Animals & Science

Tadpoles are the larvae of the anurans---frogs and toads. While relatively easy to find, as they are restricted to water bodies and may amass in large numbers, tadpoles seem to confound easy...

The capercaillie (Tetrao urogallus) is the largest member of the grouse family, and it also is known as the western capercaillie and the wood grouse. Both male and female have a patch of bright...

The swallow-tailed hummingbird is a South American species of hummingbird most remarkable for its distinct, deeply forked tail and relatively large size.

Did you just catch your first northern pike but you don't know the first thing about taking out the bones and getting it ready to eat? Don't worry because the task is not as scary as it sounds. ...

The subject of rattlesnakes can be a very sensitive or a fascinating matter, depending on the person talking about them. There are over 15 different varieties of rattlesnakes, and there are...

At-home taxidermy is easy with the use of squirrel mount kits. The kit supplies you with all the tools you need to mount a squirrel successfully for placement in your home or office. The benefit...

Hippopotamuses---hippos, for short---are huge mammals, the third largest in weight after elephants and rhinoceroses. They weigh 3,300 to 7,000 pounds, are 5 feet tall and up to 13 feet long. In...

According to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, over 50 million Americans call themselves birders, and the numbers are increasing. Birdwatching is big business, with birders spending over $32...

A buzzard is a raptor in the genus Buteo with broad wings and a round tail. It is a medium-sized bird of prey, with many varieties. Buzzards are known as hawks in North America. Regardless of...

Dogs wag their tails to communicate and the more excited or agitated they are, the more vigorous the wag. A damaged tail is extremely painful for a dog and can turn a happy pooch into a miserable...

Lobsters have two large claws meant for crushing its food and fending off other lobsters. They also have a segmented body with 19 sections and a large single tail with joints. The segmented body...

The guanaco is one of the largest mammals living in South America, found in the mountainous terrain of countries such as Chile, Peru, Bolivia, Paraguay, and into the plains of Argentina.

Some people think they're cute; others consider them a nuisance. Cottontail rabbits are ubiquitous creatures found in woods, fields, farms and back yards. There are 16 species of this mammal,...

Colorful tropical fish appear from recycled paint bottles using just a few common craft supplies. Make a large variety of fish and hang them together for an interesting visual impact.

Fish don't actually have tails at all. What we think of as a tail is a single fin, called the caudal fin. This fin is the very powerful and propels the fish forward through the water.

Everyone has seen the Warner Brothers cartoon version of the Roadrunner as he goes about trying to outsmart the Coyote, but few realize that the real roadrunner is even more incredible. This...

Tigers communicate in a number of pivotal ways. The first manner of communication is through smell. Often tigers will shoot urine onto trees and other objects to effectively mark their ranges, not...

Dolphins are very swift and agile swimmers that can change directions in a split second and perform amazing underwater acrobatics. They can sprint at speeds up to about 22 mph. A sprinting dolphin...

The Mojave rattlesnake is one of the most dangerous snakes in the United States. Because it shares territories with the famed Western diamondback rattlesnake, the two are often confused. Both...

The red tail boa is a snake that is commonly kept as a pet. A boa constrictor, the red tail boa is friendly and gentle. Give the red tail boa proper care and attention and it will make a welcome...

The kinkajou (Potos flavus) is a tropical mammal that lives in the rainforests of the Western Hemisphere. The kinkajou, also known as a nightwalker or a honeybear, is related to red pandas and...

A coatimundi, also known as a coati, is a hog-nosed coon and a relative to the raccoon family. They are native to south, central and south-western North America and live in habitats ranging from...

Learn facts about opossum tails and information on how to care for possums in this free online instructional video.

Grisons are omnivorous members of the weasel family, primarily occupying central and south America. The key to recognizing grisons is knowing where they live and being able to identify their...

The thresher shark is a unique fish belonging to the Lamniformes order of sharks. This is the same order to which the Great White belongs, and there are several noticeable similarities between the...

The goblin shark is a rare and elusive deep-sea fish. Because of their harsh habitat, the sharks are hard to see while they're alive, but fishermen frequently catch them in their nets and on their...

Legless lizards are a fascinating species of reptile that many mistake for snakes. Learning how to identify a legless lizard can help prevent an overreaction when coming across one in the wild. It...

While stingrays will rarely attack anyone, they don't enjoy being stepped on. Step on a stingray, and the ray's instinctive response will set you hopping. The stingray hop season begins in May...

Skunks will give warnings before spraying their infamous perfume. Be advised of the danger signals to avoid a bath!

Mules, interestingly, do not have their own species. They are a hybrid animal, a cross between a horse and a donkey, and they are unable to reproduce. They resemble donkeys very closely in many...

Mink make their habitat throughout North America and are a member of the weasel family. Mink usually weigh between 1 and 3 lb. Some of the best places to spot mink tracks are along the edges of...

The white tail deer is thought to be the most widespread deer species in the world. Their population in the United States has continued to soar in spite of the fact that they're also the most...

A skink is any lizard of the family Scincidae, of which there are about 1,275 species. It is the most diverse group of lizards, and they can be found in any tropical area and some temperate...

Grouse are sometimes called the "chicken of the woods" because of their similarity in size and shape to chickens. However unlike our barnyard friends, they can startle you if you happen close to...