Animals
- Connecting with yourself and nature through Forest BathingOne practice that has gained significant attention in recent years is forest bathing, also known as Shinrin-yoku in Japanese. It’s not merely a walk in the woods; it’s an immersive experience where one surrenders to the serenity of the forest, allowing its healing essence to envelop mind, body, and spirit. Forest bathing involves leisurely and…
- Meet the Mantis Shrimp. An Authentic Boxer of the Animal WorldMantis shrimp, or stomatopods, are carnivorous marine crustaceans of the order Stomatopoda, which branched off from other members of the class Malacostraca about 340 million years ago The shell of the mantis shrimp (the hard, thick shell that covers crustaceans and other species) covers only the back of the head and the first four segments…
- What´s the Thorny Devil?The thorny devil (Moloch horridus), also commonly known as the mountain devil, thorny lizard, thorny dragon and moloch, is a species of lizard in the family Agamidae. The species is endemic to Australia It is the only species of the genus Moloch. It was first described by biologist John Edward Gray in 1841. Although it…
- What is Narwhal? Characteristics and CuriositiesThe narwhal (Monodon monoceros) is a medium-sized toothed whale with a large protruding canine tooth “tusk”. It lives year-round in the Arctic waters surrounding Greenland, Canada and Russia. It is one of two living species of whales in the family Monodontidae, along with the beluga whale. Male narwhal are distinguished by a long, straight, helical…
- The Maned Wolf. Discover this Fantastic AnimalThe maned wolf (scientifically known as Chrysocyon brachyurus) is a large canid of South America. The maned wolf is found in Argentina, Brazil, Bolivia, Peru, Paraguay and is almost extinct in Uruguay. Its markings resemble those of foxes, but it is neither a fox nor a wolf. It is the only species of the genus…
- Mata Mata. Discover this Strange TurtleThe mata mata, mata-mata or matamata (Chelus fimbriata) is a species of freshwater turtle found in South America, mainly in the Amazon and Orinoco basins. It is one of two extant species of the genus Chelus, the other being Chelus orinocensis. Mata mata was first described by the French naturalist Pierre Barrère in 1741 as…
- Macropinna Microstoma or Barreleye. Discover this Transparent Headed FishMacropinna is a genus of ray-finned fish belonging to Opisthoproctidae, the barreleyes family. It contains one species, M. microstoma. It is recognized by a very unusual transparent, fluid-filled shield on its head, through which the lenses of its eyes can be seen. Characteristics At first it was believed that this fish’s tubular eyes were fixed…
- What is an Okapi?The okapi (Okapia johnstoni), also known as the forest giraffe, Congolese giraffe or zebra giraffe, is an artiodactyl mammal endemic to northeastern Democratic Republic of Congo in central Africa Although the okapi has striped markings reminiscent of zebras, it is more closely related to the giraffe. The okapi and giraffe are the only living members…
- Glass Frogs. Characteristics and CuriositiesGlass frogs are frogs of the amphibian family Centrolenidae (order Anura). Although the general background coloration of most glass frogs is primarily lime green, the abdominal skin of some members of this family is transparent and translucent The internal viscera, including the heart, liver, and gastrointestinal tract, are visible through the skin, hence the common…
- What is an Echidna? Discover all its SecretsEchidnas , sometimes known as spiny anteaters, are quill-covered monotremes (egg-laying mammals) belonging to the family Tachyglossidae The four extant species of echidnas and the platypus are the only living egg-laying mammals and the only surviving members of the order Monotremata. The diet of some species consists of ants and termites, but they are not…
- What is a Mammal Animal?A mammal belongs to the group of vertebrate animals. Some examples of mammals are rats, cats, dogs, deer, monkeys, bats, whales, dolphins and humans. If you were looking for exactly what a mammal animal is, or how to tell them apart, in this article we are going to look at several aspects to recognize them.…
- What are the aquatic mammals?Aquatic and semi-aquatic mammals are well adapted to life in water, with physical characteristics such as flippers, webbed feet, paddle-like tails and streamlined bodies. Whales, dolphins, porpoises, manatees and dugongs are fully aquatic; seals, sea lions, walruses, hippopotamuses, platypuses, otters, beavers and otters are semi-aquatic and spend part of their lives on land. What makes…