Animals & Science

Mahi mahi (Coryphaena hippurus) means "strong strong" in Hawaiian, a reference to this fish's swiftness in the ocean. Mahi mahi's firm texture and slightly sweet taste makes it a popular seafood.

The easiest way to trap a frog is through the use of a drift fence. Many scientists or hobbyists use drift fences to study various animals in an area. For this trap, the fence will be a board that...

Sharks and dolphins are excellent examples of convergent evolution. They're unrelated creatures, sharks being fish and dolphins mammals; however, they have assumed a similar physical form to adapt...

Chimpanzees and bonobos, considered man's closest living animal relatives, are powerful primates--a physical trait apparent to anyone who's ever seen a chimp swing through a forest canopy or hurl...

"The tide, the rise and fall of the ocean, pretty much shapes life on the shore and affects how it behaves at certain times. Many shore creatures have life cycles tied in with these pulses...

If an animal fits and meets the weight limitations of a scale made for humans, the scale can be used to weigh the animal. Veterinarians often use scales for cats and other small animals that are...

The ocean abounds with tiny organisms that are invisible to the human eye. Phytoplankton are one plant-like example of these abundant and necessary creatures. Saltwater aquariums do not have this...

Frogs and toads fall into the amphibian category of animals meaning that they are cold blooded and live on both land and in the water. Frogs and toads are very closely related, but the call of a...

Maintaining a honey bee hive is a great way to obtain honey and honeycombs for free. In addition, honey bees are great at pollinating plants so the surrounding flowers and vegetables will thrive...

Male elk shed their antlers annually. The old antlers can be found on the ground in the woods beginning in March. Before you plan an antler hunt, check with your local Department of Fish and...

There are quite a few ways to lure deer when you're out hunting. One of the simplest and least expensive methods is rattling. You can use basic rattling techniques to catch a buck's interest and...

One of the truths of wildlife science is that the subjects of inquiry tend to be mobile---sometimes incredibly so. Studying a wandering albatross, for example, entails learning about a bird that...

Common snapping turtles are some of the most widespread and impressive turtles in North America, found across most of the central and eastern United States. They are related to the larger...

Bats are one of the most beneficial nocturnal animals to have in your backyard. One bat can eat thousands of insects in a night, and they are one of the few creatures that help pollinate night...

In the north we see unpredictable winter weather from heavy snow falls to sub-zero temperatures. As the snow begins to pile up the birds and other wildlife struggle to find food and water. By...

Spending a day at the beach can be a fun activity for the whole family. One of the best ways to keep your kids distracted on this excursion through the sand is by collecting seashells. If the...

Sugar gliders (Petaurus breviceps) are small marsupials that are native to Australia, New Guinea and Tasmania. In states where it is legal to do so, many keep these nocturnal omnivores as pets....

The male western fence lizard's bright blue sides and throat earned it the nickname blue-belly lizard. This adaptable reptile thrives in a wide range of habitats in the western United States, but...

Identifying frog species can be tricky, especially because many species can have varying markings and coloring. The best way to narrow down your search for frog species that are green with red...

Broadly distributed in many parts of the world, cicadas are striking insects: Their songs can be deafening, almost hypnotic---highly evocative of summer in eastern North America, for example---and...

Homemade canister filters are very versatile and come in many shapes and forms. The filters can go either inside or outside an aquarium and can be made from many different types of containers....

If you are a gardener or spend a lot of time outdoors, chances are that you will find an abandoned baby bird on the ground. It can be difficult to determine if the baby bird has been abandoned...

Raising chickens is a fun, challenging and rewarding hobby. Fresh eggs, a ready composting material and communing with nature are all positive aspects to having a few chickens in your back yard. ...

To humans, plastic bags are convenient and inexpensive containers. But for many species of mammals, reptiles and birds--who may mistake a plastic bag for a quick snack and attempt to ingest...

When identifying lizards, one of the first aspects to consider is appearance and coloration. If a lizard with a blue tail crosses your path or dashes out of view under some forest leaves, it could...

The goldfinch is a beautiful, bright yellow bird with black markings. Males are much brighter in color than females, but they all have a yellow/orange cone-shaped beak. They are common to much of...

There are a few great reasons to learn to make animal sounds. Animal sounds can make learning more fun and interesting for children and even adults too. Whether you are in preschool or in an...

It might be said there is no natural habitat for the goat (Capra hircus) any longer, since this even-toed ungulate was domesticated in 7,000 B.C. However, any habitat can be considered natural for...

Freshwater shrimp, also called Malaysian prawn, are the species Macrobrachium rosenbergii, originally from Malaysia. These are relatively easy to aquaculture, but require large ponds with...

The two species of ruffed lemur---the red, and the black-and-white---are the largest of all lemurs. Along with their size, these primates draw attention with their handsome pelage and renowned...

Using the Stealth Cam to help scout for game makes good sense. Trail Camera Reviews website notes this digital camera can be used for scouting game animals that you otherwise would miss. It also...

The body's complex anatomical systems work closely together to support movement, blood circulation, digestion and other basic requirements of life. The muscular system consists of three types of...

Anyone lucky enough to observe birds building a nest and raising their young is witness to a marvel of nature. The young of most species require a great deal of care from their parents before they...

Birding or birdwatching is a popular and fun hobby. If you have been out birding with a group of experienced birders, you know that some people have phenomenal birding skills. It is almost as if...

Far from being the rabies-carrying harbingers of death that many people perceive them to be, bats offer a useful service to humans. One bat can eat as many as 1,000 mosquitoes an hour. Invite...

Setting up and installing a fish tank is a simple process, but there are steps that must be taken correctly and in the proper order to enable a healthy life for plants and fish living in your...

The Hova-Bator egg incubator from G.Q.F. is a self-contained environment for incubating and hatching eggs. Various types of eggs can be hatched in the Hova-bator, including chicken, duck, turkey...

Finches are small, often colorful songbirds with strong, conical beaks that are found over much of the world. The finch, particularly the European goldfinch, has a rich history of symbolism in...

Shark skin is comprised of dermal denticles arranged in a pattern. Dermal denticles is translated "skin teeth." Dermal denticles are also called placoid scales. "Placoid scales have the same...

Every spring, people start to get their lawns ready for the summer by doing things like spreading or spraying lawn chemicals. They do this to make their grass as green and weedless as possible...

Goldfinches can be tricky to attract to your yard. Using a tube feeder and the small black thistle seeds, nyjer, you will be able to attract them with little effort. A tube feeder does not waste...

While earthworms come in hundreds of different species, not all handle the confines and contents of a compost pile or worm bin well. One species of worm, the red wiggler, accounts for 80 to 90...

LED lighting for fish tanks is a somewhat new approach to lighting fish tanks. With the recent advances in the way that LED lights are made and the lowered cost of productions, they are present in...

Indoor birds are one of the most popular house pets. They brighten our lives with their songs and cheerful chirps, but can be messy when they toss seed chaff, droppings, dander, feathers and...

Many children enjoy learning about animals because of their diversity. Animals are often beautiful or at least interesting-looking. They adapt to their environments so well that they don't require...

In a freshwater or marine aquarium, there is no need to change gravel unless it is for aesthetic purposes, or if you wish to change to a different substrate media. Remember that gravel in a mature...

When fish waste and uneaten food disintegrate in your saltwater aquarium, the beneficial bacteria that live in your substrate, live rock, and filter media turn harmful chemicals like ammonia into...

Rats are an adaptable species that lives in many parts of the world in a variety of environments. As a result, these omnivores have a broad palate and have gained a reputation for eating...

Children learn better if they can see and touch what they learn about, especially when it comes to the minute workings of biology. You may draw diagrams of cells and describe how the cell...