Animals & Science

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...

Siberian dwarf hamsters are sociable creatures and, like most other rodents, they breed early and often. Siberian dwarf hamsters can produce litters of multiple pups. Breeding Siberian dwarf...

Live sand is used in saltwater and reef aquariums. Not only does live sand add a natural look to the tank, but it benefits the saltwater ecosystem by providing natural filtration in the form of...

Earthworms are an essential part of our plant and fertilization system. They aerate and fertilize soil to help plants grow and thrive. Earthworms can also be used in compost bins to help create...

It can be quite difficult to determine the sex of a fish. Scrutiny of a few general features, however, can sometimes point you in the right direction. It's advisable, if you're truly interested,...

Keeping a saltwater aquarium is a great way to have a bit of the ocean in your home. But having a fish tank "crash" and watching fish die is depressing, not to mention expensive. One of the...

Keeping a saltwater aquarium involves more than simply filling a glass tank with saltwater and tossing in a few fish. Even with the most expensive equipment available, you will need to keep on top...

Generally, the bigger the saltwater aquarium, the easier to maintain. Larger systems have more margin for error, whereas even the slightest mistake in a small aquarium can have disastrous effects....

There are about 35 species of true seals. True seals, otherwise known as earless seals, are uniquely identifiable. They do not have external ears, have a fused pelvis and are generally solitary....

The ringtailed cat (Bassariscus astutus) is a member of the raccoon family and is found in the southern part of North America, spanning from the U.S. Southwest into Mexico. This small mammal is...

A herpetologist--a scientist who studies amphibians and reptiles--encounters many interesting and potentially dangerous animals. There are many tools a herpetologist can use to handle, observe...

Many dog owners know that when the moon comes out, dogs love to howl at it. The image of a dog raising voice to a full moon is a classic one---but science has little to say on the subject.

Infestations of certain plant-eating nematodes can easily ruin a crop or garden. Spraying a bleach or ammonia solution directly on the leaves can kill some nematodes, but they will still be...

Grey wolves, Canis lupus, have made a comeback in parts of their former territory, allowing researchers to observe how these animals affect an ecosystem. The evidence suggests that grey wolves...

Since bluebirds do not build their own homes, these birds will often welcome the sight of a well-placed bluebird house. However, proper placement of these birdhouses is key to attracting the...

The pink sea urchin and the fragile pink sea urchin are members of the echinodermata family of animals (class: echinoidea). Like all sea urchins, the pink sea urchin cannot survive in fresh water...

Hides that are tanned and hides that have yet to be tanned have different storage requirements. Tanning hides acquired in the summer becomes a sizeable task when you factor in the work that will...

Baby ducks left to their own natural habitat will consume a variety of vegetables, natural grains and fish. Grit, such as dirt, is another important part of a duck's diet, which the baby ducks...

Hatching your own chicks is a rewarding experience. Whether you have plans to stock your own chicken house or are teaching your children a creative science lesson, you'll need an incubator to...

Black algae, though harmless in small amounts, can ruin the look of your aquarium. "Black beard" or "black brush" algae tend to grow on the surfaces of driftwood and plants and can be difficult...

The Krebs cycle, also called the citric acid cycle or the tricarboxylic acid cycle, is a sequence of chemical reactions that convert glucose, proteins and fats into energy for living cells in the...

Birch Bay is a small community in northwestern Washington State, about two miles south of the Canadian border. Because of its moist, mild climate, Birch Bay is home to several varieties of frog,...

Brand new aquariums need to be sufficiently "cycled." In other words, they need to run for a couple of weeks without fish. Otherwise, no nitrifying bacteria built up in the tank, and any fish...

Driftwood adds a realistic, natural look to your aquarium. It also provides hiding places for shy fish, shelter for breeding fish, and divides the space for aggressive fish. But you can't just...

Purple sea urchins (Strongylocentrotus purpuratus) have existed for approximately 450 million years. They live in shallow coasts of the Pacific Ocean, mostly off the west coast of North America.

Many hunters love to shoot ducks but aren't sure of the best way to clean and prepare the meat. Wild duck does take special care in cleaning and cooking to make the game meat palatable. Although...

Manatees are large, gray marine mammals that populate the waters from Florida all the way to Brazil. Often referred to as "sea cows," manatees can reach up to 13 feet in length and weigh in at as...

Animal cells are characterized by a cell membrane enclosing cytoplasm and a variety of membrane-bound organelles, including a nucleus, mitochondria and lysosomes. These cells can be easily...

Sea otters look like cuddly creatures, although they can be aggressive. Their thick fur, the most dense of any mammal on earth, is highly coveted for pelts. This, as well as oil spills and...

Blue crabs are both carnivores and omnivores. They will seek out prey, but often are scavengers eating decaying matter and plants and dead fish. Blue crabs will prey on oysters, hard clams, fish,...

The night parrot, or Pezoporus occidentalis, is an Australian native and has been spotted only intermittently since 1979, when it was rediscovered. Little is known about them except that they are...

Eastern Australia is home to one of world's most unique mammals--an aquatic, duck-billed monotreme called the platypus. Like its relatives, the echidnas, and unlike all other mammals, the platypus...

Constipation is not uncommon in cats, particularly in kittens and older cats. According to VetInfo4Cats.com, your cat should produce one or two bowel movements daily; failure to do so should be an...

The skeletal system is made up of two sections: The appendicular section of the human skeleton makes up the extremities and joints that connect each bone; this part of the skeleton is comprised of...

King crab are a prized seafood, captured off the west coast of North America and into the Pacific. Unlike other types of crab, king crab exhibit a number of behaviors unique to the species,...

Stone crabs live along the coastline of the Atlantic ocean and the Gulf of Mexico. They live in bays and estuaries, feeding on oysters and other mollusks, worms and other crustaceans. They reach...

There are about 700 species of sea urchin worldwide, only a fraction of which are harvested by humans for their roe. Conversely, hundreds of sea-goers are injured by encounters with sea urchins...