Known To 'Play'
All animals are here for a purpose. We should never harm or kill them deliberately. They were here before humans.
Arctic Foxes Are 'Ecosystem Engineers' Who Grow Beautiful Gardens. Organic Waste From The Foxes & Their Kills Make The Area Surrounding Their Dens More Fertile, Leading To Almost Three Times As Many Dune Grasses, Willows & Wildflowers To Sprout Up, Compared To The Rest Of The Tundra
As Olivia Lai pointed out on Earth, as much as we want to marvel at nature and our planet’s biodiversity, we need to remember that the creatures we share our home with are currently under overwhelming stress due to centuries of widespread human activities and climate change.
Deforestation and land clearing for agricultural and farming purposes remain to be the biggest threats to animal and plant species across the world, reducing millions of hectares of natural habitats every year.
Here's Twinzy, A Half-Sider Budgie, Half-Siders Are Budgies With A Condition Called "Chimerism" Which, In Genetics, Means That It's The Result Of Non-Identical Twins Fusing Together Early In Their Development To Become One!
This Is An African Black Footed Cat. Despite Its Adorable Looks, It’s A Killing Machine. It’s Hunting Success Rate Is 60%, Compare That To A Lion’s 25%
Bat Toes Are Specially Designed To Relax In A Locked Position. This Means That When Bats Are Clinging On To The Roof Of A Cave Or Tree, They Are Actually Relaxing Their Feet
It takes energy to release their grip and open up their little toes before taking off to fly in the night
The same as sloths too. Which is why when a sloth sadly dies, you'll see it hanging from the tree upside down still.
As the world continues its current trend of environmental degradation, we have driven another 1 million animal and plant species to the brink of extinction, all of which could disappear from the Earth within decades, according to the UN’s 2019 Global Assessment Report on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Service.
This devastating rate of extinction highlights the fact we’re in the midst of a sixth mass extinction event, and even more worryingly, it’s accelerating. Scientists note that without the human destruction of nature, this rate of loss would have taken thousands of years.
The Australian Western Pygmy Possum Is Actually One Of The Largest Pygmy Possums In The World Despite Being No Larger Than A Typical Kiwi Fruit
Kodkods Are The Smallest Wild Felid In The Americas And Have The Smallest Distribution Of Any Cat In The Americas. They Occur Only In Central And Southern Chile, With Marginal Populations In Adjoining Areas Of Argentina
The Resplendent Quetzal Is A Sacred Symbol In Mesoamerica And Guatemala's National Bird, Pictured On The Country's Flag. They Favor Eating Fruit In The Avocado Family, Eating Them Whole Before Regurgitating The Pits. Essentially Making Them The Avocado "Gardeners" Of Their Forest Habitats
They favor eating fruit in the avocado family, eating them whole before regurgitating the pits. Essentially making them the avocado "Gardeners" of their forest habitats
Although It Takes Newborn Elephants Only A Few Hours To Master Standing And Walking, They Need 1 Year To Figure Out How To Use Their Trunks To Drink Water
In the meantime they will flop around as they try different techniques to control it
I love the elephant's!! When I was a kid we'd go to the circus and watch them bring the elephant's in in a line. I got to ride on one and I barely remember seeing it. But his skin and hair were so prickly. Fell almost like a broom. Now this was before people found out the abuse that wa sgoing on with elephant's and other circus animal's.
There are currently at least 38,500 species under threat, and over 16,300 species believed to be endangered, according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), the world’s most comprehensive information source on the global conservation status of animal, fungi, and plant species.
Based on only 28% of all assessed species, 41% of known endangered species are amphibians, 37% are sharks and rays, 33% are corals, 26% are mammals, and 14% are birds.
The Maned Wolf Is The One Of Largest Canid In South America. This Species Is The Only Member Of Its Genus. Although Technically, It Is Not A Fox Or A Wolf. Its Long Legs Are Likely An Adaptation To The Tall Grasslands Of Its Native Habitat
Fun Fact, You Can Rent Goats To Clear Brush Off Your Property. They Eat Everything, Including Poison Ivy, And It's Much More Eco Friendly Than Weed Killer
Just a quick note about weed killer. The neighbor's down the block all used to work in their yards...daily. They are all right next door house's. Each one of the women have gotten cancer. They used the weed killer that's on tv for a lawsuit if you used it and got cancer. They were horrible people but I don't like to see anyone with cancer. So please be careful..
The Wild Iberian Lynx Population Has Increased Tenfold In The Last Two Decades, From 94 Individuals In 2002 To 1,111 Lynxes In 2021, A True Success Story Owing To Conservation Efforts And Public Awareness. Listed As "Endangered", The Lynx Lives In Fragmented Wilderness Areas In Spain And Portugal
I read recently much of the recovery is due to captive breeding programmes
Songbirds Like This Indigo Bunting Use The Stars To Navigate While Migrating. Studies Show That The Birds Especially Rely On The North Star, Ursa Major, And Cassiopeia
Up to 70% of the world’s assessed plants are under threat, and nearly a third of global tree species are facing extinction including well-known species such as magnolias, oaks, maple and ebonies.
In the US alone, the Environmental Protection Agency estimates there are currently over 1,300 endangered or threatened species.
Platypuses/Platypi Are Extremely Affectionate, Also Have The Most Rem Sleep Of Any Animal (5.8-8 H/Day)
The Olinguito (Bassaricyon Neblina) Made Global Headlines When Scientists Announced Its Discovery In 2013, A Notable Event As This Was The First Carnivore Described In The Western Hemisphere Since The 1970s. It Is Native To The Forests Of Colombia And Ecuador. This Is A Photo Of A Baby Olinguito
Blue-Footed Boobies Have Bright Blue Feet Due To Their Diet, And The Level Of Brightness Shows How Healthy The Bird Is To Their Mate!
The Indian Giant Squirrel Can Grow To A Full Length Of Over A Metre
It’s so cute!! I feel like if I drew this people would think I made the colours up!
According to a 2020 analysis published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, scientists have identified 515 species with populations below 1,000, and about half of these had fewer than 250 individuals remaining.
Black-Footed Ferrets Are Among The Most Endangered And Rarest Mammals Native To North America. In Fact, The Species Was Declared Extinct In 1979, However, In 1981 A Residual Wild Population Was Discovered In Wyoming. This Ferret, Born In 2020, Was The First Ever U.S. Endangered Animal To Be Cloned
First we destroy nature and decimate the populations, and then we spend millions to re-create nearly extinct species, while we go on destroying their habitats. We humans are a mad species!
Bat-Eared Foxes Sleep Mostly During The Day In Their Burrows And Emerge At Dusk To Feed Mainly On Termites And Other Insects. As You Can Guess, They Have An Incredible Sense Of Hearing
Gray Wolves Eating Blueberries; Wolves Actually Covet Berries And Other Fruits, During Their Growing Seasons Berries Can Make Up 80% Of Wolf Packs' Diet
It's still not common knowledge that wolves and dogs are omnivores
The Little Hands On These Cuties Are Their Pelvic Fins Which Form Suction Disks. The Suction Disks Are Used To Strongly Attach Themselves To Rocks And Other Objects
There are also 388 species of land vertebrates with populations under 5,000 individuals, 84% of them live in the same regions as the species with populations under 1,000, creating conditions for a domino effect where close ecological interactions of species on the brink tend to move other species towards extinction.
The Blue Fairy Penguin Is Indigenous To The Southern Coastlines Of Australia And New Zealand. They Are The Smallest Species Of Penguin In The World
This is from a video that shows that penguin make a sound akin to a giggle when tickled! It's so funny! I believe his name is Cookie if I remember correctly.
This Is A Baby Giraffe, Giraffes Are The Tallest Mammals On The Planet. Baby Giraffes Usually Will Be Able To Stand And Walk Within 5 Hours Of Being Born. They Stand Most Of Their Life And Need Very Little Sleep. Plus They Have The Most Adorable Babies
The Appaloosa Is An American Horse Breed Known For Its Distinctive And Colorful Leopard Complex-Spotted Coat. Each Horse's Color Pattern Is Genetically The Result Of Various Overlay Patterns On One Of Several Recognized Base Coat Colors. This Particular Appaloosa Is Sporting A Peacock-Leopard Coat
This Is The Astounding ‘Babysitter’ Bone Bed Containing Multiple, Exceptionally Preserved Baby Psittacosaurus Dinosaurs
What was most astonishing was that the larger animal wasn't sexually mature, meaning it wasn't the parent, suggesting communal child-rearing behavior, hence the find's name
As forests are home to more than 80% of all terrestrial species of animals, plants, and insects, it is crucial we halt and reverse deforestation if we want to restore and protect the world's animal and plant species.
Illicit poaching and wildlife trafficking remain huge threats to biodiversity and animal species to this day, with nearly 7,000 species of animals and plants reported in illegal trade involving 120 countries. While far stricter enforcement and conservation efforts have already helped many historically poached species to recover, we must continue these efforts to save the critters we see in the pictures.
The Tufted Coquette Is A Hummingbird That Breeds In Eastern Venezuela, Trinidad, Guiana, And Northern Brazil. The Male, Pictured Here, Has A Rufous Head Crest And A Coppery Green Back With A Whitish Rump Band That Is Prominent In Flight. Tufted Coquettes Are Known For Being Quite Approachable
In Most Deer Species, Only The Males Grow Antlers. For Reindeer, Both The Males And Females Grow Them. A Female Reindeer Begins Growing Antlers In May And Keeps Them All The Way Until After The Winter Birthing Season To Protect Their Young From Predators (Perfect Mother's Day Fact)
The Rusty-Spotted Cat Is The Smallest Wild Cat In Asia, And It Competes With The Black-Footed Cat Of Africa For The Title Of 'World's Smallest Wild Cat'. Adult Rusty-Spotted Cats Weigh Up To 1.6kg/3.5lbs. They Are Native To Nepal, India And Sri Lanka, And They Are Listed As 'Near Threatened'
The Male Of The Purple-Gold Jumping Spider (Irura Bidenticulata) Is Recognized By Its Striking, Shiny Magenta-Gold Patterned Body. It Was Discovered In 2011 In Southeast Asia. The Purple-Gold Jumping Spider Typically Measures 5–6 Mm. It Is Not Considered Harmful To Humans
Desert Rain Frogs Live In Clusters (Also Called Armies), Are Near Threatened Species As Of 2016, And Love Burrowing!
Bohemian Waxwings Have An Uncanny Ability To Find Fruit Nearly Everywhere, Almost Like They Have A Gps Tracker For Berries. Flocks Sometimes Turn Up In Desert Areas, Find An Isolated Shrub, Devour Its Fruit In Minutes, And Move On
Researchers At The Tel Aviv University Found Out That Bat Squeaks Are Not Random. They Actually Argue With Each Other. They Even Use Different To Es Of Voice While "Talking" To Different Individuals
A Black Heron Using Its Wings Like An Umbrella, Creating Shade To Attract Fish, A Behavior Known As Canopy Feeding
While Donkeys May Have A Notorious Reputation For Being Stubborn, They Are Actually Quite Fearless Dealing With Predators As Well As Intelligent, Playful And Curious
When this donkey in Arkansas received presents a few days ago, his owner reported he "always gets so excited when he gets a new one"
I saw some hilarious footage once of a drunk idiot deciding to hop into a donkey's pen and mess around with the animal. It gave a whole new meaning to the term "a*s kicking", that's for sure.
Costasiella Kuroshimae (Leaf Sheep) Are Capable Of A Chemical Process Called Kleptoplasty, In Which They Retain The Chloroplasts From The Algae They Feed On. Absorbing The Chloroplasts From Algae Then Enables Them To Indirectly Perform Photosynthesis
The Black Tear Lines Under A Cheetah’s Eyes Protect Them From Glare And Strong Sunlight
Similar to the kohl makeup Ancient Egyptians wore around their eyes, and for the same reason!
The Pink Fairy Armadillo Is The Smallest Species Of Its Kind. They Can Be Found In Central Argentina Amongst Sandy Plains And Dunes
Owls Cannot Move Their Eyes, Only Their Heads
This owl looks like me when my alarm goes off at monday morning... 😅
The Giant Wood Moth Is One Of The Largest Moth Species In The World. According To The Australian Museum, Adult Females Are About Twice As Large As Males, Can Weigh Up To 30 Grams, And Have A Wingspan Of Up To 25 Centimeters. They Live In The Forests Of Australia And New Zealand
`The way we treat moths vs the way we treat butterflies is the prime example of pretty privilege`
Rats Enjoy Being Groomed, And It's Actually Good For Them. It Releases Endorphins And Oxytocin, Promoting Happiness And Social Bonding. It Reduces Stress And Promotes Good Health. Research Found That Rats That Were Groomed More As Babies Were Calmer, Braver And Had Better Immune Systems
You've never seen a more contented creature than a rat being groomed by a friend. They make the most adorable sleepy squeaking noises, and often as not fall asleep all snuggled together afterwards!
Tragulus Kanchil, The Lesser Malay Chevrotain (Mouse Deer). The Smallest Known Hooved Mammal In The World
Asian Elephants Are Much Fuzzier Than African Elephants And Are Actually More Closely Related To Extinct Woolly Mammoths. Babies Are Often Born With A Full Head Of Hair, Which Usually Thins Out As They Age
Young Malayan Tapirs Have Brown Hair With White Irregular Stripes And Spots, A Pattern That Enables Them To Hide Effectively In The Dappled Light Of The Forest. They Take On Adult Coloration 4 To 7 Months After Birth
This young Malayan tapir is at the Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium in Tacoma, WA
A Female Red Panda Was Recorded To Have Eaten 20,000 Bamboo Leaves In One Day! Red Pandas Need To Eat So Much Bamboo Because They Can Only Digest About 24% Of The Bamboo They Consume
Capybaras Are Highly Social, And Can Be In Groups As Large As 100 Members!
The Fossa Is Madagascar's Top Predator. It Is The Only Animal That Hunts The Island's Lemurs, Able To Move Swiftly Through The Trees
Unlike most animals, it isn't active at a set time, making it cathemeral - it wakes and sleeps whenever it feels like it
The Spectacled Bear Is The Last Remaining Member Of The Ursidae Subfamily Tremarctinae, Also Known As The Short Face Bears (Photo Credit: Anna Giulia On Instagram)
This is the one that I would die trying to cuddle. Look at that sweet wittle face and it's little toes!!
Japanese Honey Bees (Apis Cerana Japonica) Have A Unique Defense Against Raiding “Murder Hornets”. They Mob The Intruder And Vibrate So Intensely That They Boil The Hornet Alive
Asian Elephants Will Gestate Young For 18 To 22 Months. Meaning They Have One Of The Longest Pregnancy Of Any Land Animal, Only Rivaled By African Elephants. They Typically Only Have One Calf, But For A Female At The Rosamond Gifford Zoo In New York, She Was Carrying Double The Cuteness!
And poor mama looks TIRED AF! 💕 (also assuming that twins were the result of IVF, and not, necessarily, made the “OG” way… {poor lass!})
The Common Fruit-Piercing Moth May Be One Of The Major Fruit Pests Of The World, But Its Caterpillar Looks Like The Cosmos Itself
The Great Eared Nightjar Is The Largest Species In The Family In Terms Of Length, Which Can Range From 31 To 41 Cm., Making It The Second Heaviest Species In The Family After The Nacunda Nighthawk
The Andean Mountain Cat Is Known To Live At High Elevations: 1,800 M (5,900 Ft) In The Southern Andes To Over 4,000 M (13,000 Ft) In Chile, Bolivia And Central Peru. It Has Ashy-Gray Fur, A Grey Head And Somewhat Rounded Ears. The Cat Is Listed As Endangered; Less Than 1500 Are Thought To Exist
Aardwolf In The Cincinnati Zoo. It's The World's Smallest Hyena And Feeds Exclusively On Insects, And Actively Detests Meat Unless Softened Or Well Cooked
The Armadillo Girdled Lizard Gets Its Common Name From Its Unique Defensive Behavior; It Will Grab Its Tail In Its Mouth And Curl Up Into A Ball, Protected By Thick Scales And Spikes Along Its Back And Tail. Its Genus Name 'Ouroborus' Comes From The Mythical Serpent That Eats Its Own Tail
Armadillo Girdled Lizard is a funny way to spell Sweet Friggin Dragon.
Pallas Cat Females Generally Give Birth To A Litter Of 2 To 6 Kittens Between The End Of April And Late May. The Newborn Kittens' Fur Is Fuzzy, And Their Eyes Are Closed Until The Age Of About 2 Weeks. These 6 Kittens Were Born At The Novosibirsk Zoo On 6/6/2022. They Are 7 Weeks Old
Young Hedgehogs Have To Learn How To Fully "Ball Up" As They Grow, It Isn't An Immediate Process But An Important Step In Their Development
There Are More Than 530 Species Of Flowering Plants That Rely On Bats As Either Their Major Or Exclusive Pollinators
When There’s A Threat Nearby, Baby Gharials Crawl Onto The Back Of A Large Parent That’s Designated As The “Guardian.” These Endangered Crocodiles Nest In Communities And The Guardians Are Like Babysitters, Overseeing Dozens Of Hatchlings
The cacophony of "MOM!" coming from them is scary and probably deafening to the mom.
The Shell Of A Turtle Is Not An Exoskeleton, As Some People Mistakenly Assert. The Shell Is A Modified Ribcage And Part Of The Vertebral Column. It Cannot Be "Taken Off" (As Cartoons Would Lead Us To Believe) Anymore Than You Could "Take Off" Your Spine And Ribs
Red Fox Eat Fruit And Vegetables, Such As Apples, Pears, Carrots, Squash, And Berries
When Two Galapagos Tortoises Fighting, Physical Contact Is Rare, They Extending Their Neck To Intimidate Their Opponent. The Tortoise Have Higher Head Position Win The Battle
The Male Cardinal Will Feed The Female Cardinal When They Are Courting, And Again When The Female Is Incubating The Nest And Can't Forage For Herself. The Female Will Request Food Similar To That Of A Baby Bird By Opening Her Beak And Fluttering Her Wings
European Bee Eaters Are Richly Colored Birds Native To Europe, Western Asia And Africa. They Usually Live In Colonies And Prefer To Have Close Contact With Each Other, Often Huddling Together On A Common Perch In Groups Like This For Comfort And Warmth
Hippos Were Thought To ‘Sweat Blood’. A Thick Red Substance Containing Hipposudoric Acid, Which Is Red, And Norhipposudoric Acid, Which Is Orange Oozes From Glands Over Its Skin Helping To Control Body Temperature , And Acting As A Sunscreen And Antibiotic
Hedgehogs Have Gestational Periods Ranging From 35 To 58 Days, Depending On The Species, And They Typically Have From 3 To 6 Babies, Called Hoglets
This hedgehog mom walks slowly enough to make sure her 7 hoglets are able to keep up with her
The Brazilian Porcupine Has A Prehensile Tail To Help It Climb Trees And A Rather Plump Nose To Help It Find Food In Its Native South American Habitats. Females Give Birth To A Single Porcupette In The Spring. At The Cincinnati Zoo, A Porcupette Named Rico Is Seen Here Munching On Corn On The Cob
Polar Bears Are Born With Pink Tongues, Which After A Few Months Turn A Darker Blue/Black Color. (Photo Credit: Rick Little - Instagram)
Bats Are Too Small And Their Hearts Are Too Powerful For Blood To Pool In Their Heads While Hanging Upside Down
I actually never thought of this, the blood rushing to their heads bit
The Diamondback Terrapin Inhabits Brackish Tidal Areas Along The Eastern Us, From Cape Cod To The Florida Keys, And Bermuda. The Shell Can Vary In Color, Sometimes Quite Ornately, And Its Skin Often Has A Pattern Of Black Markings Or Spots. There Are Seven Known Subspecies Of Diamondback Terrapin
Honduran White Bats Nest In Heliconia Plant Leaves, By Building Upside-Down V-Shaped ‘Tents’
Dogs Notice When Computer Animations Violate Newton’s Laws Of Physics. This Doesn’t Mean Dogs Necessarily Understand Physics, With Its Complex Calculations. But It Does Suggest That Dogs Have An Implicit Understanding Of Their Physical Environment
Maybe they don't mean to eat our science homework, and are just trying to fix the mistakes
Wallace's Flying Frog, Also Known As The Gliding Frog, Has Adapted Membranes Between Its Long Toes. It Uses These Membranes, By Splaying Out Its Toes, To Glide From Tree To Tree Or To The Ground - Sometimes Covering Distances Of 50 Feet (Over 15 Metres) Or More
This Is A Brown Long-Eared Bat Pup (Plecotus Auritus). When Fully Grown, They Use Those Large Ears To The Locate Insects It Feeds On. They Are Found Throughout Europe And Will Sometimes Roost In Human Structures, Such As Bridges And Buildings
The Greater Honeyguide (Indicator Indicator) Is A Bird That Guides Both People And Honey Badgers To Bee Hives. It Approaches, Makes Distinct Calls, And Flutters In The Direction Of The Beehive. It Will Do So Until It's Followed And The Hive Is Cracked Open So It Can Eat The Beeswax
Channel Island Foxes Are A Dwarfed Species That Inhabits Six Of California’s Channel Islands And Is Derived From The Mainland Gray Fox
The Tropical Pitcher Plant (Nepenthes Hemsleyana) Attracts Bats By Reflecting Their Echolocation Cries. It Serves As A Shelter For Bats - They Crawl Inside In The Morning, Sleep There During The Day, And Leave At Night. In Return For Shelter, The Bats Poop Into The Plant, Providing It With Nitrogen
Devil Rays Or Flying Mobulas Are Known For Breaching The Water's Surface, Sometimes Exhibiting Aerial Acrobatic Displays, Even Flips, That End In Big Splashes. Marine Biologists Aren't Exactly Sure Why They Engage In Such Behavior
Newborn Sandgrouse Chicks Are Covered With Thick, Highly-Camouflaged Down That Matches Their Surroundings And Leave The Nest Soon After Hatching. Since They Are Precocial, The Parents Do Not Provide Them With Any Food, However, The Chicks Learn, With Parental Guidance, What Is And Is Not Edible
The Long-Eared Jerboa Has Ears That Are Two-Thirds As Long As Its Body
The Male Cardinal Fiercely Defends Its Breeding Territory From Other Males. When A Male Sees Its Reflection In Glass Surfaces, It Frequently Will Spend Hours Fighting The Imaginary Intruder
If you ever see one attacking your car door mirror in the driveway, cover the mirror when you're home. They're so stupid about it, they'll spend hours/day attacking & in just 1 season will ruin the paint from poop & claw scratches & poop getting into the scratches and eating the paint.
African Wild Dogs Hunt By Approaching Prey Silently, Then Chasing It At Up To 66 Km/H For 10-60 Minutes. On Average, The Chase Covers Around 2 Km. They Have A Hunting Success Rate Of 60-90%, Making Them More Consistently Successful Than Lions Or Hyenas. (Photo Credit: Mark Nicholson - Instagram)
Between The Ages Of 6 And 10 Months, Lion Cubs Are Weaned, However, Just Because They Are No Longer Nursing Doesn't Mean They Have To Leave The Pride. Older Cubs And Their Younger Cub Siblings Will Often Play Together. Here We See The Older Cubs Teaching The Younger Cubs Not To Bite Their Dad
The African Black-Bellied Pangolin Feeds Almost Exclusively On Ants, And It Is The Only Known Species Of Pangolin That Doesn't Depend On Termites For Its Diet. Also Called Long-Tailed Pangolins, They Are Found In The Forests Of Western And Central Africa. This Pangolin Found A Nest Of Tree Ants
They are critically endangered and one of the most-trafficked mammals due to East Asian people believing that their scales have healing properties. Even the Facebook pages that show rescued pangolins have to include disclaimers that all pangolins are kept off-site due to how relentless the traffickers are.
Granulate Shellback Crab. Lil’ Pancake Cousin To The Hermit Crab, Makes Its Own Armor Out Of An Old Bivalve Shell!
Haragua Lizard - World's Smallest Known Reptile
Even Wild Rodents Naturally Enjoy Running On Wheels. When Wheels Were Placed In Nature, Free Living Wild Mice Were Observed To Spontaneously Run On Them. This Is A 6 Week Old Baby Roof Rat Encountering A Wheel For The First Time
Be careful with giving enclosed running wheels to your pet rats, though. They can develop nasty spinal issues and even end up with their tail permanently stuck pointing upward. Open ones like this are better.
Green Sea Turtles Have Been Observed Sleeping For As Much As 11 Hours A Day, And Sometimes They Will Sleep In The Same Spot Over And Over For A Period Of Time. They Often Wedge Themselves In Reef Crevices To Avoid Predators, Or They Might Opt For Something More Comfortable Like A Soft Barrel Sponge
The Peacock Katydid (Pterochroza Ocellata) Resembles Dead Leaves While Camouflaging, But If Threatened, It Will Reveal Its Menacing Eye Spots. No Two Peacock Katydids Have Identical Color Patterns Or Wing Shapes So As To Reduce The Risk That Predators Could Learn To Recognize A Fixed Visual Pattern
The Sword-Billed Hummingbird Has The Longest Beak To Body Ratio Of Any Bird
Wild Sea Cows Have Been Observed Eating Over 60 Species Of Aquatic Plants, Especially Sea Grasses And Algae, But They Will Also Eat Land Grass If The Opportunity Presents Itself
They'd probably eat a couple fries off your plate too, if given the opportunity
Sumatran Orangutans Are Among The Most Critically Endangered Animals On The Planet. A Baby Was In Toronto. This Was The Moment The Mother Held Her Baby For The First Time
Some Frog Species Such As The Four-Eyed Frog (Top) Have Evolved Poisonous Glands That Serve As 'Eyespots' On Their Rears. Raising Their Rears, And Sometimes Inflating Them Like The Cuyaba Dwarf Frog (Bottom), They Trick Predators Into Thinking They're The Heads Of Larger Animals
Maleo Birds Live On Volcanic Islands And Use Geothermal Heat To Incubate Their Eggs. They Find A Spot At An Ideal Temperature (Around 33°c Or 91°f), Bury Their Eggs In A Sandy Hole, Then Leave And Never Return. The Hatchlings Dig Their Way Out - Born Totally Independent With The Ability To Fly
Coatis, Also Known As Coatimundis, Are Members Of The Raccoon Family (Procyonidae). The Coati Snout Is Long And Somewhat Pig-Like, Part Of The Reason For Its Nickname 'The Hog-Nosed Raccoon'. It Is Also Extremely Flexible And Can Be Rotated Up To 60° In Any Direction
Unlike Most Turtle Species, Female Blanding's Turtles Typically Have Several Mates Per Season Who Collectively Guard Her Nest
The Male Painted Bunting Is Often Described As The Most Beautiful Bird In North America, Earning It The Nickname "Nonpareil" Or "Without Equal". It Is A Member Of The Cardinal Family And Has Two Recognized Subspecies. This Painted Bunting Had A Run In With A Window; After Recuperating, It Flew Off
as someone from Australia : LOOK WHAT THEY NEED TO MIMMIC A FRACTION OF OUR POWER
Within Just A Few Hours After Birth, The Calves Of Muskoxen Are Already Able To Keep Up With Their Herds. Calves Will Suckle For The First Two Months And Afterwards They Begin Eating Vegetation With Only Occasional Nursing. Cows Communicate With Their Calves By Braying. These Muskoxen Are In Alaska
So-Called Ishasha Lions Are A Small Group Of Habitually Tree-Climbing Lions That Inhabit Queen Elizabeth National Park In Uganda. They Are Not Regarded As A Separate Subspecies Of Lion, However, Their Arboreal Proclivity Delineates Them Behaviorally From Other Lions Which Are Mainly Ground Dwelling
When Small Fish Are Threatened By Larger Fish In The Ocean, They Sometimes Have Unique Ways To Evade Them. The Versuriga Anadyomene Is A Species Of Jellyfish Known To Serve As A "Floating Safe House" For Small Fish. As Yellowtail Fish Cower Inside This One, Trumpet Fish Try But Fail To Catch Them
Madagascar Hedgehog Tenrec Is Taking A Dust Bath And Scent-Anointing (Rubbing The New Scent Into His Spines). Keepers Give Tenrecs Novel Scents And Substrates As Enrichment To Encourage This Natural Behavior. In The Wild, Scent Can Be Used As Camouflage And Parasite Repellent!
The Giant Squid Is Widespread, Inhabiting All The World's Oceans, With Maximum Usual Sizes Of Around 12–13 M (39–43 Ft) In Length, Though There Are Unattested Reports Of Larger Ones (I.e. 20 M/66ft). A Giant Squid Was Filmed In Toyama Bay Which, After Its Noteworthy Visit, Swam Back To The Deep
We may never know what's down there but I'm pretty sure whatever is down there is heckin scary
The Cecropia Moth Is North America's Largest Native Moth, And Wingspans Can Reach 7 Inches Or More
Kiwis Are The Only Birds With External Nostrils Located At The Ends Of Their Beaks, About 3mm From The Tip. Surrounding The Nostrils Are Sensory Pits Which Also Help Kiwis Find Food Which Consists Of Worms, Larvae And Fallen Fruit. This Southern Brown Kiwi Or Tokoeka Is Feeding In The Early Morning
Hippos Have Self-Sharpening Teeth Which Are Used For Both Chewing And Combat. On Average, Hippos Have 36 Teeth; Their Molars Do The Hard Work Of Grinding Down The 40kg Of Plant Material They Consume Each Day. This Hippo Is Getting A Thorough Dental Hygiene Check And Cleaning At A Zoo In Osaka
The Ostrich, Of Which There Are Two Living Species (Common Ostrich And Somali Ostrich), Is The Only Extant Bird Species Which Has Two Toes On Each Foot. This Adaptation Allows Ostriches, The Largest And Heaviest Birds On The Planet, To Attain Speeds Of 40 Mph Over Long Distances
Manatees Are Found In Freshwater And Saltwater And Often Pass Through Narrow, Shallow Tidal Creeks
Greater One-Horned Rhinos Are Found Only In Nepal And Northeast India, And Their Population Has Recently Rebounded To A Total Of Around 3,700 Members In A Recent Survey. This Rhino Is Calmly Walking Through Sauraha, A Village Located Near Chitwan National Park In Nepal
Silky Anteaters Are The Smallest Known Anteaters, And They Also Go By The Name Pygmy Anteaters. Found In Mexico, Central America And South America, They Defend Themselves By Standing On Their Hind Legs Holding Their Claws Up Ready To Strike At Any Assailant. This Wild Anteater Is Searching For Ants
This looks like it could be a scene from an action movie... 'The Search for the Eternal Anthill' sounds about right 🤔
Sea Squirts! One Of The Few Invertebrate Chordates. When They’re Young, They Have A Backbone (Notochord) And A Brain, But They Lose Them At Maturity
Rufous Hummingbirds Are Known For Their Extraordinary Flight Skills, Sometimes Flying Up To 2,000 Miles (3,200 Km) During Their Migrations. They Breed As Far North As Alaska And Winter As Far South As Mexico. You Can Hear These Rufous Hummingbirds Buzzing Around As They Attempt To Feed From A Cup
Prior To The Female Laying Eggs, Bald Eagles Will Build A Second, Smaller Nest Within Their Nest (Called The Bowl Or Cup). They Construct This Out Of Soft Nesting Material, As This Is Where The Eggs Will Be Laid
Achrioptera Fallax Is A Species Of Colorful Stick Insect Found In Madagascar. These Insects Do Not Attack Or Bite People. Their Diet Consists Mainly Of Leaves, Especially Bramble, Raspberry, Eucalyptus And Oak
These are common in the invertebrate trade and are relatively easy to keep and breed.
Unlike Most Reptiles, Crocodile Skinks Care From Their Young Long After Hatching. This Mother Is Nuzzling Her 4 Month Old Baby
Despite Their Looks, Giant Vinegaroons Are Harmless To Humans, And Can Make Great Pets. But, When Attacked, They Can Accurately Fire An Offensive Vinegar-Smelling Liquid Out Of Their Rear That Contains Acetic Acid
When Echidnas Swim, They Will Use Their Snouts As Snorkels. Echidnas Living Near Water Will Sometimes Go Swimming To Cool Off On Warm Days. They Have Also Been Seen Swimming Across Rivers As Well As To And From Islands. This Short-Beaked Echidna Was Filmed Swimming In The Swan River In Australia
An Albino Galápagos Giant Tortoise Baby Was Recently Born At A Swiss Zoo, And It Is Considered The First Albino Of This Species Ever Observed, Both In Captivity And In The Wild. The Galápagos Giant Tortoise, Native To Seven Of The Galápagos Islands, Is The Largest Living Species Of Tortoise
Monarch Butterflies Are Notable For Their Annual Migrations Southward From Southern Canada And The Northern U.S. To Florida, California And Mexico In Late Summer And Autumn. After Overwintering In The Mountains Of Mexico, These Monarch Butterflies Embark On A Journey Taking Them Back Northward
We have planted Milk Weed plants in our yard to try to help the population. (Californian here). It can be a great lesson for kids and it helps the environment with little to no effort.
Alligators Move On Land Using Two Different Modes Of Locomotion, The "Sprawl" And The "High Walk." The Sprawl Involves Moving Forward With Its Belly Rubbing The Ground, However, The High Walk Is An "Up On All Four Limbs" Motion With Its Belly Well Above The Ground And A Diagonal "Slow Trot" Style
Some Turtles Can Swim Backwards. This One Just Saw A Couple Manatees Pass Beneath It
Earwigs Are Devoted Mothers. They Stay With Their Clutch And Clean The Eggs Until They Hatch And Defend Them From Predators. After Hatching, She Will Regurgitate Food For Them
But no spiders, though. I can't even stand to see the pics of them.
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But no spiders, though. I can't even stand to see the pics of them.
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