Animals & Science

What makes a frog jump so high? The truth behind the frog's amazing jumping ability lies in the interaction between its skeletal and muscular systems. Its skeleton is perfectly designed to allow...

Since Disney's hit animated film "Finding Nemo," sale of the clown fish, also known as anemonefish, has skyrocketed. There are approximately 30 different species of anemonefish. In the wild, this...

Weedy sea dragons (Phyllopteryx taeniolatus) are aquatic animals closely related to seahorses. Sea dragons derive their name from their colorful bodies and their leaf-like appendages, which bring...

Sometimes, homing pigeons become lost. Often, these birds are not used to finding food and water on their own, making them ill-equipped for survival in the wild. If you've found a banded pigeon,...

Diamond doves, Geopelia cuneata, are small birds weighing only about 1 1/2 ounces. They are popular as pets since they are hardy and easily cared for.

The red spitting cobra, or Naja pallida, lives up its dangerous-sounding name. This African snake can "spit" its venom upward at its targets, killing or paralyzing them from a distance.

The West Indian manatee (Trichechus manatus) is listed on the U.S. endangered species list. It can be found in the coastal waters and rivers of the southeastern United States and in the Caribbean....

Gray squirrels are excellent climbers and build nests in trees, garages, attics, barbecue grills and cars. These agile animals are fun to watch and almost impossible to keep out of urban bird...

Sea sponges, which are known scientifically as porifera, are multi-cellular marine animals found primarily in oceans and seas throughout the world. They are covered with tiny pores called ostia,...

A deer lick is a block of salt and minerals that is used to attract wild deer who come in search of a quick source of nutrients. Deer licks are indispensable to a good hunter, but there is no need...

Snow crabs and king crabs are not only fascinating creatures, but they also make a tasty meal. These two varieties of crab are popular with diners across North America and the world.

The folklore that surrounds bats has given them an undeserved "bad rap." The truth is that bats are actually beneficial because they have an insatiable appetite for mosquitoes. One method of...

Blue lobsters possess a rare genetic mutation involving an excessive amount of protein that causes their shells to turn cobalt blue. Their life cycle is the same as that of a normal lobster,...

Krill are small, shrimp-like crustaceans that live in the Antarctic Ocean. They feed on small, one-celled algae called diatoms and thrive in the extreme conditions in the Antarctic ecosystem.

The honey badger is a ferocious mammal that lives throughout Africa, India and the Middle East. They are small, back animals with a grey or white stripe running down their backs. Honey badgers...

Western diamondback rattlesnakes are found in Mexico, Texas, Arizona, New Mexico and parts of southern California. These snakes are poisonous and can be deadly. Contrary to popular belief, these...

Unlike mammals and birds, male and female reptiles do not display obvious gender variations, and there are often few external characteristics that clearly distinguish males and females from one...

Every animal's skin serves to keep it warm, protect it from the elements and protect muscles and blood vessels from injury. The skin of a frog does all of these, along with other vital tasks that...

The common name "finch" refers to birds belonging to the Fringillidae family, which is the largest family of birds in existence. Finches thrive thanks to their adaptability and can be found in...

The life cycle of a whale can be divided into three stages: baby, adolescent and adult. Whales are mammals and typically live 30 to 70 years in groups called pods. They are found in all of the...

Labrador retrievers, also known as labs, are a popular breed of sporting dog. Labrador retrievers come in three colors: golden, chocolate, and black.

Sandpipers are several species of small to medium (about 6 to 12 inches long) shore birds. They can be found in large groups on beaches and farther inland on mud flats during their migratory period.

The daddy longlegs makes its home in wooded areas, among crops or in unoccupied buildings or spaces. Daddy longlegs (Phalangium opilio), also known as harvestmen, belong to the arachnid class, a...

The genus of toads referred to as "fire-bellied toads" are warty, colorful amphibians that vary in size and distribution. These toads are popular pets due to their hardiness and the brightly...

The variety and occasional extravagance of birds' nests have long fascinated humans. Nests often have few commonalities among them; there are nearly as many different types of nests as there are...

Frogs and toads are four-legged, tail-less amphibians (a group known as anurans) that can be found on every continent on earth, with the exception of Antarctica. Though there are differences...

Dawn bats (Eonycteris spelaea) are small nocturnal fruit bats known for their long tongues. Their long muzzles, large eyes and small ears give these common bats a dog-like appearance.

In the United States, buzzards are often called turkey buzzards or turkey vultures. They inhabit southern Canada to South America's southern tip and are also found in Europe and Asia. Buzzards...

Many people have the misconception that smaller aquariums are easier to care for than larger ones, which is not necessarily the case. Even the slightest mistake in a small aquarium can lead to...

Dolphins are well-adapted for life in the water, although they are mammals like you and me. Various species of dolphins vary in behavior, shape and size. Dolphin species can range from 4 feet to...

Nothing compares to the pleasure in bringing a bit of the ocean into your home via a saltwater aquarium. However, creating a truly thriving ecosystem requires more than a fish tank and some...

No fish tank is complete without plenty of rock. Whether in salt water or fresh water, rock provides a hiding place for fish, a place to mount corals and a place for beneficial bacteria to grow,...

Mice are very adaptable animals. They can live in a wide variety of habitats, including your home. The house mouse, for example, originated in Asia and followed sailors onto their ships to journey...

Keeping bees for honey makes an attractive hobby or business venture for many. The average bee colony produces enough honey for an entire family's personal use while still leaving surplus to sell...

White Siberian tigers, which are also known as "Amur tigers," may be found in small numbers in certain heavily forested segments of southeastern Russia, northeastern China, North Korea, and...

All animals, including humans, follow similar patterns of embryonic development after fertilization of the egg by sperm. Embryogenesis occurs from the first few rounds of cell division until the...

Often, people think that simply constructing a bat house will be enough to attract the desired bat population. This is not true; bats are actually extremely picky about where they choose to roost....

Toucans are medium-size birds with huge, brightly-colored beaks, found only in the Americas. Most species inhabit the Amazon Rain Forest and neighboring areas. A few species, like the Emerald...

The bald eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) is the only eagle that is native only to North America. Bald eagles are actually sea eagles; they usually breed near large bodies of water, such as lakes...

Endangered species are those that are at immediate risk of extinction. Many factors can endanger plants and animals, such as pollution, habitat loss, the introduction of other species, and...

Your home aquarium should be pleasant to view. But when you have fish who do nothing but hide, you may feel frustrated. Stressed fish are more likely to become ill or die. Luckily, there are a few...

Nothing can ruin the look of your carefully maintained saltwater aquarium like algae on the inside of the glass. Likewise, dust and dirt on the outside of the glass can inhibit your viewing...

Raising your own fish can be an excellent means for providing yourself or a market with oily fish for fish oils. Although all species of fish contain fish oil, specific species such as salmon,...

UV sterilizers use ultraviolet light just below the visible spectrum to kill microbes, parasites, bacteria, fungi and certain algae in saltwater aquariums. UV sterilizers, when properly installed...

A sump can be beneficial to any aquarium-- freshwater, saltwater or reef. The added water volume helps stabilize pH,dilutes nitrites and nitrates and also adds water surface for oxygenation. A...