Facts about the animal kingdom

Are you looking for short dog quotes or sentimental dog quotes? Do you want to express your friendship with your pup with a photo and a quote which does your relationship justice? Whether you are looking for funny dog quotes, dog quotes for Instagram, short dog quotes or cute dog quotes, this article...

Few animals have had as complex relationship with humans as cats. It is believed the domestication of cats began around 9,000 years ago, but the actual date is difficult to determine due to the limits of historical and archaeological evidence. We do know they were revered in antiquity as incarnations...

Bees are an incredibly essential species for the balance of the world’s ecosystems. Sadly, however, there are several threats that are putting the world’s bee population at risk, including polluting and deforestation. Bees are incredibly organized flying insects that are able to build and run hives in...

Did you know that there are some animals that are capable of sleeping more than 20 hours in a row? These long sleep patterns are related to factors such as food, performed activities and needs of the specific species. Additionally, did you know that there are some animals that don’t sleep much? For...

Agnatha are fish that have existed for over 470 million years. Although most agnatha are now extinct, some have found unique and interesting ways to survive. Agnatha or jawless fish can be found in waters all over the world, and they share few characteristics with other marine mammals. But, what is...

Hybrid animals are a result of a crossing from two animals of different species. These such crossings result in animals whose appearance presents mixed characteristics, and trust us, they are beautiful! Some of these animal hybrids are so incredibly fascinating that it’s hard to believe they are even real. Additionally,...

The term fish is used to refer to an incredibly diverse group of animals. There are certain similarities they share, but almost all of them have some sort of exception. For example, all fish are vertebrates, but hagfish technically don't have a spine. This means the taxonomy of fish (i.e. how they are...

We have all heard the phrase ‘sweating like a pig’ to describe a person who is overheated and sweating profusely. While it creates an evocative image, it is not an accurate one. As with many phrases associated with pigs, they are misleading. Pigs are seen as gluttonous, filthy, stupid and sweaty. In actuality,...

The life cycle of butterflies is one of nature's most interesting processes. The birth of these insects requires several stages, during which they undergo incredible transformations. Not only is this process detailed, but butterfly metamorphosis is also incredibly interesting. Do you want to know how...

Jellyfish are one of the most feared animals that inhabit the world’s oceans, usually because of their painful and sometimes deadly bite. Have you also heard of the classical legends of giant jellyfish capable of sinking ships? There is no denying that many jellyfish are extremely dangerous, but this is...

Mollusks refer to are a large group of soft-bodied invertebrate animals. Although the phylum Mollusca are made up of a set of incredibly diverse animals, there are certain characteristics which aid to classify them. Whether you are looking to discover mollusks characteristics, classification of mollusca...

The use of a muzzle in dogs is sometimes an unfortunate necessity. For example, some jurisdictions have laws requiring dogs to be muzzled on public transport. Dogs with traumatic backgrounds or with poor socialization may need to be muzzled when walked in busy areas. Some people think they should be...

Dolphins are very social animals and are even considered friendly to humans. However, this can obscure the complexity of dolphin behavior. Their gregarious nature creates complex social dynamics in their pods. While they have the potential to be friendly, we should not consider them frivolous animals. They...

All life as we know it began in water. While it is difficult to prove, evidence suggests that gills existed before lungs. It is not that breathing with lungs is better or worse than breathing through gills. These different methods of animal respiration exist because of the different environments in which they...

Bears are terrestrial mammals which inhabit different ecosystems across the world. From lush forests to barren tundras, it is possible to find various bear species. All of said species are located at the top of their respective food chains. They are fascinating creatures which provide cultural touchstones...

To know how dolphins breathe, we should get rid of some preconceived notions. Just because a dolphin lives in the sea, does not mean they are a fish. As they are not fish (or some other aquatic creatures such as crabs), they do not use gills to take oxygen into their body. Despite having fins and spending...

Snails are shelled gastropods most commonly recognized for their slimy shell-covered bodies. Did you know that there are are roughly 43,000 snail species in the world? These snail types are classed into groups which include land snails, sea snails and freshwater snails. Whether marine or terrestrial,...

There are many different species of fish in the world, and if you have an aquarium at home, it is essential that you are up-to-date on all things fish related. The first thing you need to remember is that not all fish species can live together in harmony. In fact, the fundamental aspects of fish behavior...

Cetaceans are marine mammals most commonly know for their presence in mythical stories and ancient legends. Cetaceans are considered the most peculiar of all mammal orders. Unfortunately however, with the passing of time, these animals are slowly disappearing...but why? For more about cetacean examples,...

Human beings have spent centuries studying animal behavior. Ethology, which defines this specific scientific discipline, aims among other things, to distinguish whether animals think or not. Humans generally assume that the main difference between animals and humans is the level of intelligence, but is this...

This world is made up of a variety of animals which each carry incredibly unique characteristics. There are, however, many animal species that resemble each other and are easily confused. The raccoon, for example, is among these animal species that are often confused with their ‘‘distant cousins.’’ For...

Exoskeletons and endoskeletons carry out some of the same basic functions, especially when it comes to protection, movement and structural support. Despite this, an animal will have an exoskeleton for specific reasons, something we can see in the types of animals with exoskeletons. These animals tend to be...

Our planet are full of extraordinary organisms and animals, capable of living under the most extreme conditions. Organisms that live in extreme environments are also referred to as extremophiles and they can include bacteria, Archaea and Eukarya. Keep reading here at AnimalWised for more about the animals...

Do you know how reptiles breathe? Reptiles have varied anatomies that adapt according to their appropriate environment. Reptiles are either or both terrestrial and marine animals and for this reason, depending on the species, they carry different mechanisms which allow them to breathe. Keep reading...

Would you think it strange if we were born with horns? We might think they would get in the way, but many horned animals seem to be able to put them to good use. Not all horns are the same. There are different types of animal horns. Some are long, some curly, others are stubby and don't seem to have...

Crabs are highly evolved arthropod animals. While we may associate crabs most often with the sea, there are fresh water crabs and land crabs which live outside of the world's oceans. Some have adapted certain abilities to spend time both on land and in water. It is not only this type of adaptability...

Trophic levels are analyzed and studied under the discipline of ecology, a subset of biology. This is the science which studies the relationships established between an environment and the organisms within it. This includes the relationships and interactions the species within these environments have with...

The wolf is a carnivorous animal which is considered a relative of the domestic dog (Canis lupus familiaris). While this is true, the extent of their connection is complicated and you can read up about the genetic history of dogs to learn more. While we know there are many different types of dog breed,...

Ants are a common insect distinguished by their surprising sense of organization. These eurosocial insects evolved about 140 million years ago and can now live and survive in almost any type of habitat around the world. But, because these insects are so small and we have become so used to them, some of...

Many animals breathe through the skin, although some of them, due to their size, combine this with other types of breathing. Did you know that some of the animals that breathe through their skin may also modify the shape of their bodies to increase surface/volume ratio? Animals that breathe through the...

Did you know that some animals don’t have brains? Contrary to what many people believe, despite the lack of this important organ, these animals can still function normally, but how? Thanks to evolutionary processes, these animals have developed alternative methods to help them survive. For more about these...

Each and every animal species and/or plant type in nature carry the responsibility of fulfilling a specific function. These functions allow for both the conservation and balance of the ecosystem to which they belong. Pollination, for example, which refers to the transfer of pollen from a male anther...

Although rabbits have the reputation of being quiet animals, this doesn't mean they don't make noise. In fact, rabbit sounds have a wide variety of function and purpose. Rabbits make noise to communicate with other rabbits, other animals and even we humans. As rabbit guardians, it's imperative we learn what...

Nature is many things. It can be as beautiful as it is frightening, as delicate as it is powerful. Our existence on this planet has many repercussions, many of which we are only beginning to understand. What we do know is that in our desire to consume and our reliance on unsustainable practices, we are detrimentally...

From birth, all animals undergo various morphological, anatomical and biochemical changes. Even after they reach adulthood, there are still some changes which occur as cells replicate and die in constant order. Many of these changes are physiological and affect body size, shape, etc. Others are hormonal,...

There are many reasons we might be looking for inspirational horse quotes. Horses are animals which have been directly influential on the success of human civilization. They teach us a lot about life. Whether we are taking inspiration directly from horse behavior or we use them an the epitome of certain virtues,...

Animals with scales, hair and/or feathers have evolved in such a way that these features aid in protecting them and helping them maneuver among their environment. For example, animals with scales use this characteristic feature to help them move comfortably and safely as well as protect moisture loss in...

All animals need periods of rest to help conserve energy and maintain life. While this rest takes many forms, one of the most important types is a state of sleep. However, not all animals sleep in the same way or for the same length of time. For example, many ungulate prey animals sleep for very short...

The anatomy of domestic dog (Canis lupus familiaris) is something which is difficult to qualify. The main reason for this is because there are so many dog breeds in the world. More than 300 are officially recognized by standardization bodies such as the FCI as well as the many mixed breed variants which...

Insectivorous or entomophagous animals base their diet, or part of it, on the consumption of insects. There is a great variety of animals that eat insects, from amphibians to mammals. These animals obtain an important source of protein from these insects, needed to live a healthy life. But which are the...

Dogs are complex, fascinating and interesting animals that do things which sometimes, we as humans, do not quite understand. One of the most common dog habits which people tend to question is butt smelling. ‘‘Why do dogs sniff each other’s butts?’’ Did you know that the main reason dogs smell each other’s...

The truth is that any animal can be preyed on, but this does necessarily make the animal a prey animal. In fact, prey animals are are easily distinguishable from those that are not. However, the relationship between prey and predatory animals is fundamental when it comes to ecological balance. For...

As with terrestrial animals, fish need oxygen to live. Unlike land animals, they have to live the majority of their lives completely submerged underwater. We lung users might be biased on our ideas about breathing. It is true that we have evolved to the point we can breathe on land, but the over 33,000...

Bats have inspired myths and stories for generations. Their reputation is as a vile creature, dirty in its own right and linked to mysterious creatures of the underworld. They are the one animal Ace Ventura, defender of the entire animal kingdom, couldn't stand. Part of their reputation is that some bats...

It is estimated that dogs and humans have lived together for around 3,000 years. Despite our long and happy time together, there are still some new discoveries to be made. Every year new studies in canine ethology are produced, enlightening us about a dog's biology and behavior. Some of these revelations...

Since we were little we have been taught that, just like a cat ‘meows,’ a horse neighs. Have you also heard of a horse’s whinny? It’s important to know, however, that there is a slight difference between a horse’s neigh and whinny, which is usually lower in both pitch and frequency. If you are wanting to...

All dogs have whiskers, be them short or long. These whiskers are visible on a dog’s snout as rigid and firm textured hair. Some people cut their dogs’ whiskers for aesthetic reasons in an effort to meet certain breed "standards." This is, however, incredibly dangerous and can cause unnecessary damage. For...

Known as an umbilicus in veterinary medicine, the belly button is the point at which the umbilical cord was previously attached to the mother during gestation. The umbilical cord is largely associated with placental mammals, meaning the mother feeds their young internally via their placenta. For this...

Cats are animals that are found in abundance in our streets. This is mainly because they have a very short gestation period, which means they can cause overpopulation in a very short period of time, but this is a discussion for another day. In this article we will try to give you some tips for shooing...

Antarctica is the coldest and most inhospitable continent on planet Earth. In fact, the coldest temperature ever recorded on Earth was -90 ºC at Antarctica's Vostok station. Contrary to this intense cold , there are also relatively warm regions in Antarctica, such as the Antarctic Peninsula, where temperatures...