Animals & Science

Coral reefs are a widespread habitat strung along the world's tropical belt. Immensely diverse, they're home to the greatest densities of animal life in the world.

Thousands of animal species are endangered throughout the world. The sheer number of animals that are in trouble can seem overwhelming. Learn about endangered animal conservation and ways that you...

Alligator lizards are found in the Pacific and Rocky Mountain regions of North America. They are abundant in areas of California, Oregon, Washington and the Rocky Mountain states. If you live in...

Western pond turtles (also referred to as Pacific pond turtles) are found on the West Coast of North America, from Washington state in the United States to Northern Mexico. Locally these turtles...

Seals are large, carnivorous marine mammals. These swift, strong swimmers are the only mammal to have evolved flippers on all four limbs. Seals are divided into three distinct families: true...

Extremely rare and poisonous, the Aruba Island rattlesnake (Crotalus unicolor) has seen its habitat diminish to 12 square miles on the island's southern tip. The International Union for the...

Antarctic fur seals rely on their blubber and fur to survive in their harsh environment. This fur was prized by hunters; the seals were hunted to near extinction in the 18th and 19th century. ...

Giraffes are the tallest land animals. A giraffe can easily eat from tall tree branches using its long neck and tongue. Giraffes also have a spotted pattern that allows them to blend into the...

Many wildlife species sustain severe injuries each year either from other animals or humans. Their mothers leave orphaned hundreds of baby raccoons, squirrels, deer and other animals because of...

Did you ever sat down to a crab claw dinner and wondered where those succulent meaty tidbits came from? Most crab claws in restaurants come from the blue crab, but the stone crab is becoming...

The manatee, also called a sea cow, is a 3,000 lb. aquatic mammal whose closest living relative is the elephant. Its habitat requirements are, in part, what makes them unique and what contributes...

The blue-bellied parrot (Triclaria malachitacea), a native of Brazil's coastal forests, has experienced a significant decline in population in recent decades. The International Union for...

There are many animals across the European continent with declining numbers in population. Many of those have already been listed on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species as vulnerable,...

While many countries and continents are home to a variety of threatened and endangered species, Africa is home to many of the most known. A few of those animals (like the African Elephant) reside...

The bobcat is the most common wildcat in the United States and has the greatest habitat range of any cat native to North America. Fierce, adaptable hunters, bobcats are experts at surviving with...

Humankind has made many changes to the environment without first investigating and weighing the potentially negative effects. Ocean life is no exception to this alarming trend. Sockeye salmon,...

The Oscar Cichlid is part of the Astronotus Ocellatus species. It is a fish known by a number of different titles including oscar, velvet cichlid, tiger, and marble cichlid. The Oscar Cichlid...

With the 2008 film "Kung Fu Panda," moviegoers of all ages have been introduced to China's giant panda, which is presently an endangered animal. Giant pandas spend more than 10 hours a day eating...

Congress passed the Endangered Species Act in 1973 to protect animals that were in danger of becoming extinct. The U.S Fish and Wildlife Service has the task and responsibility of maintaining the...

Across the planet, as habitats are lost and populations are decimated, there are thousands of plants and animals that stand on the brink of extinction and are considered endangered. Many of these...

Songbirds, in addition to their melodies, give humans other gifts. Their beauty decorates our landscapes, from prairies and forests to deserts and swamps. Populations of resident birds, such as...

Butterflyfish grace many saltwater tanks in homes and public city aquariums alike. Learning about these fish and exploring their habitat might give you an even deeper appreciation for their...

The marbled murrelet is a water bird listed as threatened under the Federal Endangered Species Act. It breeds in coastal coniferous forests and usually nests in trees older than 200 years. The...

Chimpanzees are primates from the family of great apes, which includes gorillas and orangutans. The closest living relative of humans, chimps are highly intelligent and very easily trained.

The skua is a type of bird that resembles the members of the gull family. Skuas are an endangered species, numbering in only the thousands, but their numbers have so far been fairly protected...

Riparian woodlands refer to the wooded areas near streams, ponds and creeks. Found all over the world, these woodlands and its vegetation are home to a variety of animals that use the water and...

A butterfly's colorful wings and graceful fluttering are a joy to watch, and one of the best parts of spring and summer. Unfortunately, urban development has taken up many of their natural...

When most people think about a treefrog, they think about a little green frog that can climb trees. The American green treefrog is only one of many species of treefrogs spread throughout the...

Sugar gliders are becoming popular exotic pets. Despite being small, these arboreal marsupials require a lot of time and effort from their owners. When kept under the proper conditions, a sugar...

Pine martens are members of the weasel family. Once common in North American forests, these small mammals were hunted and trapped by colonists until their populations declined drastically. Pine...

The International Union for Conservation of Nature's Red List of 2008 lists the black footed rock wallaby as a near threatened species. However, the rock wallaby is a sensitive species because of...

Giant pandas are popular animals that most people have only ever seen on television and in pictures. According to the World Wildlife Federation, about 1,600 mature giant pandas live in the wild,...

There are 11 species of whales on the endangered list, and many other whale species are in danger of becoming extinct. Because of their diverse habitat and adaptability, the Killer whale...

Although classified as an endangered species, loggerhead turtles are the most populous of all turtle species in United States waters, according to National Geographic. Loggerheads can be found in...

Vampire bats live only in Central and South America, where three different kinds of vampire bats can be found. Learn about the habitat and behavior of vampire bats with helpful information from an...

A bluebird's natural habitat is an open pine forest, an open field or a prairie with infrequent trees. See why bluebirds like farm fields with information from an active Audubon member in this...

A hummingbird's normal habitat is any place where tubular flowers and insects are found, which includes Alaska and Canada during the summer months, and Mexico and the Caribbean during the winter...

Sharks eat different things depending on the species and the habitat, but they mostly eat bony fish that are found along the shores. Find out how some sharks eat marine animals, such as seals,...

Sharks live in every ocean throughout the world, and their different body types and adaptations allow them to live in many different locations. Learn about the migratory behavior of sharks with...

In 2008, efforts were made to list the polar bear on the Endangered Species List. This move was undertaken not because of over-hunting but because the ice they stand on has been shrinking every...

Since the early 1900s, the population of tigers in the wild has decreased significantly. The population has declined from about 100,000 to approximately 4,000, although this is not a firm number....

The coyote is an animal with a bad reputation. Farmers shoot them so that they won't eat their chickens and sheep. Cartoons make fun of them and few enjoy hearing their howl. Learn more about the...

A mother squirrel will have two litters of babies a year. There will be two to five babies each time the mother gives birth. She provides mother's milk for the tiny, nearly blind and fur-less...

The habitat of a manatee plays a key factor as to how the manatee survives, how it's physical characteristics play a part in its day to day experiences and also how the manatee interacts within...

Knowing about the bluebird's natural habitat is an important first step for bird enthusiasts who are seeking to study the species in the wild. Although there are three types of bluebirds in North...

In recent years, the polar bear population is being reduced. Their ice habitat is dwindling and they need human help to stay alive. Adopting a polar bear can be a rewarding and unique experience....

Predators such as the red fox, skunk and raccoon cause nearly all adult game bird mortality. Hawks and owls can also threaten game birds. Here are a few prevention methods to keep your birds safe.

Salamanders, snakes, raccoons, butterflies, skunks, dragonflies, 'possums, garden snails, goldfish, coyotes, tadpoles and assorted birds make their home in (or occasionally pass through) my yard...

An amphibian is a cold-blooded vertebrate animal that spends part of its time on land and part of its time on water, like a frog. Studying amphibians can be a complicated scientific procedure...

If you have a shady spot in your yard, make it toad-friendly and toads will take up residence in no time. Toads are fun to watch, especially for kids, and good to have around the house, because...