Animals & Science

Cookiecutter sharks, so named for their uniform circular "cookie cutter" bite, are not especially dangerous to humans because of their small size. Considered a parasite, these sharks eat pieces of...

The great barracuda, or Sphyraena barracuda, is the largest of the saltwater barracudas. At maturity, it is more than 6 feet long and weighs more than 100 lbs., as compared with freshwater...

The purpose of an animal's skull is to protect the life center or brain and sensory organs. Because animals are uniquely adapted for the particular environmental stresses they face, identification...

Shark teeth are some of the most common and popular fossils in the world, and they are used to study shark biology and evolution. Found on beaches throughout the world, they've become a staple in...

As a member of the deer family, an elk has a tooth on each side of its upper jaw. Elks are the only North American animals to produce ivory teeth.

Just as in humans, plaque and tartar builds up on a cats teeth, making it susceptible to periodontal disease. Because of this, Doctors Foster and Smith recommend oral examinations as a part of...

The cookie cutter shark is an unusual-looking shark featuring a long body. These sharks spend most of their time in deep waters, and are generally only caught during the night when they rise to...

Unlike adult humans, sharks are constantly growing new teeth to replace those they lose. You may find some of these shed teeth on the beach or for sale in souvenir shops. To determine what shark...

The identification of fossilized shark teeth is a study that requires many hours of study and dedication to the work. Many factors can complicate the identification process, such as sex of the...

Felidae is the scientific name of the family of animals commonly called cats or felines. All 37 cat species, whether domesticated or wild in nature, are included in this family. There are two...

A dolphin has approximately 44 conical-shaped teeth that are located on both their upper and lower jaw. Learn more about dolphin teeth, which are primarily used for catching fish, with help from...

The number of teeth that a shark has can vary greatly among species, with the great white shark using about 50 teeth at any one time. Learn about a shark's constant replacement of their teeth with...

A trip to the beach can be an exhilarating experience. With nothing but time on your hands, why not try this enjoyable beach past time.

Gophers are part of the order Rodentia, making them relatives of mice, squirrels and rabbits. Unlike these animals, however, they live most of their lives underground in intricate systems of...

Dolphins are some of the friendliest creatures in the ocean, but if they ever bite you with their large jaw full of teeth, they could actually tear you apart. Dolphins grow a large amount of teeth...

The menacing sight of an open shark's mouth is characterized by many sharp teeth. This leads one to the question: Just how many teeth do sharks have?

Perhaps no creature on the planet is more feared or misunderstood more than the great white shark. This oceanic predator is responsible for up to one half of the shark attacks on record. Great...

The giant barracuda is widely considered to be one of the most voracious fishes of the ocean. In an ocean full of sharks, jellyfish and other dangerous marine life, the giant barracuda is often...

Aardvarks are odd-looking nocturnal creatures living in Africa. They don't look much like most other animals, so they aren't normally that hard to identify. The main mistake that people make with...

Jacques Cousteau once called the oceanic whitetip shark (also known as Carcharhinus longimanus) "the most dangerous of all sharks." In earlier seafaring days, it was known as the "sea dog," prone...

The anaconda of South America is legendary for its size and ferocity and with good reason. A full grown anaconda could actually kill a man with little effort. Would you know what an anaconda...

The great white shark is legendary and with good reason. It has been called the perfect eating machine of the ocean. It has been called the white death. All of these descriptions are true, yet the...

The most common shark caught in the U.S. shark industry, the sandbar shark, is a bottom-dwelling shark found worldwide. The sandbar shark also goes by brown shark, ground shark, northern whaler,...

Named for the cookie-shaped wounds it inflicts on its prey, the cookiecutter shark is a small, oddly-shaped shark with distinct features. Despite their sharp teeth, they pose no danger to humans...

There are many species of large sharks and one of the most common is the Tiger. Though they lack the frightening reputation of their cousin the Great White, they are still fierce predators that...

Plesiosaurs seem to belong to an underwater fantasy world. With big, lumbering bodies and long, graceful necks they look like some kind of converted swan. Existing from the end of the Triassic...