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Living Species - Eurasian lynx | IUCN CatSG

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Ecology and conservation of Eurasian lynx (Lynx lynx)

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(Genus, species: Lynx canadensis)

When I was younger I would change my favourite animals, colours, numbers, etc pretty much every month. However, I clearly remember that for an entire two year period my favourite animal was the Canadian lynx! I loved their cute ears and giant paws! I still find the Canadian lynx a fascinating creature and would love to see one in the wild.

Here is some neat information about the Canadian Lynx!

Distribution/Location: The Canadian Lynx lives in North America. They are most common across Canada and a select number of northern states, but may also be seen in southern states such as Oregon, Wyoming, New Mexico, etc.

Distribution of Canadian lynx in North America.

Unfortunately, lynx have become much less common in the United States. Due to urban sprawl from things such as highways, deforestation, and recreational development, the Canadian lynx are losing their habitat. This has led to the need for reintroduction in Maine, Minnesota, Washington, and Colorado. In the other states (specifically the lower 48 states) the Canadian lynx is listed as an endangered species.

Appearance: Canadian lynx are approximately 60 centimeters (2 feet) in height and 5-12 kilograms in weight, so they are classified as a medium-sized wildcat.

The ears of the lynx are very distinct; they are triangular with a tuft of black fur at the top of each ear. Lynx also have two larger tufts of fur on either side of the chin, giving them a flared beard appearance.

Lynx have a thick coat of fur, which is usually grey in color but may also have tints of red and white. Some lynx may have spots along the fur of their legs and their underbellies.

The paws of the Canadian lynx are very large compared to their body, allowing them to walk through the deep snow more easily. The Canadian lynx hind legs are noticably longer than its front legs.

Unlike other wild cats, the tail of the lynx is short-ranging anywhere from 9 to 12 centimeters in length-with a tip of black fur.

Diet: Canadian lynx are carnivores that hunt in the forest. They are considered mid-sized predators so their prey tend to be smaller rodents such as mice, red squirrels, voles, etc. They may also feast on different birds (willow ptarmigans and grouse for example) if they are able to catch them.

Their prey of choice is the snowshoe hare, so the Canadian lynx will typically inhabit areas with an abundant snowshoe hare population.

Hunting: When it comes to hunting, lynx are solitary creatures. They tend to be more active during the night rather than the day. Their eyesight is excellent, even in the dark, which is a great tool for their nocturnal lifestyle. Their whiskers can also be used to sense prey in the dark. Lynx are very sneaky hunters; they hide in hunting beds or trees while they wait to pounce on their prey.

Lynx are excellent forest and snow hunters. Amazingly, they can find small rodents burrowed beneath the snow. Plus, their quick reflexes help lynx catch their prey, even when deep snow makes moving around more difficult. It is especially handy that the paws of the Canadian lynx act like snowshoes.

Habitat: Canadian lynx most commonly inhabit boreal forests. These forests tend to be dense but mostly filled with younger trees that still provide adequate shelter. The young and dense forests tend to result when a wildfire occurs in a mature forest. These habitats are ideal because their favourite prey (snowshoe hares) are common in these regions.

Lynx are nocturnal animals (meaning they are more active at night), so during the day they will often sleep in a shelter underneath fallen trees or rock ledges.

These amazing creatures must be able to travel through swampy, boggy, rocky, and snowy areas. Canadian lynx have special adaptations to help them survive and thrive in diverse habitats. In terms of snow, the Canadian lynx use their thick fur coat to keep them warm and their large snowshoe-type paws to help them move through deep snow.

Mating: Canadian Lynx will mate during the spring months (March to May). Mating only lasts for one month, and whether it occurs in early or late spring depends on the weather conditions. The mating season is very quick because lynx are solitary creatures. After mating the male lynx will not have anything to do with raising the young kittens.

Breeding: After mating Canadian lynx are pregnant for about two months before giving birth to a litter of kittens. Lynx have been known to give birth to up to 8 kittens in one litter. However, most litters have an average of 2 to 4 kittens.

Kittens will stay with their mother for a year after birth; they will learn to hunt and survive in the forest environment. This is actualy the only time that lynx can be found hunting in groups.

While caring for their young, Canadian lynx will create dens in mature forests because there is excellent coverage in the undergrowth and fallen trees of developed forests. They keep their kittens safe in depressions in the ground, under trees or shrubs, or underneath rock ledges.

Young Canadian lynx will reach maturity at different times depending on their gender and the amount of prey available. Female lynx will reach maturity in less than a year if they have access to plenty of prey. If there isn't enough prey to sustain quick growth, then female lynx may take 2-3 years to reach maturity. Male lynx take at least two years to reach maturity.

Threats: Since Canadian lynx are only medium-sized predators, they face threats from other animals of the forest. Large carnivores such as cougars and wolves are direct predators of the Canadian lynx. Coyotes, although relatively small, may also hunt lynx.

Other animals theaten the Canadian lynx because they compete for prey. Animals like coyotes and wolverines may try and steal prey from the lynx. Wolverines are very aggressive and will scare lynx away from prey that they have caught. Luckily, lynx can use different adaptations, like their whiskers, to detect incoming predators while they are hunting.

Aside from animal threats, the Canadian lynx's main threat comes from human impact and loss of habitat. The urban sprawl of mankind has extended into a lot of forest areas, cutting off the lynx from paths through their habitat or destroying their home altogether. In the United States, Canadian Lynx are a threatened species due to current urbanization and a history of overtrapping.
Interesting Facts:
References

Schmidt, A. (2016, September 19). Basic Facts About Canada Lynx. Retrieved February 20, 2018, from https://defenders.org/canada-lynx/basic-facts

Worksheets and Other Activities:

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(Genus, species: Lynx canadensis) When I was younger I would change my favourite animals, colours, numbers, etc pretty much every month. However, I clearly remember that for an entire two year period my favourite animal was the Canadian lynx! I loved their cute ears and giant paws!

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The coyote is a wild member of the dog family. Its scientific name is Canis latrans. It is known for its cleverness and its nighttime howls.

The coyote lives over a wide area, from Alaska in the north to Central America in the south. It can be found throughout the continental United States. Sometimes coyotes live near people, such as at the edges of cities.

Coyotes are similar to wolves, but they are smaller and more lightly built. Most adult coyotes weigh 20-50 pounds (9-23 kilograms) and are 3-4 feet (1-1.2 meters) long, including the tail. Their fur is long and full. Most coyotes are grayish brown with white on the throat and belly. They have bushy tails, often with a black tip.

Coyotes are active mostly at night. They often hunt alone, typically for rodents and hares. Groups of coyotes, called packs, may chase larger animals such as sheep. Coyotes communicate with each other using barks, yaps, and howls.

While chasing prey, they can run up to 40 miles (64 kilometers) per hour. Coyotes also eat plants and dead animals.

Cite

While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions.

"coyote." Britannica School, Encyclopædia Britannica, 7 Feb. 2020.

school.eb.com/levels/high/article/coyote/353008?pdf=true. Accessed 15 Jul. 2020.

© 2020 Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. 15 July 2020

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coyote, Britannica Kids, February 7, 2020, p1

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All About Ostriches for Children: Ostrich Video for Kids - FreeSchool

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Prairie dogs are a genus of ground squirrels. They are small, burrowing rodents which live in short-grass prairies and the high plains of western USA and Mexico. The explorers Lewis and Clark sent a prairie dog to President Thomas Jefferson during their expedition; it was quite strange to him.

Prairie dogs are found in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. In Mexico, they are mostly found in the northern states, which are the southern end of the great plains: northeastern Sonora, north and northeastern Chihuahua, northern Coahuila, northern Nuevo León, and northern Tamaulipas; in the U.S., they range primarily west of the Mississippi River, though they have also been introduced in a few eastern locales. They will eat all sorts of vegetables and fruits.

Prairie dogs are mostly herbivores (plant-eaters). They eat grasses, seeds, leaves, flowers, fruit, eggs, and some insects.

Biology and behavior

Highly social, prairie dogs live in large colonies - collections of prairie dog families that can span hundreds of acres. Families usually are made up of one male and two to four females living in a strict social hierarchy. Prairie dog pups reach sexual maturity at about 3 years of age, and after their third winter the dominant male in a given family will drive them away, forcing them to establish their own families on the edges of the colony. The dominant male will defend the family's borders against rival prairie dogs, and disputes are resolved by fighting. Prairie dogs are also aggressive against predators such as badgers and snakes.

Prairie dogs are social animals, and often make social visits with each other, and greet each other with a sort of kiss. Prairie dogs employ a complex form of communication that involves barks and rhythmic chirps.

Prairie dog tunnel systems usually have several rooms. Tunnels can go down as far as 5 metres (16 ft), and can extend laterally as much as 30 metres (98 ft). Prairie dogs line their burrows with grass to insulate them, and the earth excavated from the burrow is piled up in mounds around the burrow's entrance. The prairie dogs use these carefully maintained mounds as observation posts.

The prairie dog is well adapted to predators. They can detect predators from a far distance and alert other prairie dogs to the danger with a special, high-pitched call. Prairie dogs use different calls to identify specific predators. Prairie dogs also trim the vegetation around their colonies, perhaps to remove any cover for predators. Their burrows generally contain several routes of escape.

The prairie dog is chiefly herbivorous, though it eats some insects. It feeds primarily on grasses and, in the fall, broadleaf plants. Prairie dogs have 1-6 pups (babies) yearly, which are born blind and furless and need about 30 days of close nurturing from their mother.

Sometimes two prairie dogs touch teeth with each other. Researchers think they do this as a way of recognizing each other.

Prairie dogs are hunted by many animals, including wolves, dogs, coyotes, bobcats, foxes, and humans.

Images for kids

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Prairie dogs are a genus of ground squirrels. They are small, burrowing rodents which live in short-grass prairies and the high plains of western USA and Mexico. The explorers Lewis and Clark sent a prairie dog to President Thomas Jefferson during their expedition; it was quite strange to him.

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CUTE ALERT

Up to 15 inches long, the prairie dog is related to the squirrel. And this mammal is all about family time. Prairie dog family groups, which contain up to 26 individuals, share food, groom each other, and even greet one another with nose-to-nose nuzzles.

COUNTRY HOME

Prairie dog families live with hundreds of others in networks of tunnels dug below North America's grasslands. Most of these communities, called dog towns, cover less than half a square mile. But one in Texas stretched a hundred miles!

How are prairie dogs able to construct these rodent residences? The animals' sharp claws make them expert diggers. They also have excellent vision and hearing, which allow them to easily detect predators such as coyotes and snakes when aboveground. Once a prairie dog senses danger, it alerts others by barking. It even uses different barks for different enemies.

OUTDOOR RECESS

When hungry, prairie dogs emerge from their tunnels to forage for food. Using their sharp teeth, they act like little lawnmowers, trimming and gulping down grass. Outside, they also have some fun: Prairie dog pups enjoy romping around their burrows. Talk about party animals.

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Prairie dogs may bark like dogs-that's how they got their name-but the little guys are rodents, not canines. CUTE ALERT Up to 15 inches long, the prairie dog is related to the squirrel. And this mammal is all about family time.

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Prairie dogs tend to be celebrated for their larger ecological virtues. In the grasslands across the central and western United States, their intricate underground colonies-called prairie dog towns-create shelter for jackrabbits, toads, and rattlesnakes. The bare patches of ground created by their grazing and burrowing attract certain insects that feed a variety of birds. And prairie dogs themselves are a key food source for everything from coyotes to hawks to endangered black-footed ferrets.

"These animals support at least 136 other species through their various activities," said Kristy Bly, a WWF senior wildlife conservation biologist. "They're basically the Chicken McNuggets of the grasslands."

But these small, chubby-looking mammals are also fascinating in their own right. Check out these facts for a glimpse into their strange, surprisingly complex world.

1. They're tough
Prairie dogs may look a bit like actual Chicken McNuggets, but in reality they're fast, skilled fighters armed with sharp claws and powerful teeth. "The worst animal bite I've ever gotten was from a prairie dog," said Jessica Alexander, a program associate in WWF's Northern Great Plains office. "It takes a while for black-footed ferrets to learn how to catch them. Prairie dogs fight back."

2. Their entire mating season is just an hour long
In contrast with popular perceptions of prairie dogs as fast-multiplying rodents, these animals actually mate just once a year, in early winter. Females go into estrus for a single hour. They then have litters of three to eight pups-usually only half of which survive their first year.

3. They live in tight-knit family groups called coteries
The average coterie tends to have one or two breeding males, several breeding females, and the females' new pups. Males tend to jump from coterie to coterie-but the females stick together for life.

4. Their vocabulary is more advanced than any other animal language that's been decoded
To a human ear, prairie dogs' squeaky calls sound simple and repetitive. But recent research has found that those calls can convey incredibly descriptive details. Prairie dogs can alert one another, for example, that there's not just a human approaching their burrows, but a tall human wearing the color blue.

5. They're cousins of the squirrels in your backyard
All five species of prairie dog belong to the Scuiridae (squirrel) family. Their other biological relatives include groundhogs, chipmunks, marmots and woodchucks.

6. Their historical range has shrunk by more than 95%
There used to be hundreds of millions of prairie dogs in North America. European settlers traveling through the West wrote about passing through massive prairie dog colonies, some of which extended for miles. But over time, their range has shrunk to less than 5% of its original extent due to a host of pressures, including habitat encroachment by humans.

7. They're threatened by the same plague that caused the Black Death in Europe
In the late 1800s, the bubonic plague entered North America via rats aboard European ships. It quickly spread through wild mammal populations, including black-tailed prairie dogs in the northern Great Plains. The disease is still rampant in large tracts of the region, and tends to wipe out entire prairie dog colonies when it strikes.

8. Black-footed ferrets depend on prairie dogs-and we're working to protect both species
Prairie dogs are the primary source of food and habitat for endangered black-footed ferrets. At Fort Belknap Indian Reservation in Montana, WWF is collaborating with tribal partners to monitor the health of prairie dog colonies where black-footed ferrets live-and identify new areas where ferrets could be released. In September 2015, new ferrets were released into a healthy prairie dog colony, and quickly darted down the holes.

Help support these grassland critters. Adopt a prairie dog.

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Prairie dogs tend to be celebrated for their larger ecological virtues. In the grasslands across the central and western United States, their intricate underground colonies-called prairie dog towns-create shelter for jackrabbits, toads, and rattlesnakes. These small, chubby-looking mammals are also fascinating in their own right.

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Kangaroos are animals that get around by hopping on their back legs. They belong to a group of animals called marsupials. These animals carry their young in a pouch. There…

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Kangaroos possess powerful hind legs, a long, strong tail, and small front legs. Kangaroos belong to the animal family Macropus, literally "big foot." Thanks to their large feet, kangaroos can leap some 30 feet (9 meters) in a single bound, and travel more than 30 miles (48 kilometers) per hour.

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Found mainly in Australia, wallabies are unusual animals that look like small kangaroos. They belong to the group of animals called marsupials, meaning that they carry their…

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They're seriously tall and super speedy - check out our fascinating ostrich facts!

Scientific name: Struthio camelus
Family name: Struthionidae
Classification: Bird
IUCN status: Least concern
Lifespan (in wild): 30-40 years
Weight: More than 150kg
Body length: 2.1-2.7m tall
Top speed: 70km/h
Diet: Omnivore
Habitat: Grassland, savannah and open woodland
Range:

Found across Africa's hot savannahs and open woodland, the ostrich is the world's largest bird. It stands up to a massive 2.7m tall and weighs as much as 159kg - that's around 1m taller than the average man, and the weight of two men combined!

This flightless bird has a long, bare neck, long, sturdy legs and a bulky body covered with feathers. Males and females have different coloured feathers - males sport black plumage with a white tail, and females are mostly brown. Both sexes have small heads, a short, wide beak and big brown eyes protected by long dark lashes.

The ostrich might not be able to fly, but boy can it run! Using its long legs, powerful thighs and strong feet, this big bird can cover five metres in a single stride and reach speeds of over 70km per hour! When zooming along at such mega speeds, it holds out its short wings to help it balance.

This brilliant bird's strong legs don't only carry the ostrich where it wants to go - they're super effective when it comes to self-defence. If an ostrich is cornered by a hungry predator, such as a , , or , it will kick with a force powerful enough to kill! And check this out, each two-toed foot is armed with a ten centimetre sharp claw, too, so predators had better beware!

With their tall height and excellent eyesight, these amazing creatures are great at spotting potential predators from far away. But if danger gets too close for comfort, the ostrich will often lie low to hide, stretching its neck along the ground. Its coloured feathers help it to blend in with the sandy soil where it lives. Have you ever heard that ostriches bury their head in the sand to hide? Well, as funny as that sounds, it's not true! But from far away, depending what position the ostrich takes, it can sure look that way, hence how the myth began.

Ostriches are mainly vegetarian, eating roots, leaves, flowers and seeds. But they will also eat insects, lizards and other small creatures, too. They generally live in the vicinity of grazing animals such as wildebeest, antelopes and zebras, and together they form a great partnership - the grazers stir up insects and rodents for the ostriches to eat, and the ostriches help alert the grazers to dangers such as approaching lions.

Ostriches live in groups, called herds, generally made up of around 12 individuals. Males compete with one another for control of several females (or hens), and the winner becomes the leader of the herd. Each group also has a dominant hen, she will only mate with the alpha male, but he may mate with other females in the herd as well.

During breeding season, the alpha male makes a nest in the ground and attempts to attract females by, believe it or not, dancing! His impressive moves include dropping to the ground, shaking his wings and tail, and swaying his head and neck from side to side. After mating, the hens lay their eggs in the nest. But these are no ordinary eggs, gang - they're the largest eggs in the world, averaging around 15cm long and weighing up to a mega 1.5kg!

The main female may lay up to 11 eggs, which are positioned in the centre of the communal nest where they're safest, and the other hens lay between two to six eggs. The alpha male and dominant female then look after the nest, taking it in turns to incubate the eggs.

After about 40 days, the new chicks hatch, all feathered and ready to walk! Within days, they leave the nest to follow their parents, who protect them from the hot sun or rain by keeping them huddled under their body or outstretched wings. By the time the young ostriches are 18 months old, they are fully grown and have become record-breaking birds, just like their parents. Impressive, eh?

What did you make of our ostrich facts? Leave a comment below and let us know!

Credits
Text adapted from feature by Catherine D. Hughes
Pictures - Baby ostriches hatching: Des and Jen Bartlett. Ostrich head: Stephen St. John. Ostrich family: Niserin, Dreamstime. Ostrich standing in tall grass: Tim Laman. Ostrich running: Matthewgsimpson, Dreamstime. Ostrich distribution map: National Geographic Maps.

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Ostrich facts! - National Geographic Kids

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Ostrich facts: Learn about the ostrich, with facts about this big bird's characteristics, diet, habitat and behaviour, plus facts about ostrich eggs.

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The ostrich is one of the most unique and intriguing birds on the planet. With their tall stature, size and speed, these flightless birds certainly stand out on the African savannah.

Let's explore the top 10 fun facts about the adorable ostrich.

1. There are 2 Species of Ostrich

The ostrich family, while often viewed as a homogenous group, actually comprises two distinct species, each with its own characteristics and habitat preferences.

The Common Ostrich, primarily found in sub-Saharan Africa, is the more widespread of the two. This species is notable for its black and white plumage, which the males flaunt, and the duller brown of the females. They are predominantly found in the savannahs and woodlands of Africa, including the wildlife parks of Tanzania.

The Somali Ostrich, which inhabits the Horn of Africa, exhibits a slightly different physical appearance. The males are characterized by their blue-grey neck and thighs. The females of this species, while also brown, tend to have a slightly lighter shade.

2. They Are the World's Largest Bird

Ostriches are the largest and heaviest birds on Earth. With a height up to 9 feet (2.8 meters) and a weight reaching up to 345 pounds (156 kilograms). The wingspan of an ostrich is about 6.6 feet (2 meters).

The ostrich dwarfs its counterparts. For instance, the Australian Emu is the second largest bird, but it is significantly smaller than the ostrich. An adult emu stands up to 6.2 feet (1.9 meters) tall and weighs up to 121 pounds (55 kilograms).

3. Ostriches Can't Fly But They Run Really Fast

Due to their size and bulk, ostriches aren't capable of flying. Initially, like all birds, ostriches descended from flying ancestors. However, over millions of years, as these birds adapted to the open savannas and grasslands of Africa, flight became less crucial for survival and more of an energy burden. This led to the reduction in wing size and development of their robust legs. In a single stride, an ostrich can cover a distance of 10-16 feet (3-5 meters). It can reach a maximum speed of 45 mph (72.5 km/hour).

4. They Only Have Two Toes

Ostriches are special among birds for having just two toes on each foot, a trait known as didactylism. This feature sets them apart from most other birds, which typically have three or four toes.

The two-toed structure in ostriches is suited for running. Fewer toes mean reduced weight and drag, contributing to quick, streamlined and efficient locomotion. The larger surface area of these toes also aids in agility, stability and grip, all of which are essential for evasion of predators.

The main toe is equipped with a robust nail, akin to a hoof.

4. Ostriches Live in Flocks

Ostriches are gregarious birds and are often found in groups of about 12 individuals, known as flocks or herds. These social gatherings help ostriches protect themselves from predators and provide opportunities for cooperative foraging.

Typically, these groups are led by a dominant male and a primary female, with several other females forming a hierarchy beneath her. The dominant male and primary female are the primary breeders, while the subordinate females contribute to the communal nest. This nesting strategy increases the survival rates for the offspring.

6. Male Ostriches Dance For Their Ladies

The mating rituals of ostriches involve elaborate dances and behaviors. During the breeding season, the male ostrich performs an intricate dance. He alternates wing flapping and sweeping movements, coupled with dipping and bowing actions. This visual spectacle showcases his strength and vitality to potential mates.

Additionally, the male's plumage, featuring bold black and white feathers, becomes more vibrant during this period, enhancing his appeal. The female ostrich, in response to these displays, exhibits receptive postures, signaling her interest.

Once a pair bond is formed, the male becomes protective, guarding the female against rivals.

7. Ostriches Have a Specialized Stomach

Ostriches are omnivorous and opportunistic feeders, primarily consuming a diet of plants, seeds, insects, and small vertebrates.

Their stomach is divided into two main parts - the glandular stomach (proventriculus) and the gizzard (ventriculus). Initial digestion occurs in the glandular stomach with the secretion of digestive enzymes and acids. It's comparable to the stomach in mammals. The gizzard is a muscular part of the stomach that grinds the food. Ostriches ingest stones and pebbles, which stay in the gizzard to help break down tough plant material.

8. They Produce the World's Biggest Eggs

The ostrich egg stands out for its sheer size and scale. It is the largest egg of any living bird. On average, an ostrich egg measures about 6 inches (15 centimeters) in length and 5 inches (13 centimeters) in diameter, and weighs approximately 3 pounds (1.4 kilograms). This is comparable to 24 chicken eggs!

The thickness of an ostrich egg's shell is also impressive. At about 3 millimeters thick, it is so strong that a human can stand on it without breaking it. Due to their capacity and dudrability, local tribes in Africa repurposed emptied ostrich eggs as containers, often decorating them with carvings or beads.

9. Ostriches Have a Lethal Kick

While known for their speed, ostriches are adept at defending themselves by using its powerful legs. They can deliver devastating kicks that can even deter the most fearsome predators. Their blows can generate a force of about 2,000 pounds (141 kilograms) per square inch. When paired with its sharp, 4-inch (10 cm) talons, the ostrich has a mighty weapon capable of injuring or killing lions.

In battles with other ostriches, confrontations often involve aggressive posturing, such as wing flapping and loud hissing, to intimidate opponents. When physical clashes occur, they can be intense, with the birds using their legs and bodies to overpower each other.

10. They Don't Bury Their Heads in the Sand

Contrary to popular belief, ostriches do not bury their heads in the sand. The myth states that ostriches bury their heads to make themselves invisible to predators. In other words, if the ostrich can't see the predators, then the predators can't see them.

Of course this is rubbish. In reality, ostriches have a interesting defensive posture that might have contributed to this misconception. When threatened and unable to run, they try to camouflage themselves by lying flat on the ground and stretching their necks out. From a distance, this can create the illusion that they have buried their head in the sand.

Ostrich Quick Facts

Scientific Name: Struthio camelus

Common Name: Ostrich

Size: Approximately 6.9-9.2 feet tall

Weight: 139-320 pounds for females, 220-345 pounds for males

Lifespan: 40-45 years in the wild

Diet: Omnivore (primarily herbivorous, occasionally consumes insects)

Habitat: African savannas, grasslands, and open woodlands

Conservation Status: Least Concern

Want to see ostriches in their natural habitat? Join us on a Tanzanian Safari.

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10 Fun Facts About Ostriches - Swift Runners of the Plains | Ultimate Kilimanjaro

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The ostrich is one of the most unique and intriguing birds on the planet. With their tall stature, size and speed, these flightless birds certainly stand out on the African savannah. Let's explore the top 10 fun facts about the adorable ostrich....

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TONGUE TIME

Pangolins live in many different habitats, including rainforests and grasslands. Four species of pangolins live throughout Asia: Chinese, Sunda, Indian, and Philippine pangolins. The other four-ground, giant, white-bellied, and black-bellied-live in Africa.

Solitary animals, pangolins are active mostly at night. Many live on the ground, but some, like the black-bellied pangolin, also climb trees. Like anteaters, pangolins have long snouts and even longer tongues, which they use to snack on ants and termites they dig up from mounds with their powerful front claws. Up to 28 inches, a pangolin's sticky tongue is sometimes as long as its body, minus the tail!

PLAYING DEFENSE

All pangolins are covered in scales made of keratin-the same material as human fingernails-which gives them the nickname "scaly anteater." The pangolin's armor is so tough that even predators such as lions can't bite through it.

When threatened, pangolins roll into a ball like an armadillo, making them less than half their normal size. This helps them shield their stomach and face, which aren't covered in protective scales. From this position, pangolins can release a stinky fluid from a gland at the base of their spiky tails to keep predators away.

SAVING PANGOLINS

All pangolins face declining populations because of illegal trade. In fact, they're believed to be the world's most trafficked non-human mammal. Their scales, like rhino horns, have no proven medicinal value, yet they're used in traditional Chinese medicine to help with health problems such as arthritis. The scales are typically dried and ground up into powder, which are sometimes turned into pills. Tens of thousands of pangolins are poached for their scales each year, as well as for their meat.

Government officials, conservationists, and investigative journalists in Asia and Africa are working together to protect these shy, harmless animals. By revealing the methods poachers use to capture these animals, activists hope to prevent criminals from harming pangolins.

* A single pangolin can eat up to 70 million insects in a year.

* Pangolins are more closely related to cats, dogs, and bears than to armadillos and anteaters.

* These animals close their ears and nostrils to keep out insects while eating.

* A pangolin's scales make up about 20 percent of its weight.

* Pangolins are the only mammals with scales.

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Dozens of ants spill out of a nearby bush, each insect scrambling to outrun a strange-looking object lumbering toward them. A pinecone with legs? An artichoke with eyes? No-it's a pangolin, an animal covered in hard scales that uses its long tongue to slurp up insects for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

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Pangolins are remarkable - from their behaviour to their adaptations - so we had to share these fantastic facts with you. 1) They eat over 20,000 ants a day but never get stung!
Pangolins spend the bulk of their day foraging for ants. With no teeth, the insects are ground down by stones (which have been swallowed by the pangolin) and keratin spines inside the creature's stomach. Their thick eyelids and ability to close their nose stop them from being stung.
2) They can dig through ground as tough as concrete.
Pangolins have three claws on each foot. These tools enable the pangolin to rip into ant and termite nests. They can dig through earth as tough as concrete. Their claws also help them to climb trees and dig big burrows. Their burrow rooms are large enough for you to crawl inside and stand up in.
3) They are the only mammal in the world covered from head to toe in keratin scales.
Made from the same material as your nails and hair, keratin scales account for up to 20% of a pangolin's entire weight. The scales play an important role in the animal's defence mechanism. When threatened, they roll up into a tight ball, creating a hard, impenetrable surface. Not even the jaws of lions, tigers or leopards can get through.
4) Their tongues are longer than their bodies.
Pangolins have a long sticky tongue that extends over 40cm - even longer than their body. The tongue has to grow deep inside their chest cavity, and it rolls up when detracted. It is super-sticky and helps the pangolin catch an incredible 70 million insects every year.
5) Pangolin pups hitch a ride on their mother's tails.
Our favourite fact of them all: cute pangolin babies ride on their mother's tails for up to three months. They stay with their mum in her care for another two months, before going solo.

And one not so playful fact... They are the most trafficked animal in the world.
Over two million pangolins have been caught in the wild. All eight species are targeted for their meat and for use in traditional Chinese medicine. The IUCN estimates that one is taken from the wild every five minutes!
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Pangolins are remarkable - from their behaviour to their adaptations - so we had to share these fantastic facts with you. 1) They eat over 20,000 ants a day but never get stung! Pangolins spend the bulk of their day foraging for ants.

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Anatomy

Capybaras are the largest rodents on earth. They can weigh more than 100 lbs (45 kg) and grow to be 4 feet (1.2 m) long and 2 feet (0.6 m) tall - much larger than their guinea pig relatives! They have a heavy, barrel-shaped body which sits on relatively squat legs, shorter in the front than the back. Their brown fur is coarse and sparse enough to reveal the grey skin beneath it. Capybaras have partially webbed feet, which help to propel them through the water or swampy areas. Similar to a hippopotamus, the capybara's eyes, nose, and ears are located on the top of its head, allowing it to peek above the surface for a breath of air and a quick check for predators while the bulk of its body remains hidden beneath the water.

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Habitat

Capybaras are found in Panama, Colombia, Venezuela, Guyana, Peru, Brazil, Paraguay, Northeast Argentina and Uruguay. They are semi-aquatic and will spend most of their time in dense vegetation around rivers, lakes, ponds, marshes and swamps. Feeding mostly in the afternoon, and on and off at night, capybaras tend to doze in the morning. They take short naps throughout the day while other members of their group stand guard.

Diet

They are herbivores and eat the vegetation that lines water sources and other aquatic plants. An adult capybara can eat 6 to 8 lbs (2.7 to 3.6 kg) of fresh grass a day. They also eat their own poop, which contains beneficial bacteria that helps their stomach to break down the fiber from the grass. During the dry season or in drought conditions, capybaras will also eat grains, melons, reeds and squashes.

Threats

Capybaras are naturally threatened by jaguars, caimans and anacondas, and their young can be taken by ocelots and harpy eagles. Their main threat, however, is humans - they are hunted extensively for their meat and their hide, which can be made into leather. In some countries, the practice of farming capybaras has sprung up, relieving some of the pressure on wild populations. As with all rainforest inhabitants, deforestation also poses a threat.

Did You Know

When threatened, capybaras will jump into the water and hide beneath the surface. They can hold their breath for almost five minutes! They are also very vocal animals and communicate with each other through barks, chirps, whistles and purrs. They do this to keep track of one another and their young. They also use scent glands to mark their territory and communicate.

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Capybaras are the largest rodents on earth. They can weigh more than 100 lbs (45 kg) and grow to be 4 feet (1.2 m) long and 2 feet (0.6 m) tall - much larger than their guinea pig relatives! They have a heavy, barrel-shaped body which sits on relatively squat legs, shorter in the front than the back.

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15 Fantastic Facts About Red Pandas | Red Panda Network

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Learn more about red pandas with these interesting red panda facts about behavior, habitat, and adaptations.

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At about 50 cm (1.5 ft.) tall at the shoulder, 130 cm (4 ft.) in length, and 35-70 kg (75-150 lb.), the capybara takes the title of world's largest rodent.

Capybaras are semi-aquatic, spending a lot of time in the water. They inhabit southern Central America and northern South America in both savannas and rain forests near ponds, rivers, or lakes.

A constant source of water is important to capybaras, who retreat into murky waters to escape from predators like jaguars, anacondas, caimans, pumas, ocelots, and harpy eagles.

Capybaras are physically well-adapted to a semi-aquatic lifestyle. Their webbed feet help them maneuver in water and traverse soft, muddy ground. Their facial features are located towards the top of their large heads, allowing them see and breathe while swimming. Capable of staying submerged for up to 5 minutes, capybaras can press their ears against their heads to keep water out. Once they exit the water, their thin coat of coarse hair dries quickly.

Spending the hottest portions of the day in water or wallowing in the shade, capybaras graze in the morning and evening when it's cooler. They feed on grasses and aquatic plants, consuming 3-3.5 kg (6-8 lb.) a day.

Capybaras have special digestive adaptations that allow them to absorb enough nutrients from their highly fibrous diet. A large fermentation chamber, or cecum, in their intestines stores and churns the fibrous materials while mixing in bacteria, enzymes, and gases that aid in digestion. Capybaras also eat their own droppings - an activity called coprophagy. Coprophagy allows them to ingest a higher percentage of proteins and other nutrients.

Very social animals, capybaras live in small family groups of about 10-20. A typical group includes one dominant male, several females, their offspring, and a few subordinate males. The dominant male, usually the heaviest, stares down the other males in the group, driving them to the outer edges of the group. Here, the subordinate males act as sentinels (or lookouts), performing warning barks when a predator is near.

In some cases, a subordinate male will challenge the leader. The two capybaras will charge each other, rear up onto their hind legs, and engage in a scuffle until one flees the scene.

Usually, a group of capybaras has a ratio of one male to two females. The ratio is preserved because the subordinate males in the periphery of the group are more susceptible to predation. Also, juvenile males are sometimes forced out of the group once they reach sexual maturity, leaving them to fend for themselves. Without the protection of the group dynamic, these bachelors become easy targets.

Being the dominant male has several advantages. Not only does he enjoy a position toward the center of the group, safer from predators, he also mates with all the females in the group.

Capybaras mate in the water. After a 5-month gestation period, the female capybara will give birth to four to five babies. After a few days, when the babies join the rest of the group, they are communally nursed by all the females. In this way, all the offspring in the group stay together.

Baby capybaras are not effective swimmers at first, so they stay on land, hiding under brushy cover. Their smaller stature and inability to swim well make them susceptible to predators like foxes, vultures, feral dogs, and piranhas.

Capybaras can live 8-10 years in the wild, and around 12 years in captivity.

Conservation Status

Although capybaras are currently considered by the IUCN Red List to be of least concern of becoming extinct, their populations have been largely affected by hunting in the past. People eat capybara meat and produce leather from their skin. In the countries where capybara populations started to dwindle, hunting restrictions were enacted, and capybara numbers stabilized.

Capybara Distribution

Capybara Resources

Blog Posts about the Capybara

About the Author

Abi Cushman is a contributing editor of Animal Fact Guide and My House Rabbit. When she's not writing about weird animal facts, Abi writes and illustrates funny books for kids. Her debut picture book, , comes out on July 14, 2020 from Viking Children's Books.

To learn more and to download free activity sheets, visit www.abicushman.com.

Last updated on August 24, 2014.

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Capybara Facts for Kids | Animal Fact Guide

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At about 50 cm (1.5 ft.) tall at the shoulder, 130 cm (4 ft.) in length, and 35-70 kg (75-150 lb.), the capybara takes the title of world's largest rodent. Capybaras are semi-aquatic, spending a lot of time in the water.

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Capybara ( Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris) is a semi-aquatic rodent of South America. It weighs about a hundred pounds, and is about two feet tall at the shoulder. The capybara is the world's largest rodent.

Capybaras are closely related to guinea pigs and to chinchillas. When they are full-grown, they weigh about 55 kg, or 100 pounds. The capybara's stocky body is about a meter, or 3 feet, long, and its shoulder is about 60 centimeters, or about two feet, high off the ground. Females are usually bigger and heavier than males. Capybaras have brown or reddish-brown fur. When they are old their fur is thin, their skin can get sunburned easily. Their eyes and ears and nostrils are high on their heads, so they can easily be kept above water when the capybara is swimming.

Capybaras live in grassy wetlands or close to rivers in many parts of South America. In the morning, evening, and at night they eat grass, mostly on land. They spend the hottest hours of the day in the water. They are good swimmers and divers. Webs between their toes help them swim. They can only hold their breath under water for about five minutes at a time. Sometimes they hide in water for much longer, with only their noses sticking out to breathe. Many predators like to eat them. They are a favourite food for jaguars, eagles, anaconda snakes, and many other animals.

Capybaras eat plants, mostly grass. Their babies are usually born in litters of four at one time. They can start to eat grass once they are about a week old, but they will also keep nursing from their mothers and even from other grown females until they are about four months old. They live in large groups, usually 10-30 capybaras together. Some groups have even had 100 capybaras. They talk to each other using many sounds: clicks, grunts, whistles, and barks.

Conservation and contact with humans

Capybaras are not endangered. Their population is stable, not increasing or decreasing very much. They can live in towns or zoos. Humans can touch them, but it is not common, as it can cause disease. Sometimes humans eat capybaras. They are hunted for meat, and sometimes they are raised on farms. Also, their tough skin is sometimes used to make high quality leather, especially for gloves. Capybaras are sometimes kept as pets. They are quite smart. They can be kept pets in the United States, but not in some places. They are also very liked in Japan, and are kept as pets there too.

Images for kids

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Capybara ( Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris) is a semi-aquatic rodent of South America. It weighs about a hundred pounds, and is about two feet tall at the shoulder. The capybara is the world's largest rodent. Capybaras are closely related to guinea pigs and to chinchillas. When they are full-grown, they weigh about 55 kg, or 100 pounds.

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There are 33 species of pinnipeds alive today, most of which are known as seals. Pinnipedia is made up of three main groups: The walrus, which is the only living member of the family Odobenidae; the eared seals of Otariidae, including numerous kinds of fur seal and sea lion; and the earless seals, known as true seals or Phocidae. Despite the name, earless seals have ears-they're just hidden beneath the surface of their skin.

Pinnipeds can be found on every continent on Earth, though most species occur in cold-water environments. Thick layers of fat, also known as blubber, keep the animals warm, in addition to dense fur. Walruses are the exception to the rule, as these large, tusked pinnipeds have nearly hairless bodies.

Seals range greatly in size, from the gargantuan southern elephant seal, which can weigh more than a pickup truck, to the relatively slender, 100-pound Baikal seal.

While there are many differences among the species, all seals have feet shaped like fins. In fact, the word pinniped means "fin-footed" in Latin. Those fin-shaped feet make them supreme swimmers, and all pinnipeds are considered semi-aquatic marine mammals. This means they must spend some part of their lives on land or sea ice, usually during the mating and birthing seasons.

With so much time spent in water, some species like the elephant seals have evolved the ability to hold their breath for up to two hours and dive to depths of more than 6,500 feet looking for food. ( Read more about how diving animals can stay underwater for so long.)

Nearly all seal species are reliant on marine habitats, though some will enter estuaries and rivers in search of food. An outlier is the Baikal seal, which spends its whole life in Lake Baikal, a freshwater lake in Siberia.

Evolutionarily speaking, seals are thought to be most closely related to bears and the group of animals that includes weasels and otters, as well as skunks, raccoons, and red pandas.

Varied diets

All seals eat other animals, and most rely on fish caught out at sea. But a few species break the mold.

For instance, leopard seals make a living hunting down penguins and even other seals. And walruses survive on a diet of clams and other shellfish, which they detect with their highly sensitive whiskers and then suction up from the seafloor with their powerful mouths.

There is also a species of pinniped known as the crabeater seal, which lives in Antarctica. However, these animals don't eat crabs at all-at least not the kind you would think. Instead, these seals use highly specialized teeth to filter water for tiny, abundant crustaceans known as Antarctic krill.

Pinnipeds in peril

Historically, hunters have heavily targeted pinniped species for their fur, a practice that drove some species to extinction: The Caribbean monk seal, for instance, disappeared from the planet in the 1970s. Though hunting is more regulated today, the animals still face many threats, including lack of food, entanglement in fishing gear, and conflict with fishermen. Some species, like the Hawaiian monk seal and Mediterranean monk seal, remain very close to extinction.

However, climate change represents the single largest threat to many species of pinnipeds, especially those that rely on sea ice. Various species of Arctic seals rely on ice for breeding, for instance, while walruses use seasonal ice formations to forage for food farther from shore. ( Read how climate change is changing what leopard seals eat.)

Ringed seals build caves in the snow and create holes in the ice that give them access to the ocean. If that snow melts earlier than usual, it will put the animals at greater risk of predation from polar bears.

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There are 33 species of pinnipeds alive today, most of which are known as seals. Pinnipedia is made up of three main groups: The walrus, which is the only living member of the family Odobenidae; the eared seals of Otariidae, including numerous kinds of fur seal and sea lion; and the earless seals, known as true seals or Phocidae.

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Seals are mammals that live mostly in cold seas. They are related to the walrus. There are more than 30 species, or kinds, of seal. They can be divided into two groups: earless, or true, seals and eared seals. Earless seals actually do have ears, but they do not stick out. Eared seals have visible ears. Sea lions are eared seals with a thick, hairy neck that looks like a lion's mane.

Seals are found throughout the world. They are especially plentiful in seas near the North and South poles. Some species like the open ocean. Others prefer to live along the coast. All seals spend some time on islands, beaches, or sheets of ice. They come ashore to breed.

A seal's body is round in the middle and narrower at the ends. The skin is usually brown, gray, or black. The smallest seals are about 4 feet (1.2 meters) long and weigh about 200 pounds (90 kilograms). The largest seals can be 21 feet (6.5 meters) long and weigh more than 8,000 pounds (3,600 kilograms). They are called elephant seals.

Instead of legs, seals have two pairs of flippers. Flippers help seals to swim. Eared seals can turn their rear flippers forward under the body. This allows them to scoot around while on land. Earless seals cannot turn their rear flippers forward. They move on land by wriggling on their bellies or pulling themselves forward with their front flippers.

Seals eat mostly fish. Some also eat squid and shellfish. The leopard seal of the Antarctic feeds on penguins and other seals.

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Seals are mammals that live mostly in cold seas. They are related to the walrus. There are more than 30 species, or kinds, of seal. They can be divided into two groups:...

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Spider Facts for Kids

The largest spider in the world is a species of tarantula found in South America where one specimen had a leg span of over 11 inches.

Spiders don't get caught in their own webs because they have self-oiling legs.

Many people associate spiders with webs, but the truth is not all spiders spin these silk structures, which are used to catch their prey. In fact, several species of spiders use different strategies for obtaining food.

There are about 3,000 species of spiders roaming around North America, but only two in the southern and western United States can cause serious harm when accidentally disturbed - the black widow and brown recluse.

Looking for more arachnid facts for kids? Find detailed information on spider pest control at the official NPMA website.

Black Widow Spiders

Female black widow spiders have a red hourglass shape on their backs. Males have white spots on their sides. Males only live about a year, but the female can live up to 3 years. Hungry female black widow spiders have been known to kill the male spider after mating, but that isn't always the case. Geographically, black widow spiders can be found in the Eastern, Central and Western United States.

Size: 3/4" to 3/8"

Shape: Round

Color: Black with characteristic red "hourglass" on back

Legs: 8

Wings: No

Antenna: No

Common Name: Black widow spider

Kingdom: Animalia

Phylum: Arthropoda

Class: Arachnida

Order: Araneae

Family: Theridiidae

Species: Lactrodectrus mactans

Diet:

Black widow spiders eat other pests. Sometimes they even eat other spiders!

Habitat:

Black widow spiders tend to live in cellars and in piles of wood or trash.

Impact:

The bite of a female black widow spider can be poisonous but not deadly to humans. The male black widow spider does not bite. A black widow spider bite is pale in the middle with a red ring around it and is followed by severe cramping, weakness, sweating, headache, anxiety, itching, nausea, vomiting, difficult breathing and increased blood pressure.

Prevention:

Wear heavy gloves when moving things that have been stored for a long time.

Shake out your shoes before putting them on.

Just to be safe, stay away from spider webs.

Find spider information for kids and teachers alike at the official NPMA website.

Brown Recluse Spiders

Brown recluse spiders get their name because of their tendency to hide in corners. They are identified by the dark brown violin shaped markings on their back. Native to Kansas, Texas, Oklahoma and Mississippi, they are nocturnal pests. Keep reading to find more kid-friendly facts on these fascinating arachnids .

Size: 5/8"

Shape: Round

Color: Light to dark brown, with a dark brown violin shaped marking on their back.

Legs: 8

Wings: No

Antenna: No

Common Name: Brown recluse spider

Kingdom: Animalia

Phylum: Arthropoda

Class: Arachnida

Order: Araneae

Family: Sicariidae

Species: Loxosceles reclusa

Diet:

Brown recluse spiders eat other bugs like cockroaches and crickets.

Habitat:

Brown recluse spiders live in cellars and in piles of wood or trash.

Impact:

The brown recluse spider only bites to protect itself. Its bite is painful and can produce an open, ulcerating sore. The center of their bite becomes a blister surrounded by an angry-looking red ring, which is then surrounded by a white ring. A red, itchy rash usually appears in the first 24-48 hours of being bitten. Other symptoms include fever, chills, nausea, vomiting and muscle aches.

Prevention:

Don't leave clothing on the floor.

Store clothes and shoes inside plastic containers and shake them out before wearing them.

Can't find what you were looking for on PestWorld for Kids? Parents and students can find even more arachnid facts and information for kids and adults at the official NPMA website.

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Spider Facts for Kids: Arachnid Information for Students

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The largest spider in the world is a species of tarantula found in South America where one specimen had a leg span of over 11 inches. Spiders don't get caught in their own webs because they have self-oiling legs.

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The word spider derives from an Old English verb spinnan, meaning “to spin.” Indeed, spiders are well-known for weaving silk snares, or webs, to capture prey. Although some…

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Spiders are eight-legged creatures known for making silk webs to catch insects. They live everywhere in the world except for Antarctica. There are about 38,000 species, or...

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Think all sharks are gigantic, toothy eating machines? Think again: With more than 500 species of sharks, you're sure to meet a few that surprise you. For instance, some sharks have teeth so small that they can't take a bite out of anything. Others are practically vegetarian! "You think you understand sharks, and then they do something that totally shocks you," says Lisa Natanson, a biologist who studies sharks for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

Lemon sharks: Fishy friends

Can't wait to hang out with your BFF? Neither can these sharks. Young lemon sharks often stick together for protection, helping each other watch out for larger sharks and other predators. But scientists have learned that lemon sharks won't befriend just anybody. "They prefer to spend time with sharks that they've met before instead of strangers," says Clemency White, a researcher at the Bimini Biological Field Station in the Bahamas. The sharks hang out with the same friends for years, following each other or swimming next to each other. And when scientists studied the pups in a predator-free environment, these sharks still chose to swim together rather than alone. Maybe these fish need matching friendship bracelets.

Whale sharks: Gentle giants

A whale shark's mouth is so wide that a 10-year-old kid could fit inside. But don't worry: These sharks are mostly slurping up tiny shrimp like plankton about as small as a few grains of sand. Whale sharks feed by swimming slowly with their mouths open and filtering the tiny plants and animals out of the water. The largest fish in the world, whale sharks can be longer than a school bus and weigh 50,000 pounds-about four times as much as an African elephant. "They're so big that not many animals are going to bother them," Natanson says. "So they tend to be very easygoing sharks."

Chain catsharks: Green glowers

Through your eyes, the chain catshark seems to have brownish-yellow skin with black chain-shaped markings. But to another chain catshark swimming 1,600 to 2,000 feet below the surface, the fish glows in the dark! Pigments in the sharks' skin absorb the blue light in the ocean and reflect it as green. These sharks have special cells in their eyes-called receptors-to see it. Because the glow patterns are different for males and females, scientists think these shy sharks use this ability to attract mates. "In that deep, dark environment, the sharks need to be able to find each other," Natanson says.

Great white sharks: Picky eaters

Sure, great whites have 300 triangular teeth and the ability to smell a drop of blood in 25 gallons of water. But that doesn't mean these top predators will chomp everything in their path. In fact, when great whites bite people, they usually release them. Scientists think it could be because humans aren't on their menu, unlike seals, sea lions, and dolphins. "It'd be like if you picked up a drink thinking it's soda, and it turned out to be coffee-bleh!" Natanson says. But it might also be that these curious sharks are just investigating a new object the only way they can: with their mouths!

Greenland sharks: Ocean oldies

If you think your grandpa is old, just wait until you meet this fish. A Greenland shark swimming through deep, freezing Arctic water today might have been born when George Washington became the first president of the United States! This shark species can live for nearly 300 years-and possibly as many as 500 years. That's the longest of any vertebrate (an animal with a backbone). Experts are still trying to figure out how these sharks can survive so long, but they think their icy-cold habitat and seriously slow lifestyle (a Greenland shark's heart beats only once every 12 seconds; yours beats about once a second) might have something to do with their seemingly non-stop birthday parties.

Bonnethead sharks: Salad snackers

Bonnethead sharks are leafy-green eating machines. In fact, seagrass can make up over half of the bonnetheads' diet. Scientists aren't sure if these coastal sharks are trying to snack on the plants, or if they accidentally get a side salad while scooping up shrimp, mollusks, and blue crabs hiding in the seagrass. Unlike almost all other sharks, which are carnivores and don't eat plants, bonnetheads have a special digestive system that can absorb nutrients from greens. Hey, bonnethead-you have a leaf stuck in your teeth!

Spinner sharks: Airborne acrobats

Some sharks ambush their prey; others bump them before going in for a bite. But only one shark species flies: spinner sharks. These predators glide beneath a school of tuna or sardines, eyeing the tasty fish huddled together in a protective ball-like shape. With a burst of energy, the shark swims toward the surface with its mouth open, its slim body twirling through the water like a ballerina. Score! The shark nabs a fish-but the show's not over yet. The shark's momentum pushes it up to 20 feet out of the water, rotating several times before splashing back down. Now that's a fin-tastic show!

Text from the June / July 2020 issue of National Geographic Kids magazine.

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Dive in to discover seven species of sharks with mind-blowing traits.

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Penguins are flightless seabirds that live only in the Southern Hemisphere (south of the Equator). Most penguins are easily identified by their white bellies and black backs. They're known for being excellent swimmers and for having a waddling walk on land. There are 19 species of penguins. Some of the better-known penguins include:

emperor penguin (Aptenodytes forsteri)

king penguin (A. patagonicus)

Adélie penguin (Pygoscelis adeliae)

blue, or fairy, penguin (Eudyptula minor)

Antarctica is home to emperor and Adélie penguins. Although all penguins live in the Southern Hemisphere, however, they don't all live in Antarctica. In fact, the majority of penguins live in the region from the bottom tips of South America, Africa, and Australia south to just above Antarctica. They breed on the islands in that area. A few penguins inhabit temperate regions. One, the Galapagos penguin ( Spheniscus mendiculus), lives at the Equator.

Penguins are stocky with short, strong legs. Prehistoric penguins stood 6 feet (1.8 meters) tall. Today the largest penguin is the emperor penguin, which is about 45 inches (115 centimeters) tall and weighs about 55-90 pounds (25-40 kilograms). One of the smallest penguins is the blue, or fairy, penguin. It is about 14 inches (35 centimeters) in height and about 2 pounds (1 kilogram) in weight.

Most penguins are black on the back and white below. They often have lines of black across the upper breast or spots of white on the head. Color is rare but, if present, is mostly on the head. For example, some species have red or yellow eyes, red beaks or feet, or yellow brow tufts. The emperor and king penguins have orange and yellow on the head, neck, and breast.

Penguins are highly social animals. They live in large groups called colonies that may include up to one million individuals. The individuals often huddle together for protection against cold weather and predators.

Penguin ancestors could fly as well as any other seabird. Now penguins' wings are short, paddlelike flappers that are entirely useless for flight. Penguins have lived for ages in or near the Antarctic regions, where they have few human or animal enemies. Thus they came to spend all their time on land or in the water. For generations they didn't fly. Their wings eventually became small and stiff and lost the long feathers. Now their wings can't be moved at the middle joint. By contrast, flying birds can bend their wings at the middle joint, which allows them to maneuver during flight.

Meanwhile, penguins became master swimmers and divers. Of all birds, they're the most fully adapted to water. Flocks of penguins may stay at sea for weeks at a time. They resemble schools of dolphins as they leap in arcs from the water to take breaths of air.

Penguins have a thick coat of feathers that provides a smooth surface that resists water. The streamlined bodies glide through the water easily. Penguins use the wings to swim and the webbed feet to steer.

Speedy Swimmers
Some penguins can swim at speeds of more than 25 miles (40 kilometers) per hour. When they want to leave the water, they can leap as much as 6 feet (1.8 meters) from the water's surface onto a rock or iceberg.

On land, penguins are much more awkward. They rock from side to side as they walk. Despite their short legs, however, penguins can run with surprising speed. Claws on the feet help the animals grip the ice. Some, including Adélie penguins, move among rocks with agility. They use the flippers for balance. On snow or ice, many penguins slide on the belly as they propel themselves with the feet and flippers.

Strong Beaks
Penguins use their beak to catch prey and to defend themselves against predators.

A penguin's skin is insulated by a layer of air trapped under the feathers. The only bare skin in direct contact with the water is that of the feet. Penguins also have thick coats of fat to protect them against cold. Adult penguins molt, or shed, all their feathers once a year following the breeding period. While in molt the bird is unable to enter the water. Instead, it withdraws to a communal molting site usually in a sheltered area away from the colony. The duration of the molt varies from about two weeks in small species to more than a month in the larger ones.

Penguins feed underwater on fish, squid, and krill (tiny crustaceans). The main enemies of penguins at sea are the leopard seal and the killer whale (orca). Seals also take penguins near Australia, New Zealand, and other areas near the Antarctic.

Salty Diets
Penguins are able to consume large amounts of salt water. They have a special gland above their eye that removes the salt from their blood. The excess salt is eliminated through the penguin's nose.

The majority of penguin species breed only once each year. Most penguins begin breeding in the spring or summer. The birds gather at nesting sites on land in huge breeding colonies. Courtship calls are used during pairing and during other phases of breeding.

Upon arrival at the colony, each bird returns to the nest that it left the previous year. The nests are built on the ground from pebbles, mud and vegetation, or any materials that are available. The female lays one or two chalky white eggs. In most penguin species, the male and female take turns incubating the eggs, with one parent remaining on the nest while the other goes off to feed. Their unrelenting attention is often necessary because some predatory birds will wait in the middle of penguin colonies to snatch an unattended egg or chick.

Lifetime Partners
During the breeding season, each penguin typically rejoins its mate of the previous year. If one of the pair has died, the remaining penguin chooses another partner.

The breeding behavior of the emperor penguin is quite different. After laying her single egg, the female leaves to feed. The male incubates the egg by himself, cradling it between the top of his feet and his stomach. For two months the colonies of fasting males remain on the icy nesting grounds, warming and protecting their eggs. During violent winter storms, members of the colony gather for mutual protection from wind and cold in tightly packed crowds called huddles. By the time the eggs have hatched, the males have lost one-third of their body weight. When the females return to care for the chicks, the males return to the water for food and rest.

Emergence of a penguin chick from the shell takes 24-48 hours. The baby birds are born covered with soft, fluffy feathers called down. During its early days the young bird is sheltered under the body of one of its parents. The parents feed it by regurgitation (bringing food back to the mouth after swallowing it).

In most species, after growing older, the chick joins 100 or more others in a nursery group called a crèche. The young are protected by a few adults while the rest of the parents forage at sea. Upon returning with food, the parent calls its chick from the crèche. The parent can find its offspring by voice and appearance. During the crèche stage the fuzzy down of the chick is replaced by a coat of short, stiff feathers. They're similar to those of the adult but usually somewhat different in color. Once this molt is complete, the juvenile leaves the colony to find its own food at sea.

Early Development
The penguin growth process, from hatching to independence, takes 2-14 months, depending on the species.

Penguins typically live 15-20 years in the wild, but some species may live longer or shorter. Those in captivity may live for more than 30 years.

In the past, 19th-century whalers and seal hunters visited some penguin colonies for meat and eggs. In addition, a penguin oil industry once took large numbers of the birds. By the early 20th century, this practice was no longer profitable. Most penguin colonies were left alone or actively protected.

In the early 21st century, the total populations of many species of penguins were in the hundreds of thousands or millions. However, such problems as loss of habitat, climate change, pollution, and disease have threatened some species. Penguins also are sensitive to depletion of local fish populations by humans. The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has listed several penguin species on its Red List of threatened species. For example, the organization named the yellow-eyed penguin ( Megadyptes antipodes) as endangered and the Humboldt penguin ( Spheniscus humboldti) as vulnerable.

Interested in learning more about penguins? See these articles:

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Penguins are flightless seabirds that live only in the Southern Hemisphere (south of the Equator). Most penguins are easily identified by their white bellies and black backs....

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Penguins are the only birds that can swim but cannot fly. These black and white seabirds move about very easily in the water. On land they stand upright and waddle about....

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Penguins are flightless seabirds that live almost exclusively below the equator. Some island-dwellers can be found in warmer climates, but most-including emperor, adélie, chinstrap, and gentoo penguins-reside in and around icy Antarctica. A thick layer of blubber and tightly-packed, oily feathers are ideal for colder temperatures.

The 18 different species of penguins can widely in shape and size but all have black bodies and white bellies. This protective countershading allows them to hide from predators like leopard seals and orcas while they swim.

While penguins can't fly, their stiff flippers, webbed feet, and sleek shape make them expert swimmers. In fact, they spend most of their lives in the ocean and do nearly all of their hunting for krill, squid, and crabs underwater. They can swim about 15 miles an hour, and when they want to go faster, they often porpoise, or leap out of the water as they swim.

Life on land

On land, penguins have an upright stance and tend to waddle, hop, or run with their bodies angled forward. Polar penguins can travel long distances quickly by " tobogganing," or sliding across the ice on their bellies and pushing forward with their feet. If it's especially cold, they huddle together in large colonies that protect them from predators and provide warmth. These colonies consist of thousands, and even millions, of penguins.

Breeding

Penguins come ashore to lay their eggs and raise their chicks. Most penguins stay with their mate for many years and lay only one or two eggs at a time. Parents take turns keeping their eggs warm, and when they hatch, feeding and protecting the chicks. For a few weeks each year, thousands of baby birds wait together while their parents forage for food. When mother and father return, chicks listen for the unique audio frequency of their parents' call, allowing them to reunite in a large, noisy crowd.

Soon after the chicks fledge, parents will begin molting. Unlike some birds that shed a few feathers at a time, penguins lose all their feathers at once during a process called catastrophic molt. They condense this process to just a few weeks because they must fast during this time-they can't hunt without their waterproof feathers.

Conservation and threats

About two-thirds of penguin species are listed as threatened on the IUCN Red List, making them one of the most endangered seabirds. Loss of habitat, disease, and infectious diseases spread by tourists loom as threats. Commercial fishing in the Southern Ocean is also a significant concern, as it has reduced fish supply by about half in the Antarctic Peninsula. This forces many penguins to compete for food, and puts them in danger of getting accidentally captured by fishing nets.

Among the biggest threats to penguin populations is climate change. Warming in the polar regions has melted sea ice, which penguins depend on to find food and build nests. Rapidly changing conditions mean Antarctica could lose most of its penguins to climate change by the end of the century. To survive, they may have to relocate to new habitats.

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Penguins are flightless seabirds that live almost exclusively below the equator. Some island-dwellers can be found in warmer climates, but most-including emperor, adélie, chinstrap, and gentoo penguins-reside in and around icy Antarctica. A thick layer of blubber and tightly-packed, oily feathers are ideal for colder temperatures.

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Except for the tiger, the lion is the largest member of the cat family. Nicknamed the “king of beasts,” the lion is a well-muscled cat with a long body, large head, and short…

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The lion is the second largest member of the cat family after the tiger. Lions live in parts of Africa and India. Their loud roar is among the most terrifying sounds of the...

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African lions have been admired throughout history for as symbols of courage and strength. These iconic animals have powerful bodies-in the cat family, they're second in size only to tigers-and roars that can be heard from five miles away. An adult lion's coat is yellow-gold, and juveniles have some light spots that disappear with age. Only male lions typically boast manes, the impressive fringe of long hair that encircles their heads.

African lions once roamed most of Africa and parts of Asia and Europe. But the species has disappeared from 94 percent of its historic range and can only be found today in parts of sub-Saharan Africa. These lions mainly stick to the grasslands, scrub, or open

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African lions have been admired throughout history for as symbols of courage and strength. These iconic animals have powerful bodies-in the cat family, they're second in size only to tigers-and roars that can be heard from five miles away. An adult lion's coat is yellow-gold, and juveniles have some light spots that disappear with age.

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Get ready to roar with our 10 cool lion facts!

Lion facts

1. Lions usually live in groups of 10 or 15 animals called prides.

2. An adult male's roar can be heard up to 8km away.

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3. A female lion needs 5kg of meat a day. A male needs 7kg or more a day.

4. The name for a baby lion is a cub, whelp or lionet.

5. Lions go on the hunt for food mostly from dusk till dawn. Female lions do 85-90% of the prides hunting, whilst the male lions patrol the territory and protect the pride.

Did you know we have a FREE downloadable Lion primary resource? Great for teachers, homeschoolers and parents alike!

6. In the wild, lions live for an average of 12 years and up to 16 years. They live up to 25 years in captivity.

7. Often known as the 'king of the jungle', most lions actually live in the savannah or grasslands. Just one population of wild forest-dwelling lions remains, in Gir Forest National Park, India.

8. Female lions reach two-thirds of their adult size by the time they are two years old.

9. Lions run at a speed of up to 81kmph.

10. Lions hunt large animals such as zebra and wildebeest.

WORDS: ELLEN MORGAN.
PICTURES: GETTY IMAGES UK

What did you make of our lion facts? Roarsome, right? Let us know by leaving a comment, below!

Images ⓒ Getty Images: Lion profile, (103361189)

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10 roarsome lion facts! | National Geographic Kids

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Here at National Geographic Kids we love fierce felines! Check out our 10 roarsome lion facts and learn all about these big cats...

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One of the most widely domesticated fowls is the chicken. It is raised worldwide for its meat and eggs. The chicken belongs to the group of domesticated birds called poultry,…

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The chicken is a bird that people all over the world raise for its meat, eggs, and feathers. It belongs to the group of domesticated, or tame, birds called poultry.

Chickens have short wings and a heavy body. This makes it hard for them to fly very far. Male chickens are called roosters. Roosters often have brightly colored feathers. They can be red, green, brown, black, or other colors. Female chickens are called hens. Hens are usually brown or white. Both males and females have one or two wattles. A wattle is skin that hangs from the throat. Male and female chickens also have a comb, which is skin that sticks up from the top of the head.

Farmers usually keep chickens inside large, modern buildings. They feed the birds corn and other grains. Some farmers allow their chickens to roam free outdoors. These chickens usually roost, or sleep, inside at night.

Hens can lay more than 200 eggs a year. If a hen mates with a rooster before laying eggs, the eggs will be fertilized. This means that they will develop into chicks. But hens can lay eggs without mating. These unfertilized eggs are the eggs that people eat.

Wild birds called jungle fowl are the ancestors of chickens. Jungle fowl belong to the pheasant family. They live in parts of Asia, including India. Jungle fowl eat seeds, fruit, and insects. They fly into trees to escape from predators.

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The chicken is a bird that people all over the world raise for its meat, eggs, and feathers. It belongs to the group of domesticated, or tame, birds called poultry. Chickens have short wings and a heavy body. This makes it hard for them to fly very far.

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Eagles are large birds of prey that are related to hawks and Old World vultures. Eagles hunt during the day and have very good eyesight. The bald eagle is a large eagle from North America that has a bright white head and tail. It is the national bird of the United States and usually eats fish.

The golden eagle is found over most of the world and it usually eats small mammals.

Sometimes, "eagle" can just mean any large hawk; as a group, eagles are not closely related to one another.

The largest eagle that has ever lived is Haast's eagle. It is the only eagle in the world ever to have been top predator of its ecosystem. Though it is now extinct, it lived in New Zealand.

Description

Eagles are large, powerfully built birds of prey, with heavy heads and beaks. Even the smallest eagles, such as the booted eagle ( Aquila pennata), which is comparable in size to a common buzzard ( Buteo buteo) or red-tailed hawk ( B. jamaicensis), have relatively longer and more evenly broad wings, and more direct, faster flight - despite the reduced size of aerodynamic feathers. Most eagles are larger than any other raptors apart from some vultures. The smallest species of eagle is the South Nicobar serpent eagle ( Spilornis klossi), at 450 g (0.99 lb) and 40 cm (16 in). The largest species are discussed below. Like all birds of prey, eagles have very large, hooked beaks for ripping flesh from their prey, strong, muscular legs, and powerful talons. The beak is typically heavier than that of most other birds of prey. Eagles' eyes are extremely powerful, having up to 3.6 times human acuity for the martial eagle, which enables them to spot potential prey from a very long distance. This keen eyesight is primarily attributed to their extremely large pupils which ensure minimal diffraction (scattering) of the incoming light. The female of all known species of eagles is larger than the male.

Eagles normally build their nests, called eyries, in tall trees or on high cliffs. Many species lay two eggs, but the older, larger chick frequently kills its younger sibling once it has hatched. The dominant chick tends to be a female, as they are bigger than the male. The parents take no action to stop the killing.

Due to the size and power of many eagle species, they are ranked at the top of the food chain as apex predators in the avian world. The type of prey varies by genus. The Haliaeetus and Ichthyophaga eagles prefer to capture fish, though the species in the former often capture various animals, especially other water birds, and are powerful kleptoparasites of other birds. The snake and serpent eagles of the genera Circaetus, Terathopius, and Spilornis predominantly prey on the great diversity of snakes found in the tropics of Africa and Asia. The eagles of the genus Aquila are often the top birds of prey in open habitats, taking almost any medium-sized vertebrate they can catch. Where Aquila eagles are absent, other eagles, such as the buteonine black-chested buzzard-eagle of South America, may assume the position of top raptorial predator in open areas. Many other eagles, including the species-rich Spizaetus genus, live predominantly in woodlands and forest. These eagles often target various arboreal or ground-dwelling mammals and birds, which are often unsuspectingly ambushed in such dense, knotty environments. Hunting techniques differ among the species and genera, with some individual eagles having engaged in quite varied techniques based their environment and prey at any given time. Most eagles grab prey without landing and take flight with it, so the prey can be carried to a perch and torn apart.

The bald eagle is noted for having flown with the heaviest load verified to be carried by any flying bird, since one eagle flew with a 6.8 kg (15 lb) mule deer fawn. However, a few eagles may target prey considerably heavier than themselves; such prey is too heavy to fly with, thus it is either eaten at the site of the kill or taken in pieces back to a perch or nest. Golden and crowned eagles have killed ungulates weighing up to 30 kg (66 lb) and a martial eagle even killed a 37 kg (82 lb) duiker, 7-8 times heavier than the preying eagle. Authors on birds David Allen Sibley, Pete Dunne, and Clay Sutton described the behavioral difference between hunting eagles and other birds of prey thus (in this case the bald and golden eagles as compared to other North American raptors):

They have at least one singular characteristic. It has been observed that most birds of prey look back over their shoulders before striking prey (or shortly thereafter); predation is after all a two-edged sword. All hawks seem to have this habit, from the smallest kestrel to the largest Ferruginous - but not the Eagles.

Among the eagles are some of the largest birds of prey: only the condors and some of the Old World vultures are markedly larger. It is regularly debated which should be considered the largest species of eagle. They could be measured variously in total length, body mass, or wingspan. Different lifestyle needs among various eagles result in variable measurements from species to species. For example, many forest-dwelling eagles, including the very large Harpy eagle, have relatively short wingspans, a feature necessary for being able to maneuver in quick, short bursts through densely forested habitats. Eagles in the genus Aquila, though found almost strictly in open country, are superlative soarers, and have relatively long wings for their size.

These lists of the top five eagles are based on weight, length, and wingspan, respectively. Unless otherwise noted by reference, the figures listed are the median reported for each measurement in the guide Raptors of the World in which only measurements that could be personally verified by the authors were listed.

Distribution

Australasian

Australia: wedge-tailed eagle (range extends into southern New Guinea), white-bellied sea-eagle (range extends into Asia), little eagle.

New Guinea: Papuan eagle, white-bellied sea-eagle, pygmy eagle.

Nearctic (USA and Canada): golden eagle (also found in Palearctic), bald eagle.

Neotropical (Central and South America): Spizaetus (four species), solitary eagles (two spp.), harpy eagle, crested eagle, black-chested buzzard-eagle.

Palearctic

Eagles are often informally divided into four groups.

The snake eagles are placed in the subfamily Circaetinae. The fish eagles, booted eagles, and harpy eagles have traditionally been placed in the subfamily Buteoninae together with the buzzard-hawks (buteonine hawks) and harriers. Some authors may treat these groups as tribes of the Buteoninae; Lerner & Mindell proposed separating the eagle groups into their own subfamilies of Accipitridae.

Fish eagles

Sea eagles or fish eagles take fish as a large part of their diets, either fresh or as carrion.

Proposed subfamily Haliaeetinae. Genera: Haliaeetus, Ichthyophaga.

Some authors include Gypohierax angolensis, the "vulturine fish eagle" (also called the palm-nut vulture) in this group. However, genetic analyses indicate it is related to a grouping of Neophron- Gypaetus- Eutriorchis ( Egyptian vulture, bearded vulture (lammergeier), and Madagascan serpent eagle).

The fish eagles have a close genetic relationship with Haliastur and Milvus; the whole group is only distantly related to the Buteo group.

Booted eagles

Booted eagles or "true eagles" have feathered tarsi (lower legs).

Tribe Aquililae or proposed subfamily Aquilinae. Genera: Aquila, Hieraaetus; Spizaetus, Oroaetus, Spizastur; Nisaetus; Ictinaetus, Lophoaetus; Polemaetus; and Stephanoaetus.

See comments under eagle species for changes to the composition of these genera.

Snake eagles

Snake or serpent eagles are, as the name suggests, adapted to hunting reptiles.

Subfamily Circaetinae. Genera: Circaetus, Spilornis, Dryotriorchis, Terathopius.

Eutriorchis (subfamily Gypaetinae or Circaetinae).

Despite filling the niche of a snake eagle, genetic studies suggest that the Madagascan serpent eagle Eutriorchis is not related.

Harpy eagles

Harpy eagles or "giant forest eagles" are large eagles that inhabit tropical forests. The group contains two to six species, depending on the author. Although these birds occupy similar niches, and have traditionally been grouped together, they are not all related: the solitary eagles are related to the black-hawks, and the Philippine eagle to the snake eagles.

Harpy eagles (proposed subfamily Harpiinae)

Harpia harpyja, harpy eagle ― Central and South America.

Morphnus guianensis, crested eagle ― Central and South America.

Harpyopsis novaeguineae, Papuan eagle ― New Guinea.

Philippine eagle

Solitary eagles

Chaco eagle or crowned solitary eagle, Buteogallus (formerly Harpyhaliaetus) coronatus ― South America.

Solitary eagle or montane solitary eagle, Buteogallus (formerly Harpyhaliaetus) solitarius ― South America.

Major new research into eagle taxonomy suggests that the important genera Aquila and Hieraaetus are not composed of nearest relatives, and it is likely that a reclassification of these genera will soon take place, with some species being moved to Lophaetus or Ictinaetus.

Bonelli's eagle and the African hawk-eagle have been moved from Hieraaetus to Aquila.

Either the greater spotted eagle and lesser spotted eagle should move from Aquila to join the long-crested eagle in Lophaetus, or, perhaps better, all three of these species should move to Ictinaetus with the black eagle.

The steppe eagle and tawny eagle, once thought to be conspecific, are not even each other's nearest relatives.

Family Accipitridae

Subfamily Buteoninae - hawks (buzzards), true eagles and seaeagles

Genus Harpyhaliaetus

Chaco eagle, Harpyhaliaetus coronatus

Solitary eagle, H. solitarius

Genus Harpia

Genus Pithecophaga

Genus Spizaetus

Black hawk-eagle, S. tyrannus

Ornate hawk-eagle, S. ornatus

Black-and-white hawk-eagle, S. melanoleucus - formerly Spizastur

Black-and-chestnut eagle, S. isidori - formerly Oroaetus

Genus Nisaetus - previously included in Spizaetus

Changeable or crested hawk-eagle, N. cirrhatus
Flores hawk-eagle N. floris - earlier a subspecies, S. c. floris

Sulawesi hawk-eagle, N. lanceolatus

Mountain hawk-eagle, N. nipalensis
Legge's hawk-eagle, Nisaetus kelaarti - previously a race of S. nipalensis

Blyth's hawk-eagle, N. alboniger

Javan hawk-eagle, N. bartelsi

(Northern) Philippine hawk-eagle, N. philippensis
Pinsker's hawk-eagle (Southern Philippine hawk-eagle), Nisaetus pinskeri - earlier S. philippensis pinskeri

Wallace's hawk-eagle, N. nanus

Genus Lophaetus
Long-crested eagle, Lophaetus occipitalis - possibly belongs in Ictinaetus

Genus Stephanoaetus

Crowned eagle, Stephanoaetus coronatus

Malagasy crowned eagle, Stephanoaetus mahery (extinct)

Genus Polemaetus

Genus Hieraaetus

Ayres's hawk-eagle, H. ayresii

Little eagle, H. morphnoides

Pygmy eagle, H. weiskei - previously subspecies H. m. weiskei

Booted eagle, H. pennatus

Genus Harpagornis (extinct)
Haast's eagle, †Harpagornis moorei - possibly belongs in either Hieraaetus or Aquila

Genus Lophotriorchis
Rufous-bellied eagle, L. kienerii

Genus Aquila

Bonelli's eagle, Aquila fasciata - formerly Hieraaetus fasciatus

African hawk-eagle, A. spilogaster - formerly in Hieraaetus

Cassin's hawk-eagle, A. africana - formerly in Hieraaetus or Spizaetus genera

Golden eagle, A. chrysaetos

Eastern imperial eagle, A. heliaca

Spanish imperial eagle A. adalberti

Steppe eagle, A. nipalensis

Tawny eagle, A. rapax

Greater spotted eagle, A. clanga - to be moved to Lophaetus or Ictinaetus

Lesser spotted eagle, A. pomarina - to be moved to Lophaetus or Ictinaetus

Indian spotted eagle, A. hastata - to be moved to Lophaetus or Ictinaetus

Verreaux's eagle, A. verreauxii

Gurney's eagle, A. gurneyi

Wahlberg's eagle, A. wahlbergi - to be moved to Hieraaetus

Wedge-tailed eagle, A. audax

Genus Haliaeetus

Genus Ichthyophaga

Lesser fish eagle, Ichthyophaga humilis

Grey-headed fish eagle, I. ichthyaetus

Subfamily Circaetinae: snake-eagles

Genus Circaetus

Short-toed snake eagle, Circaetus gallicus

Black-chested snake eagle, C. pectoralis

Brown snake eagle, C. cinereus

Fasciated snake eagle, C. fasciolatus

Western banded snake eagle, C. cinerascens

Genus Spilornis

Crested serpent eagle, Spilornis cheela
Central Nicobar serpent eagle, S. minimus (subspecies or species)

Great Nicobar serpent eagle, S. klossi

Mountain serpent eagle, S. kinabaluensis

Sulawesi serpent eagle, S. rufipectus

Philippine serpent eagle, S. holospilus

Andaman serpent eagle, S. elgini

Eagles in culture

The modern English term for the bird is derived from Latin: aquila by way of French: aigle. The origin of aquila is unknown, but it is believed to possibly derive from either aquilus (meaning dark-colored, swarthy, or blackish) as a reference to the plumage of eagles or from aquilo (meaning north wind).

In Britain before 1678, eagle referred specifically to the golden eagle, with the other native species, the white-tailed eagle, being known as erne. The modern name "golden eagle" for aquila chrysaetos was introduced by the naturalist John Ray.

Religion and folklore

The Moche people of ancient Peru worshiped the eagle and often depicted eagles in their art.

Ancient writers such as Lucan and Pliny the Elder claimed that the eagle was able to look directly at the sun, and that they forced their fledglings to do the same. Those that blinked would be cast from the nest. This belief persisted until the Medieval era.

The eagle is the patron animal of the ancient Greek god Zeus. In particular, Zeus was said to have taken the form of an eagle in order to abduct Ganymede, and there are numerous artistic depictions of the eagle Zeus bearing Ganymede aloft, from Classical times up to the present (see illustrations in the Ganymede (mythology) page.)

Psalm 103 mentions renewing one's youth "as the eagle". Augustine of Hippo gives a curious explanation of this in his commentary on the Psalms. Moses, who spoke on Gods behalf, also expressed that an Eagle is unclean for consumption in Leviticus 11:13.

The eagle is a common form in the Anglican tradition, often used to support the Bible because of the symbolism of spreading the gospel over the world. Additional symbolic meanings for "eagle" include the pronouncements to the Israelites in Exodus 19:4; Psalms 103:5 and Isaiah 40:31. The United States eagle feather law stipulates that only individuals of certifiable Native American ancestry enrolled in a federally recognized tribe are legally authorized to obtain eagle feathers for religious or spiritual reasons. In Canada, the poaching of eagle feathers for the booming U.S. market has sometimes resulted in the arrests of First Nations person for the crime.

Eagles are an exceptionally common symbol in heraldry, being considered the "King of Birds" in contrast to the lion, the "King of Beasts". They are particularly popular in Germanic countries such as Austria, due to their association with the Holy Roman Empire. The eagle of the Holy Roman Empire was two-headed, supposedly representing the two divisions, East and West, of the old Roman Empire.

Heraldic eagles are most often found displayed, i.e. with their wings and legs extended. They can also occur close, i.e. with their wings folded, or rising, i.e. about to take flight. The heads, wings, and legs of eagles can also be found independently.

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Eagles are large birds of prey that are related to hawks and Old World vultures. Eagles hunt during the day and have very good eyesight. The bald eagle is a large eagle from North America that has a bright white head and tail. It is the national bird of the United States and usually eats fish.

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Since ancient times the eagle has been used as a symbol of strength and courage. Many people admire this large bird for its powerful appearance and majestic, soaring flight.…

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Eagles are large birds of prey, meaning that they hunt and eat animals for food. They are related to hawks, falcons, and vultures. Eagles have long held a special place in the human imagination because of their strength and soaring flight. The golden eagle has been a symbol of power since ancient times. The bald eagle is the national symbol of the United States.

Eagles are found nearly all over the world in many different habitats. There are more than 50 species, or types, of eagle. All are excellent hunters because of their keen eyesight, strong claws, and hooked beak. Different types of eagle eat a great variety of animals. Their prey ranges from fish, birds, or snakes to rabbits, foxes, monkeys, and even deer.

Female eagles are generally larger than males. A female bald eagle may be as long as 43 inches (1.1 meters). A male bald eagle is about 36 inches (0.9 meter) long. Golden eagles are similar in size.

The main groups of eagles are sea eagles, booted eagles, forest eagles, and serpent eagles. Sea eagles snatch fish out of rivers, lakes, or seas. The bald eagle is a type of sea eagle that lives in North America. It is not actually bald. It has brown body feathers with white feathers on its head and neck.

The golden eagle is found in North America, Europe, Asia, and northern Africa. It is a type of booted eagle, which has feathers on its legs. The golden eagle is dark brown with golden feathers on its head and neck.

Forest eagles are huge birds that live in rain forests. Serpent eagles are snake-eating birds of Asia and Africa.

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Eagles are large birds of prey, meaning that they hunt and eat animals for food. They are related to hawks, falcons, and vultures. Eagles have long held a special place in...

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Scientific Name:

Haliaeetus leucocephalus

Average Life Span In The Wild:

Up to 28 years

Size:

Body: 34 to 43 inches; wingspan: 6 to 8 feet

Size relative to a 6-ft man:

The bald eagle, with its snowy-feathered (not bald) head and white tail, is the proud national bird symbol of the United States-yet the bird was nearly wiped out there. For many decades, bald eagles were hunted for sport and for the "protection" of fishing grounds. Pesticides like DDT also wreaked havoc on eagles and other birds. These chemicals collect in fish, which make up most of the eagle's diet. They weaken the bird's eggshells and severely limited their ability to reproduce. Since DDT use was heavily restricted in 1972, eagle numbers have rebounded significantly and have been aided by reintroduction programs. The result is a wildlife success story-the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has upgraded the birds from endangered to least concern.

Habitat and Diet

Though their numbers have grown in much of their range, bald eagles remain most abundant in Alaska and Canada. These powerful birds of prey use their talons to fish, but they get many of their meals by scavenging carrion or stealing the kills of other animals. (Such thievery famously prompted Ben Franklin to argue against the bird's nomination as the United State's national symbol.) They live near water and favor coasts and lakes where fish are plentiful, though they will also snare and eat small mammals.

Breeding

Bald eagles are believed to mate for life. A pair constructs an enormous stick nest-one of the bird-world's biggest-high above the ground and tends to a pair of eggs each year. Immature eagles are dark, and until they are about five years old, they lack the distinctive white markings that make their parents so easy to identify. Young eagles roam great distances. Florida birds have been spotted in Michigan, and California eagles have traveled all the way to Alaska.

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Scientific Name: Haliaeetus leucocephalus Average Life Span In The Wild: Up to 28 years Size: Body: 34 to 43 inches; wingspan: 6 to 8 feet Size relative to a 6-ft man: The bald eagle, with its snowy-feathered (not bald) head and white tail, is the proud national bird symbol of the United States-yet the bird was nearly wiped out there.

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A bald eagle's white head may make it look bald. But actually the name comes from an old English word, "balde," meaning white. These graceful birds have been the national symbol of the United States since 1782.

Bald eagles were on the brink of extinction because of hunting and pollution. But laws created almost 40 years ago have helped protect them, and they've made a comeback.

Female bald eagles are a bit bigger than males. Their bodies can be three feet (one meter) long, and their wingspan can be eight feet (2.4 meters) across. That's about the distance from the floor to the ceiling!

Eagle nests are called aeries (AIR-ees). Bald eagles build their nests at the very top of tall trees so the eggs will be safe. Some parents come back year after year to the same nest, adding more sticks, twigs, and grass each time.

Babies, called eaglets, are born light gray then turn brown. When they are four to five years old, they develop their normal white heads and tails. In the wild, they can live to be 35 years old or more.

Bald eagles can soar over 10,000 feet (3,048 meters) high, and their great eyesight lets them see fish up to a mile (1.6 kilometers) away. When they attack, they drop down at up to 100 miles (161 kilometers) an hour! Then they glide just above the water, snag a fish with their feet, and fly off to eat it.

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A bald eagle's white head may make it look bald. But actually the name comes from an old English word, "balde," meaning white. These graceful birds have been the national symbol of the United States since 1782. Bald eagles were on the brink of extinction because of hunting and pollution.

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The red panda is a mammal that lives in Asia. The red panda is called the lesser panda because it was once thought that the giant panda and the red panda were related. The...

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The red panda is a reddish brown, long-tailed mammal, about the size of a large domestic cat. The red panda is also called the lesser panda, panda, firefox, red cat-bear, or red bear-cat. Its scientific name is Ailurus fulgens. Red pandas were once thought to be closely related to giant pandas or to raccoons. The red panda is now usually classified as the only member of the family Ailuridae.

The red panda is found in high mountain forests and bamboo thickets in parts of south-central China, Myanmar, Nepal, Bhutan, and northeastern India. It looks somewhat like a raccoon. The red panda is about 20 to 26 inches (50 to 65 centimeters) long from nose to rump, and its ringed, bushy tail is about 12 to 20 inches (30 to 50 centimeters) long. It weighs about 6.5 to 14 pounds (3 to 6.2 kilograms). The long, soft coat hairs are rusty red to dark chestnut. The face and ears are mostly white, but the backs of the ears are reddish brown. A stripe of red-brown runs from each eye to the corners of the mouth. The feet have hairy soles, and the claws can be partly drawn in.

Red pandas may live alone, in pairs, or in family groups. During the day they sleep curled up in a tree. They feed at night and at dawn and dusk, eating mostly bamboo. However, they also eat berries, other plant material, insects, and birds' eggs. Like giant pandas, red pandas use special extensions of the wrist bones to handle bamboo stems. Litters of generally one to two young are born in the spring or summer. The young stay in the nest for about 90 days and may stay with the mother for about a year.

The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) lists the red panda as endangered. Its status is mainly a result of habitat destruction. People graze livestock in the forests where red pandas live and clear the trees for lumber or to create roads, farms, or settlements. Another threat is poaching for the animal's fur and meat and for the pet trade. The red panda is gentle and easily tamed but usually resents being handled. It is a popular zoo animal. Conservation efforts have included setting aside protected areas for the species as well as enforcing antipoaching laws.

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The red panda is a reddish brown, long-tailed mammal, about the size of a large domestic cat. The red panda is also called the lesser panda, panda, firefox, red cat-bear, or red bear-cat. Its scientific name is Ailurus fulgens. Red pandas were once thought to be closely related to giant pandas or to raccoons.

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The polar bear is a burly white bear that lives in the lands surrounding the North Pole. Like all bears, it is a mammal. Where Polar Bears Live Polar bears live in Earth’s…

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Scientific Name:

Ursus maritimus

Average Life Span In The Wild:

25 to 30 years

Size:

Head and body: 7.25 to 8 feet; tail: 3 to 5 inches

Weight:

900 to 1,600 pounds

Size relative to a 6-ft man:

Polar bears roam the Arctic ice sheets and swim in that region's coastal waters. They are very strong swimmers, and their large front paws, which they use to paddle, are slightly webbed. Some polar bears have been seen swimming hundreds of miles from land-though they probably cover most of that distance by floating on sheets of ice.

Arctic Adaptations

Polar bears live in one of the planet's coldest environments and depend on a thick coat of insulated fur, which covers a warming layer of fat. Fur even grows on the bottom of their paws, which protects against cold surfaces and provides a good grip on ice. The bear's stark white coat provides camouflage in surrounding snow and ice. But under their fur, polar bears have black skin-the better to soak in the sun's warming rays.

Hunting

These powerful predators typically prey on seals. In search of this quarry they frequent areas of shifting, cracking ice where seals may surface to breathe air. They also stalk ice edges and breathing holes. If the opportunity presents itself, polar bears will also consume carcasses, such as those of dead whales. These Arctic giants are the masters of their environment and have no natural enemies.

Breeding and Behavior

Females den by digging into deep snow drifts, which provide protection and insulation from the Arctic elements. They give birth in winter, usually to twins. Young cubs live with their mothers for some 28 months to learn the survival skills of the far north. Females aggressively protect their young, but receive no help from their solitary male mates. In fact, male polar bears may even kill young of their species.

Polar bears are attractive and appealing, but they are powerful predators that do not typically fear humans, which can make them dangerous. Near human settlements, they often acquire a taste for garbage, bringing bears and humans into perilous proximity.

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Find out how these polar predators rule the Arctic. Get under their skin for a closer look at what keeps polar bears warm.

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Ready for an icy adventure, gang? Here at National Geographic Kids we're heading north - far north! - to meet one of nature's toughest animals in our 10 facts about polar bears...
Ten polar bear facts

1) Polar bears are found in the frozen wilds of the Arctic, in Canada, Alaska (US), Greenland, Russia and Norway.

2) These are seriously big bears, gang. Adult polar bears can measure over 2.5m long and weigh around 680kg. Their huge size and weight make them the largest living carnivores (meat eaters) on Earth!

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3) Polar bears are well adapted to survive in one of the harshest environments on our planet. As well as their thick fur, they have a layer of fat, called blubber, that insulates (protects) their bodies from the frosty air and near-freezing water. Polar bears also have black skin under their glistening coat, which helps them soak up the Sun's rays and keep warm.

4) These magnificent mammals have an incredible sense of smell which they use to track their favourite grub, seals*. In fact, their sense of smell is so good, they can sniff out prey from up to 16km away!

5) Despite their size and bulk, polar bears are excellent swimmers, and have been spotted in waters over 100km offshore. They can comfortably swim at around 10km/h using their slightly webbed, 30cm wide paws like paddles in the water.

6) Although good swimmers, polar bears aren't quick enough to reliably catch seals in open water. Instead, they depend on the ice as a hunting platform. They wait near seal breathing holes or at the ice's edge for a seal to surface. They then snatch it from the sea and...gulp!

Did you know that we have a FREE downloadable polar bear primary resource? Great for teachers, homeschoolers and parents alike!

7) Did you know that a polar bear's fur isn't white? It's actually transparent with a hollow core that reflects light. This helps the bears blend in with their surroundings - a useful trick, especially when hunting wary seals!

8) Female polar bears give birth to their cubs in snow dens (in November or December), where the family is protected from the harsh Arctic environment. At birth, the cubs are only around 30cm long and weigh around half a kilogram - that's about the same as a guinea pig!

9) The polar family emerge from the den four to five months later. The cubs will stay with their mother for about two years, during which time they learn the skills needed to survive in the Arctic.

10) Sadly, these incredible creatures are classified as " vulnerable". The biggest threat to polar bears is climate change. Rising global temperatures means that sea ice is melting earlier and forming later each year, leaving polar bears less time to hunt for food. But the good news is you can help these amazing animals! Check out NG Kids' Five Top Conservation Tips for some environment-saving ideas.

*Polar bears occasionally feed on other arctic marine mammals, too, including whales, walruses and narwhals.

Did you enjoy our 10 facts about polar bears? Let us know by leaving a comment, below!

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10 facts about polar bears! | National Geographic Kids

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Join us here at Nat Geo Kids to discover our top facts about polar bears! Where they live, what they eat, and how they survive the in freezing temperatures!

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Polar bears live along shores and on sea ice in the icy cold Arctic. When sea ice forms over the ocean in cold weather, many polar bears, except pregnant females, head out onto the ice to hunt seals.

Polar bears primarily eat seals. Polar bears often rest silently at a seal's breathing hole in the ice, waiting for a seal in the water to surface. A polar bear may also hunt by swimming beneath the ice. But climate change is making it harder for polar bears to hunt. Ice melts earlier and re-forms later than it has in the past. Without the sea ice, the polar bear must scavenge for other, less nutritious food.

Polar bears roam the Arctic ice sheets and swim in that region's coastal waters. They are very strong swimmers, and their large front paws, which they use to paddle, are slightly webbed. Some polar bears have been seen swimming hundreds of miles from land-though they probably cover most of that distance by floating on sheets of ice.

In fall pregnant polar bears make dens in earth and snowbanks, where they'll stay through the winter and give birth to one to three cubs. In spring the mother emerges from her den followed by her cubs. During that time she will protect them and teach them how to hunt. The U.S., Canada, Denmark, Norway, and Russia signed an agreement in 1973 to protect polar bears.

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Polar bears live along shores and on sea ice in the icy cold Arctic. When sea ice forms over the ocean in cold weather, many polar bears, except pregnant females, head out onto the ice to hunt seals. Polar bears primarily eat seals.

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Snakes

Scientific classification

Infraorders

Alethinophidia Nopcsa, 1923

Scolecophidia Cope, 1864

Approximate world distribution of snakes, all species

Snakes are reptiles. They are part of the order Squamata. They are carnivores, with long narrow bodies and no legs. There are at least 20 families, about 500 genera and 3,400 species of snake.

The earliest known fossils are from the Jurassic period. This was between 143 and 167 million years ago.

Their long, slender body has some special features. They have overlapping scales which protect them, and help them move and climb trees. The scales have colours which may be camouflage or warning colours.

Many species have skulls with more joints than the skulls of their lizard ancestors. This allows the snakes to swallow prey much larger than their heads. In their narrow bodies, snakes' paired organs (such as kidneys) appear one in front of the other instead of side by side. Most have only one working lung. Some species have kept a pelvic girdle with a pair of vestigial claws on either side of the cloaca. They have no eyelids or external ears. They can hiss, but otherwise make no vocal sounds.

They are very mobile in their own way. Most of them live in the tropics. Few snake species live beyond the Tropic of Cancer or Tropic of Capricorn, and only one species, the common viper ( Vipera berus) lives beyond the Arctic Circle. They can see well enough, and they can taste scents with their tongues by flicking them in and out. They are very sensitive to vibrations in the ground. Some snakes can sense warm-blooded animals by thermal infrared.

Most snakes live on the ground, and in the trees. Others live in the water, and a few live under the soil. Like other reptiles, snakes are ectotherms. They control their body temperature by moving in and out of the direct sunshine. That is why they are rare in cold places.

Snakes range in size from the tiny, 10.4 cm (4 inch)-long thread snake to the reticulated python of 6.95 meters (22.8 ft) in length. The extinct snake was 12.8 meters (42 ft) long.

Snakes are thought to have evolved from lizards. The earliest snake fossils are from the Lower Cretaceous. A wide range of snakes appeared during the Paleocene period ( c 66 to 56 million years ago).

The Squamata are definitely a monophyletic group: it is a sister group to the Tuatara. Judged by their fossil record, the squamates were present in the Mesozoic, but had a minor place in the land ecology. Three of the six lines are recorded first in the Upper Jurassic, the others in the Cretaceous. Probably all, certainly the lizards, arose earlier in the Jurassic. The Mosasaurs of the Upper Cretaceous were by far the most successful of all the lizards, becoming the top predator in their ecosystem.

Although snakes and lizards look very different, neither is a proper clade. Snakes did descend from early lizards, not once, but a number of times.

There is a monophyletic clade within the Squamata. It is the Toxicofera. It includes all venomous snakes and lizards, and many related non-venomous species. The evidence for this is in recent molecular analyses.

Fossil snakes

The fossil of a primitive snake from the Lower Cretaceous has been found. It lived about 113 million years ago. It had rather small front and rear legs. Several other fossil snakes have been found with small rear legs, but this is the first one with all four legs. The snake, Tetrapodophis amplectus, lived on land and was adapted to burrowing. The researcher said there were "a lot of very advanced snake features, including its hooked teeth, flexible jaw and spine - and even snake-like scales. And there's the gut contents - it's swallowed another vertebrate. It was preying on other animals, which is a snake feature". The snake came from the Crato Formation in Brazil, and lay in a private collection for many years. It was re-discovered in a museum at Solnhofen, Bavaria.

Most snakes are nonvenomous. Those that have venom use it mainly to kill and subdue prey rather than for self-defense. Some have venom potent enough to cause painful injury or death to humans. Nonvenomous snakes either swallow prey alive or kill by squeezing.

Two taxonomic families are entirely venomous:

A third family with the "rear-fanged" snakes (and most of the other snake species) is the

Many snakes have skulls with more joints than their lizard ancestors. This helps them swallow prey much larger than their heads. The bones of the head and jaws can move apart to let large prey move into their body. The throat, stomach and intestines can also expand in a most extraordinary manner. In this was, a thin-looking snake can swallow and digest a larger animal.

To fit their narrow bodies, snakes' paired organs (such as kidneys) are one in front of the other instead of side by side, and most snakes have only one working lung. Some species have a pelvic girdle with a pair of vestigial claws on either side of the cloaca. This is a relic of the legs which do not appear in modern snakes.

Snakes need to shed their skin regularly while they grow. This is called moulting. Snakes shed their skin by rubbing their head against something rough and hard, like a piece of wood or a rock. This causes the skin, which is already stretched, to split open. The snake keeps on rubbing its skin on various rough objects until the skin peels off from its head. This lets it crawl out, turning the skin inside out.

All snakes are carnivorous; they eat other animals. Some are venomous; they inject poison along grooves in their teeth. Some snakes are constrictrors. Constrictors are not venomous, so they squeeze their prey to death. Snakes swallow their food whole, and they cannot chew. Because snakes are cold-blooded, they do not have to eat as regularly as mammals. People who own pet snakes feed them as infrequently as once per month. Some snakes can go as long as six months without a good meal.

Snakes have a very flexible lower jaw, the two halves of which are not rigidly attached, and many other joints in their skull. They can open their mouths wide enough to swallow their prey whole, even if the prey is larger in diameter than the snake itself.

Not having arms and legs doesn't stop snakes from moving. They have developed several different ways of moving to deal with particular environments. Each type of snake movement is discrete and distinct from the others.

Lateral undulation

Lateral undulation is a snake's only way of moving in water, and the most common way of moving altogether. In this mode, the body of the snake alternately bends to the left and right, resulting in a series of rearward-moving "waves". While this movement appears rapid, snakes have rarely been seen moving faster than two body-lengths per second, often much less. This mode of movement has the same amount of calories burned per meter moved as running in lizards of the same mass.

Terrestrial

Terrestrial lateral undulation is the most common mode of moving for most snake species. In this mode, the posteriorly moving waves push against contact points in the environment, such as rocks, twigs, irregularities in the soil, etc. Each of these environmental objects, in turn, generates a reaction force directed forward and towards the midline of the snake, resulting in forward thrust while the lateral components cancel out. The speed of this movement depends upon the density of push-points in the environment, with a medium density of about 8 along the snake's length being ideal. The wave speed is precisely the same as the snake speed, and as a result, every point on the snake's body follows the path of the point ahead of it, allowing snakes to move through very dense vegetation and small openings.

Snakes move forward in water by moving their bodies in a wave-like motion. The waves become larger as they move down the snake's body, and the wave travels backwards faster than the snake moves forwards. Thrust is got by pushing their body against the water: this results in the observed slip. In spite of overall similarities, studies show that the pattern of muscle activation is different in aquatic versus terrestrial lateral undulation, which justifies calling them separate modes. All snakes can laterally undulate forward (with backward-moving waves), but only sea snakes have been observed reversing the motion (moving backwards with forward-moving waves).

Sidewinding

This is most often used by colubroid snakes ( colubrids, elapids, and vipers). They use it when the environment lacks anything firm to push against, such as a slick mud flat, or a sand dune. Sidewinding is a modified form of lateral undulation in which all of the body segments oriented in one direction remain in contact with the ground, while the other segments are lifted up. This results in a peculiar "rolling" motion. This mode of moving overcomes the slippery nature of sand or mud by pushing off with only static portions on the body, thereby minimizing slipping. The static nature of the contact points can be shown from the tracks of a sidewinding snake, which show each belly scale imprint, without any smearing. This mode of moving has very low caloric cost, less than ⅓ of the cost for a lizard or normal snake to move the same distance.

Concertina

When push-points are absent, but the space is too narrow for sidewinding, such as in tunnels, snakes rely on concertina moving. In this mode, the snake braces the back part of its body against the tunnel wall while the front of the snake extends and straightens. The front portion then flexes and forms an anchor point, and the back part is straightened and pulled forwards. This mode of moving is slow and very demanding, needing up to seven times the energy of laterally undulating over the same distance. This high cost is due to the repeated stops and starts of portions of the body as well as the need to use the muscles to brace against the tunnel walls.

Rectilinear

The slowest mode of snake moving is rectilinear moving, which is also the only one where the snake does not need to bend its body laterally, though it may do so when turning. In this mode, the belly scales are lifted and pulled forward before being placed down and the body pulled over them. Waves of movement and stasis pass posteriorly, resulting in a series of ripples in the skin. The ribs of the snake do not move in this mode of moving and this method is most often used by large pythons, boas, and vipers when stalking prey across open ground as the snake's movements are subtle and harder to detect by their prey in this manner.

The movement of snakes in trees has only recently been studied. While on tree branches, snakes use several modes of moving depending on species and bark texture. In general, snakes will use a modified form of concertina moving on smooth branches, but will laterally undulate if contact points are available. Snakes move faster on small branches and when contact points are present, in contrast to limbed animals, which do better on large branches with little 'clutter'.

Gliding snakes ( Chrysopelea) of Southeast Asia launch themselves from branch tips, spreading their ribs and laterally undulating as they glide between trees. These snakes can perform a controlled glide for hundreds of feet depending upon launch altitude and can even turn in midair.

Related pages

Images for kids

An adult Barbados threadsnake, Leptotyphlops carlae, on an American quarter dollar.

A "海豹蛇" ("sea-leopard snake", supposedly Enhydris bocourti) occupies a place of honor among the live delicacies waiting to meet their consumers outside of a Guangzhou restaurant.

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Snakes Scientific classification Infraorders Alethinophidia Nopcsa, 1923 Scolecophidia Cope, 1864 Approximate world distribution of snakes, all species Snakes are reptiles. They are part of the order Squamata. They are carnivores, with long narrow bodies and no legs. There are at least 20 families, about 500 genera and 3,400 species of snake.

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Of all the animals, snakes are among the best known but perhaps the most misunderstood. Snakes are characterized by their elongated limbless bodies. They are found in almost every part of the world except the polar regions. Although the greatest species diversity is found in the tropics, snakes occupy a wide range of habitats, from deserts to rainforests, lakes, and oceans. Snakes belong to the class Reptilia, which includes all reptiles. Within Reptilia they are classified with the lizards into the order Squamata. There are roughly 2,500 to 3,000 snake species living today.

Many people associate snakes with a painful and venomous bite. Each year venomous snakes bite thousands of people, many of whom die as a result. However, the danger of snakebite is often overstated. A snake will bite a human only when frightened or threatened. Also, only a small fraction of snake species produce venom. Even in venomous snakes, the venom is an adaptation used mainly to immobilize prey rather than for defense. Snakes can control the amount of venom they inject via a bite. They tend to reserve the limited amount they have available at any one time to help them capture their meals. About 40 percent of snakebites received by humans are "dry"-that is, no venom is injected. However, all snakebites require prompt and appropriate medical attention. In many parts of the world, the production and availability of antivenins-serums that neutralize specific venoms-have greatly reduced the hazards associated with venomous snakebite.

Snakes play a vital role in nature. As predators, for example, some species are important for keeping rodent populations in check. Rodents are seedeaters; overabundant populations can harm plant communities, destroy crops, and ruin stored grains. Attempts by humans to eradicate snakes have resulted in abrupt increases in rodent populations.

Decreased snake populations also bode poorly for animals that depend on these reptiles for their own dinner. Snakes are the natural prey of many animals, including hawks, owls, foxes, and raccoons. Despite their undeserved bad reputations, snakes hold a crucial position in the delicate balance of life. ( See also ecology.)

Much of the snake's internal structure is modified because of the animal's long, slender body shape. The pelvic girdle-the skeletal arch that supports the hind limbs of most vertebrates-is missing in most snakes. Some groups, such as the boas and pythons, have remnants of the pelvic girdle and vestigial limbs-tiny appendages visible on the underside of the animal's body. Many snakes have only one lung; if two lungs are present, one may be greatly reduced in size. Most of the internal organs, such as the liver, kidneys, ovaries, and testes, are very elongated. Snakes lack a urinary bladder; they excrete kidney wastes as solid material.

Although limblessness has some obvious disadvantages for an animal, snakes use their long cylindrical bodies to advantage in certain situations. Snakes can move soundlessly, and the uniformity of their shape allows them to blend into their surroundings in habitats where appendages might make camouflage more difficult. Their slender, flexible bodies also give them access to underground burrows, rock crevices, and tree cavities that are impenetrable for other animals. ( See also adaptation.)

Relationship Between Body Shape and Activity
Although all snakes are cylindrical in shape, the body's weight and length vary considerably across snake species. This variation generally reflects the snake's habitat, feeding style, and behavior. Stout, heavy-bodied species, such as many of the vipers and pit vipers, are slow moving, often sedentary animals that sit and wait for prey. Among such species are the largest living snakes, which belong to the boa and python families. Individual giant anacondas (a type of boa) and reticulated pythons have exceeded 30 feet (9 meters) in length.

Active, terrestrial (land-dwelling) species such as racers and garter snakes are more streamlined. The arboreal (tree-dwelling) species, such as tropical vine snakes, are extremely slender and lightweight so that vegetation can support their weight. The smallest snakes are the burrowing blind snakes, the tiniest of which do not reach 4 inches (10 centimeters) in length.

The snake's vertebral column is unusually long and contains more vertebrae than do the skeletons of any other major group of animals. It consists of precaudal (in front of the tail) vertebrae, to which ribs are attached, and caudal (tail-section) vertebrae, to which ribs are not attached. Snake vertebrae are distinctive in that each vertebra touches its front and back neighbors at five different points. These points fit together and move in relation to one another in a way that allows the vertebrae to swivel easily. As a result, the vertebral column is both flexible and rigid: it easily flexes from side to side and up and down but allows for only minimal twisting on its long axis.

Jaws and Teeth
All snakes are carnivorous, or meat-eating, and consume their prey whole, without chewing. Often, the prey is larger in diameter than the snake's own head and body. Snakes have highly mobile and flexible skulls and jawbones. In addition, in some snakes the back portion of the lower jawbone can be disconnected from the upper jaw so that the mouth can open very wide.

In most species the teeth are curved backward to ensure that prey, which may be alive when swallowed, cannot easily escape. Most snakes have needle-sharp teeth. In the families Viperidae ( vipers and pit vipers, including rattlesnakes) and Elapidae ( cobras and their relatives), the front pair of teeth is modified into fangs that are larger than the other teeth. Some snakes of the family Colubridae have a pair of fangs at the back of the upper jaw.

The teeth are modified in species that do not capture large prey. For example, the soft diet of the egg-eating snakes requires little in the way of teeth; accordingly, snakes of this group have only a few peglike teeth. The burrowing blind snakes, which feed mainly on ants and termites, also have few teeth.

Scales and Molting
The bodies of snakes are covered entirely with scales that arise from the outer skin layer. In most species the scales on the underside of the body are wider than they are long. The scales on the upper part of the body may be quite smooth and shiny, or they may have a ridge, or keel, running lengthwise down the center of each scale. Species may be distinguished by whether they have smooth or keeled scales.

All reptiles shed their scales continually throughout their lifetimes. Snakes characteristically shed the outer layer of skin all at once. Before shedding-which is also called molting-the snake's eyes turn milky blue in color. The old layer of scales begins to loosen at the front end of the snake's body, along its lips. The animal often hastens the molting process by rubbing its head against a rough object, such as a rock, to break the skin loose. The snake then crawls completely out of its skin, leaving the shed skin intact. The discarded skin is a transparent envelope of scales that is an exact duplicate of the body's scale pattern.

Snakes lack eyelids and external ears. The eyes are covered by a transparent, shieldlike scale that is replaced when the snake sheds its skin. This lack of a movable eyelid is responsible for the animal's often disconcerting stare. Snakes cannot hear most airborne sounds, but they can detect low-frequency vibrations in the ground by means of bones in their lower jaws. This allows a snake to sense the approach of another animal. Snakes also do not have vocal cords and so are voiceless. However, many species can make loud hissing noises. They produce the sound by expelling air through an opening in the throat known as the glottis.

Vision in some species is very good, while in others it is not well developed. Many burrowing snakes, such as the blind snakes, are sightless. Vipers, pit vipers, and other nocturnal snakes have elliptical pupils that look like vertical slits in bright light. In darkness the pupils dilate, or open up, for better night vision.

The pit vipers and some pythons and boas have heat-sensitive pits on the head that detect infrared radiation, or heat. Many of these snakes capture birds or mammals in total darkness by sensing the prey's body heat. The pit vipers have a pair of pits, one on each side of the head, between the eye and nostril. In boas and pythons with such pits, several pits are situated along the snake's lips.

The snake's forked tongue gathers chemical information about its surroundings. When the tongue is flicked out of the mouth, chemical particles in the air adhere to its moist surface. The tongue is then drawn in and pressed against a sensory structure called Jacobson's organ that is located in the roof of the mouth. This organ can distinguish between various chemical stimuli. When a snake senses movement in its environment, it will begin to flick its tongue in and out in search of chemical information.

Regulation of Body Temperature
Snakes are poikilothermic-that is, their body temperature varies with the temperature of the environment. Poikilotherms are often described as cold-blooded, a misleading definition. Unlike homeotherms (so-called "warm-blooded" animals)-whose body temperature remains constant regardless of environmental temperature-poikilotherms use behavior to control their body temperature. In cold conditions a snake's metabolism slows down considerably, and snakes can become immobile at temperatures several degrees above freezing. This can make them vulnerable to predators during extended cold periods, such as overnight. To avoid this, most snakes spend the night below ground or in another protected area. In the morning, the snake often makes its way to a sunny open area, such as an exposed rock. As it basks in the sun, it slowly warms up and its metabolic rate increases until it can move around at a normal pace again.

In temperate regions snakes spend the winter in a dormant state called hibernation. They usually seek out an underground den in which to spend this long inactive period. Many snakes, often of different species, may share a well-protected den.

Overheating can also be a serious problem. Most snakes cannot tolerate temperatures above about 100° F (38° C) for more than a few minutes. They must avoid prolonged exposure to direct sunlight on hot days. In warm seasons a snake often seeks the shelter of a shady spot after it finishes its morning sunbath.

Snakes capture various animals as prey. Many species eat only certain types of prey. Some hognose snakes, for example, eat almost exclusively toads of the genus Bufo. Water snakes prey mostly on fishes and frogs, and the tree-climbing rat snakes eat mainly birds and bird eggs. Rattlesnakes eat mainly small mammals such as rodents. A few groups, such as the coral snakes, feed on other snakes and lizards. Others, such as racers, eat a wide variety of vertebrates and invertebrates.

Most snakes have strong jaws with rows of sharp, backward-pointing teeth to catch and hold their prey. The snake gradually works its jaws over the captured animal, swallowing it whole and usually head first. A snake may take more than an hour to completely swallow a large meal.

Some snakes have unusual features adapted to their specialized diets. For instance, the snail-eating snakes of South America and Asia have enlarged teeth on the lower jaw. The snakes use their jaws like a ratchet to extract snails from their shells. The egg-eating snakes of Africa have downward-pointing spines on their front vertebrae. The spines break an egg after it has been swallowed so that the snake can regurgitate the shell.

Snakes' food sources are often scarce or unpredictable. Therefore, snakes have evolved physiological characteristics that allow them to go for long periods without eating. Individuals of many species have been known to go for several months in captivity without food, though they require water on a frequent basis. Like other reptiles, snakes are dormant and do not require food during cold weather. During warmer periods, if food is scarce, snakes get energy from fat stored in their bodies. The fat is replenished when food becomes more plentiful.

Using Venom to Capture Prey
Members of the families Viperidae and Elapidae inject venom into their prey through a pair of hollow fangs in the front of the mouth. This immobilizes and then kills the prey. The venom is made in a pair of glands located at the back of the head and then passes through a duct to the fangs. Some members of the Colubridae family have fangs in the rear of the mouth and venomous saliva. These fangs are not hollow, but they have lengthwise grooves. While the snake bites its prey, the toxic saliva can enter the puncture wound through the grooves in the fangs.

Constriction
Many nonvenomous snakes are constrictors that coil around their prey and squeeze until the animal dies from suffocation. Constrictors include not only the large boas and pythons but also many smaller species such as king snakes and rat snakes. ( See also boa constrictor; anaconda; rosy boa.)

Snakes have many natural enemies and, like other animals, have a variety of defenses. The natural enemies of snakes include many kinds of birds and mammals, crocodilians, turtles, and other snakes. Hawks, owls, wading birds, and members of the cat and weasel families eat large numbers of snakes. Large invertebrates such as centipedes and scorpions may eat smaller snakes.

Many snakes will bite an attacker if given the opportunity. Bites from nonvenomous snakes are generally harmless to humans, though the bites of some of the larger species can cause lacerations and extensive bleeding. Although constrictors squeeze their prey to death, constriction is not normally used for defense.

Coloration
The coloring of snakes can offer protection from predators in different ways. In some species coloring provides camouflage. For example, many arboreal snakes are bright green and resemble vines. Copperheads and many other forest-dwelling species have brown crossbands that match the pattern of dead leaves and debris on the forest floor. Some snakes, particularly species that are active above ground much of the time, have uniform color patterns or longitudinal stripes that create an optical illusion that eliminates the sensation of motion. A predator attempting to keep its eye on the body of a black racer or ribbon snake soon finds itself watching the tail of the snake disappear. This type of illusion has led to the mistaken belief that many snakes, including racers and coachwhips, are extremely fast-moving; in reality most snakes cannot travel as fast as a human can walk.

Bright colors, particularly red, yellow, and orange, on the underbody are an important defensive adaptation in some species. When threatened, the snake displays the underside of the tail and rear portion of the body. The sudden display of bright color startles the potential predator, which then may flee. ( See also protective coloration; sand boa; green tree python; ribbon snake.)

Mimicry can also protect snakes from predators. Many species of snake in the Western Hemisphere have bright red and yellow rings encircling the body. They thus resemble the venomous coral snakes that inhabit the same regions. Although such mimic snakes are harmless, their resemblance to dangerous predators warns away potential enemies.

Other Defense Strategies
Some snakes use noise as a threat. The most dramatic examples are the several species of North American rattlesnake, which create a loud rattling sound by vibrating the dried scales at the end of their tails. Deadly cobras, harmless hognose snakes, and a variety of other species assume an erect posture and spread their neck regions to intimidate potential enemies. A final resort of some species is to pretend to be dead or dying. This behavior reaches its extreme in hognose snakes, which writhe, bleed from the mouth, and regurgitate their food during their death act.

Most snake species move by using their ventral scales-the scales on the undersides of their bodies-to pull themselves across rough surfaces. Even a paved road has enough rough spots for the ventral scales to gain purchase and pull the snake along. The snake's many ribs are connected by muscles to the ventral scales, though the ribs themselves are firmly attached to the vertebrae and are immobile.

Most species use a type of movement called serpentine locomotion, in which the body winds itself into a series of S-shaped horizontal loops. Each section of a loop pushes against surface resistance.

Other species resemble caterpillars in motion. They inch along in a more or less straight line, using a flow of muscle contractions along the sides. The body is sequentially lifted, anchored, and pushed forward by resistance against the ventral scales. This type of movement is called rectilinear, or caterpillar, locomotion and is used by large, heavy-bodied snakes such as some of the boas and pythons.

Some species use concertina locomotion, so-named because the movement resembles the opening and closing of an accordion-like instrument called a concertina. The back part of the body is securely anchored, and the front part of the body is extended as far forward as possible. The front part is then anchored, and the rear portion is drawn up into accordion-like folds.

Tree snakes modify the concertina technique to move from branch to branch, and some are able to stretch across open spaces of more than half their body length. To scale vertical tree trunks, rat snakes use a combination of locomotion techniques. The flying snakes of India and Southeast Asia can flatten their bodies to such an extent that the animals can glide from one tree to another in a manner that resembles flight.

Some snakes, such as sidewinder rattlesnakes and the African horned viper use a specialized form of locomotion called sidewinding. This is characteristic of desert dwellers that need to travel across loose sand, where the lack of surface friction makes the other methods of locomotion impossible. The front part of the body is thrown upward and sideways in an arch, landing several inches to the side of the original location. The rest of the body follows the same path through the air without touching the sand in between, so that the snake progresses sideways, leaving a track of disconnected, parallel marks in the sand.

All snakes are capable of swimming, though many never encounter open water in their natural habitats. Terrestrial species use serpentine locomotion to travel across the surface of open bodies of water. However, sea snakes, which spend most of their lives in the water, have tails that are slightly flattened vertically and function like paddles.

Most snakes are generally solitary for most of the year. In some species large numbers congregate for mating or hibernation. Raftlike masses of thousands of sea snakes, presumably congregating for breeding purposes, have been observed in the Pacific Ocean. North American garter snakes sometimes are found in enormous numbers during the early spring mating season. During other parts of the year, some species may be abundant in a particular area, but each individual functions independently of the others.

The life cycle and mating behavior of snakes vary regionally in response to environmental conditions. Snakes in tropical regions mate throughout the year, but the timing is often related to wet-dry seasons and varies from species to species. Snakes in colder regions mate either in the fall before hibernation or in early spring.

Most snakes are oviparous, meaning that the female lays eggs. In other species the eggs develop and hatch inside the mother's body, but the snake gives birth to live young. Such species are called ovoviviparous. Both strategies are found in most regions of the world, though a greater proportion of tropical snakes lay eggs than do snakes in temperate regions. Depending on the species, gestation (the time from fertilization to birth) can range from about six months to two years. The number of young varies from about three to more than 50, again depending on the species.

Baby snakes resemble the adults at birth. They are adapted to cope with their environments immediately after birth. The young of live-bearing species are enclosed in a thin membrane, from which they emerge within a few minutes after leaving the mother's body. The hatchlings of oviparous species possess a tiny scale on the end of the nose. This scale, known as the egg tooth, is used to slit open the leathery egg from the inside. Baby snakes shed their outer layer of skin soon after birth, and the egg tooth is lost during this process.

Like other reptiles, snakes grow rapidly as juveniles. Some may grow throughout their lifetimes, but once they have attained maturity their growth slows considerably. In some species the female snakes are much larger than the males, whereas in other species the males are larger. Species in which the females are larger generally produce greater numbers of young than do species in which the females are smaller. Larger size in males is found in species in which the males engage in combat for territories or mates.

Snakes are known to live for several years in the wild, but the maximum lifetime of any species in the wild is unknown. Individuals of several different species have been kept alive in captivity for more than 20 years, and a few have lived for more than 30 years.

Within the class Reptilia, snakes are classified in the order Squamata (along with the lizards) and the suborder Serpentes. The finer taxonomic classification of snakes is a contentious area of zoology. Starting in the late 20th century, genetic data have raised questions about standing classifications, most of which are based on fossil and anatomical evidence. However, the suborder is commonly divided into the blind snakes (roughly 375 species) and the typical snakes (some 2,500 species). The latter group is made up of the lower snakes and the higher snakes. The lower snakes include pipe snakes, shieldtail snakes, boas, and pythons. The higher snakes include the three largest snake families, Colubridae, Elapidae, and Viperidae, as well as the stiletto vipers and mole vipers. Different classification systems divide the living snakes into different numbers of families, often more than 15. Some of the major families are discussed below.

Blind Snakes
The blind snakes are small burrowing species in which all scales covering the body are the same size. The animals are seldom longer than 8 inches (20 centimeters). Their eyes are reduced to tiny eyespots, which are covered by bony head shields. The short, blunt tail resembles the head. Most species have remnants of the pelvic girdle. The blind snakes constitute three families: Typhlopidae (blind snakes), found in most tropical areas; Anomalepididae (dawn blind snakes), found from Central America to northern South America; and Leptotyphlopidae (worm snakes, thread snakes, or slender blind snakes), found from the southwestern United States to South America and in most of Africa and the adjoining portions of Asia.

Pipe Snakes
The pipe snakes (family Cylindrophiidae) are primarily tropical species restricted to Central and South America and Southeast Asia. They have remnants of the pelvic girdle and visible vestigial hind limbs. They are medium-sized burrowing snakes with small, smooth scales.

Shieldtail Snakes
The shieldtail, or rough-scale, snakes (family Uropeltidae) are confined to India and Sri Lanka. These generally small snakes use their solid head bones to burrow in the soil. Shieldtail snakes are characterized by an enlarged scale on the end of the tail that may be rough or spiny. Some species have bright color patterns.

Boas and Pythons
The families Boidae ( boas) and Pythonidae ( pythons) are closely related. They include the largest snakes in the world, such as the giant anaconda ( Eunectes murinus) of South America and the reticulated python ( Python reticulatus) of Asia. Most are constrictors that live mainly in trees or on the ground, though several species are small burrowers and some are semiaquatic. Most boas and pythons have pelvic girdle remnants and vestigial hind limbs terminating in claws, or spurs, that are visible on the underbelly, on either side of the vent. Members of the family Boidae inhabit the Americas, Africa, and Asia, while members of the family Pythonidae occur in Asia, Africa, and Australia. (The sole species of python found in the Americas is usually classified in its own family.)

More than half of the world's snake species belong to the family Colubridae. The family includes the racers, king snakes, rat snakes, water snakes, garter snakes, hognose snakes, rainbow snakes, and hundreds of others. Colubrids have no front fangs, and most have rows of teeth that are of equal size. Some species, such as the rear-fanged snakes, have specialized teeth for feeding and defense. The bite of most of the rear-fanged snakes is harmless or only mildly venomous to humans, but the bite of some colubrids, such as the boomslang ( Dispholidus typus) of Africa, can be fatal. Colubrids are found worldwide, from the tropics to the cooler regions.

Cobras, Mambas, Coral Snakes, and Relatives
The members of the family Elapidae, called elapids, have a pair of immobile, hollow fangs in the front of the mouth that are used to inject venom into prey. Most species are highly venomous, and some are large. The species in this family occupy most of the subtropical and tropical regions of the world. Elapids are found worldwide, except Europe, Madagascar, and Antarctica. Among the notable species are the cobras of Africa and Asia, the kraits (genus Bungarus) of Asia, the mambas (genus Dendroaspis) of Africa, and the many coral snakes of the Americas. The sea snakes also belong to the family Elapidae. They are marine snakes that live mainly along coastal regions of the Pacific and Indian oceans. Elapids constitute most of the snakes of Australia. Many of them are small and harmless, but some Australian elapids, such as the taipans (genus Oxyuranus) and the tiger snake ( Notechis scutatus), are large and very dangerous.

Vipers, Rattlesnakes, Moccasins, and Relatives
Members of the family Viperidae are characterized by a pair of large fangs in the front of the mouth that fold inward and lie horizontally when the mouth is closed. Large venom glands at the back of the head are connected to the hollow fangs by venom ducts. Snakes of the family include the true vipers and the pit vipers, which have heat-sensitive pits on the sides of their heads. The true vipers are found in Europe, Asia, and Africa. They include the European vipers (genus Vipera) and the extremely heavy-bodied Gaboon viper ( Bitis gabonica) of Africa. The pit vipers are more wide-ranging. They are most common in the Americas but are also found in Asia, including Japan, the Philippines, and Indonesia. The pit vipers include rattlesnakes, the copperhead ( Agkistrodon contortrix), the cottonmouth ( A. piscivorus), and fer-de-lance (genus Bothrops).

Stiletto Snakes and Mole Vipers
The classification of the family Atractaspididae is especially contentious, because every type of fang is found among its members. In general, these snakes are highly venomous burrowing animals. They inhabit a wide range of habitats, including deserts. The most notorious genus, Atractaspis, comprises many species of African asps in which the fangs swing outward to the sides. This allows the snake to strike with its mouth closed by swinging its head.

Although the oldest-known fossil snake was dated as 120 million years old, scientists think that snakes may have evolved even earlier. However, the evolutionary origin of snakes remains poorly understood. Whether the first snakes were terrestrial or marine remains a contentious topic. Some DNA studies suggest that snakes may have evolved from terrestrial lizards that excelled at burrowing underground.

The fossil record indicates that snakes began to diversify in the late Cretaceous period. The Colubridae appeared about 22 to 36 million years ago, and the venomous snakes of the families Elapidae and Viperidae appeared about 5 to 22 million years ago. It is believed that these three major families originated in Asia and later spread to other parts of the world. ( See also animal; reptiles; evolution; fossils.)

Perhaps because snakes hold a morbid fascination for humans, they have inspired many myths. It has been said, for example, that snakes use their tails to whip people, shape themselves into hoops and roll down hills, milk cows, and hypnotize their prey. While snakes do have many unusual traits, they are not capable of any of these feats.

Some of the greatest threats to snakes are caused by human activity. Habitat destruction throughout the world has drastically decreased the number of snakes. Some species can survive even in highly urbanized areas, though these species are generally smaller, secretive forms that go unseen by most people. Countless numbers of snakes are also accidentally killed on highways.

International laws restrict the capture and transport of many species of snake, though some continue to be hunted for leather or for the pet trade. Members of venomous species are captured and kept in captivity for the production of antivenin. In some cultures people eat larger snakes. In the southern United States many snakes are killed in rattlesnake roundups, or snake rodeos, in which large numbers of people gather to collect and kill rattlesnakes and other species of snake. Increasingly, members of the public have objected to these events as being inhumane.

Behler, D.A., and Behler, J.L. Snakes (Benchmark Books, 2002).Ernst, C.H., and Zug, G.R. Snakes in Question: The Smithsonian Answer Book, 2nd ed. (Smithsonian Institution, 2004).Greene, H.W. Snakes: The Evolution of Mystery in Nature (Univ. of Calif. Press, 1997). Mattison, Christopher. Snake: The Essential Visual Guide to the World of Snakes (DK Publishing, 2006).Phelps, Tony. Poisonous Snakes, rev. ed. (Blandford, 1989).

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Of all the animals, snakes are among the best known but perhaps the most misunderstood. Snakes are characterized by their elongated limbless bodies. They are found in almost every part of the world except the polar regions. Although the greatest species diversity is found in the tropics, snakes occupy a wide range of habitats, from deserts to rainforests, lakes, and oceans.

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A snake is a reptile with a long, slender body but no arms or legs. Snakes are closely related to lizards. There are about 2,900 species, or kinds, of snake. The best-known...

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The green anaconda is the largest snake in the world, when both weight and length are considered. It can reach a length of 30 feet (9 meters) and weigh up to 550 pounds (227 kilograms). To picture how big that is, if about five ten-year-olds lie down head to foot, they'd be about the length of this huge snake.

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The green anaconda is the largest snake in the world, when both weight and length are considered. It can reach a length of 30 feet (9 meters) and weigh up to 550 pounds (227 kilograms). To picture how big that is, if about five ten-year-olds lie down head to foot, they'd be about the length of this huge snake.

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THEY "HEAR" WITH THEIR JAW.

Snakes don't have external ears to hear sound waves in the air. Instead, bones in their lower jaw pick up vibrations in the ground or water. The vibes trigger signals in the snakes' brains, which are received as messages. "Juicy mouse coming closer!"

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Snakes are masters of disguise, skilled hunters, and champion eaters. Here are eight awesome things you may not have known about these carnivorous reptiles.

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Lynx are wild cats that live in the forests of Europe, Asia, and northern North America. They are known for their sharp vision.

Lynx are about 30 to 40 inches (80 to 100 centimeters) long, without the short tail. They weigh 20 to 45 pounds (9 to 20 kilograms). Lynx have long legs and large, furry paws that help them move through snow. Their thick fur helps to keep them warm in cold weather. The fur is yellowish brown to gray, with darker brown and black patches. It is bushy on the neck. The ears and tail have black hair at the tip.

Lynx live alone or in small groups. They hunt at night. Lynx eat birds and small animals and sometimes deer and sheep. Canadian lynx eat mostly snowshoe hares. Lynx climb and swim well and can make great leaps. They like to sneak up on their prey rather than chase it down. Lynx are generally silent, except during the mating season.

Lynx are closely related to the bobcat and the caracal. The bobcat is also called the bay lynx. It is common to many parts of the United States and has yellowish brown fur tinged with red. The caracal is sometimes called the Persian, or desert, lynx. It lives in hills, deserts, and plains of Africa, the Middle East, and Asia. It has a reddish brown coat.

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Lynx are wild cats that live in the forests of Europe, Asia, and northern North America. They are known for their sharp vision. Lynx are about 30 to 40 inches (80 to 100 centimeters) long, without the short tail. They weigh 20 to 45 pounds (9 to 20 kilograms).

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Size:

32 to 47 inches long

Size relative to a 6-foot human:

What is a lynx?

Lynxes are medium-size, solitary wildcats that roam the forests of North America, Europe, and Asia. While their name comes from a Greek word meaning " to shine "-because of their reflective eyes-their defining features are the prominent tufts of hair above their ears, and their short, stubby tails.

There are four species of lynx. The Eurasian and Iberian lynx are found in Western Europe and Central Asia, and were once thought to be the same species despite the smaller size of the Iberian lynx. The other two species-Canada lynx and bobcats-live in North America. Bobcats, or Lynx rufus, got their name from their short-or bobbed-tail. But even experts can sometimes struggle to tell them apart from the other species.

Appearance

Lynx are usually a light brown, red, rusty, or gray color with dark spots for camouflage. Their fur grows thicker in winter to keep them warm in cold climates.

They are recognizable by the pointed black tufts of hair at the ends of their ears, beard-like fur around their cheeks, long legs, and short, stubby tails with a black tip. Their tufted ears may function like antennae to help them hear, detect movement above their head, or simply to keep their ears warm-but scientists have yet to discover the exact reason.

(Read about an all-black Canada lynx seen for the first time ever.)

Lynx bodies are adapted for life in deep snow. Their long legs help them move through the thick powder and their large, webbed paws have hair underneath to keep them warm and stop them slipping. Those paws hit the ground with a spreading toe motion to help the animal walk on top of the snow, forming the perfect snowshoe.

Bobcats, however, don't need to travel through thick snow in search of snowshoe hares, so they have smaller feet without hairy soles. You can also tell the bobcat by the smaller tufts on its ears, and the white underside of its tail.

Diet and population

Lynx are skilled hunters due to their great hearing and eyesight so strong that they can spot a mouse 250 feet away.

They tend to live in dense forests where there is plenty of cover to ambush their prey. Lynx aren't able to keep up the chase over long distances so once they've spotted their prey they'll silently stalk it until the perfect moment. Pouncing, they grasp their victim with their front claws and kill it with a bite to the throat.

These stealthy cats avoid humans and hunt at night, so they are rarely seen. They usually target one primary prey. For Canada lynx, that's the snowshoe hare and for the Iberian lynx, it's the European rabbit. Meanwhile, bobcats have a more varied diet of rabbits, hares, rodents, and sometimes birds, while the larger Eurasian lynx hunts deer and other small animals.

(Lynx take epic 2,000-mile treks-but why is a mystery.)

Lynx have also been known to kill farm animals, such as sheep and goats, particularly when the livestock is left to graze near the edge of a forest. In Norway, the government compensates farmers for the 10,000 or so sheep that are lost to lynx each year.

Reproduction

Lynx are largely solitary animals that make dens under fallen trees, in dense vegetation, or in abandoned burrows.

During mating season-which takes place at the end of the winter or in early spring-females will only breed with one male. Rival males will screech at each other as they fight over the female. About two months after mating, females give birth to a litter of between one and four kittens that she will raise herself with no involvement from the male.

(Out of the shadows, these are the wildcats you've never seen.)

By using camera traps and tagging kittens, researchers have learned that young lynx become independent at 10 months of age and head out to find their own territories after 20 months. Females have smaller territories than males and don't stray as far from home, and there are some reports of mother-daughter pairs hunting together. Once a young lynx has established its own territory, it is ready to reproduce.

Threats to survival

The International Union for Conservation of Nature classifies the Iberian lynx as endangered, while the Eurasian and Canada lynx and the bobcat are classified as of least concern. They are threatened by the loss and fragmentation of their habitats, humans who trap them for their valuable fur, and issues affecting their prey, such as disease and climate change.

Conservation and reintroduction efforts have proven successful in reversing the decline of the species. For example, the Eurasian lynx has been successfully reintroduced across Europe in countries including France, Italy, Austria, Germany, and Switzerland. Meanwhile, the population of Iberian lynx has grown tenfold across Spain and Portugal.

(Here's how the Iberian lynx became the biggest comeback in cat conservation.)

However, these are not without their challenges. The reintroduction of three pairs of Eurasian lynx to Croatia in 1973, 70 years after the last native animal was lost, seemed successful at first. But the population suffered from inbreeding, and there are now new projects aiming to add genetic diversity into the population by introducing new members.

Editor's note: This story was originally published on April 11, 2010. It has been updated.

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Size: 32 to 47 inches long Size relative to a 6-foot human: Lynxes are medium-size, solitary wildcats that roam the forests of North America, Europe, and Asia. While their name comes from a Greek word meaning " to shine "-because of their reflective eyes-their defining features are the prominent tufts of hair above their ears, and their short, stubby tails.

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Weird and wonderful bunnies | Articles | CBC Kids

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April 09, 2022

One sure sign of spring is that you might starting seeing bunny rabbits everywhere. But did you know that these adorable, furry creatures have some unique differences from other animals?

Check out these amazing bunny facts.

Bunnies are awake at weird times of the day!

Bunnies are crepuscular (say "cre-PUS-kew-lar"). That means that they're most active at dawn (just as the sun rises) and at dusk (when the sun sets).

Most animals are either diurnal or nocturnal. Diurnal animals are active during the day and sleep at night, like people, dogs and squirrels. Nocturnal animals sleep during the day and are active at night, like bats, owls and mice.

A bunny's front teeth never stop growing!

After you lose your baby teeth, the teeth that grow in will stay the same size. And hopefully in the same place for the rest of your life - unless of course you have to get braces.

But unlike people, a bunny's front teeth are open-rooted, which means that they grow and grow and grow! In fact, bunny teeth can grow up to 12 centimetres each year. That's why bunnies like to chew, chew, chew!

In the wild, rabbits gnaw on twigs and bark to keep their teeth trimmed.

Bunnies have 360 degree vision (almost)!

A bunny's eyes are located high on the sides of their head, allowing them to see in almost every direction, including behind them. They only have one small spot where they can't see - right in front of their nose.

Bunnies are cute both big and small!

The smallest bunny species is really tiny - a Dwarf rabbit weighs only 1.3 kilograms. However, the biggest bunnies are Flemish Giant rabbits, and they can weigh up to 6.3 kilograms. That's a big bunny!

Bunnies have their own special dance!

That's right, bunnies do a special dance called a binky when they're happy. They jump up high in the air and do a half-twist. What a great way to celebrate being a bunny!

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Weird and wonderful bunnies | Articles | CBC Kids

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April 09, 2022 One sure sign of spring is that you might starting seeing bunny rabbits everywhere. But did you know that these adorable, furry creatures have some unique differences from other animals? Check out these amazing bunny facts. Bunnies are crepuscular (say "cre-PUS-kew-lar").

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Rabbits and hares are mammals with long ears. There are about 28 species, or types, of rabbit and about 30 species of hare. They all belong to the same animal family, called...

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Cute, fuzzy, fluffy and hopping mad, who doesn't love these adorable creatures, also known as bunnies? Check out our top ten rabbit facts!
Rabbit facts

1) A baby rabbit is called a kit, a female is called a doe and a male is called a buck.

2) Rabbits are very social creatures that live in groups. They live in warrens - a series of tunnels and rooms that they dig underground.

3) A rabbit's teeth never stop growing! Instead, they're gradually worn down as the rabbit chews on grasses, wildflowers and vegetables - meaning they never get too long.

4) Rabbits perform an athletic leap, known as a ' binky ', when they're happy - performing twists and kicks in mid air!

5) Rabbits' eyes are on the sides of their head, meaning they can see almost all the way around them. This helps them to keep a close watch for predators while they're going about their business!

6) Like cats, happy rabbits purr when they're content and relaxed.

7) Rabbits are amazing athletes - they can jump as high as 90 centimetres in one leap!

8) A rabbit's best feature? Their long ears! Growing up to 10 centimetres in length, rabbits can turn their ears by 180 degrees, keeping a careful listen out for predators.

9) One of the world's best-known rabbits is the Warner Bros cartoon character, Bugs Bunny - who's often seen munching on a carrot! In fact, carrots aren't a natural part of a rabbit's diet and can give bunnies an upset stomach if they eat too many.

10) Rabbits are very effective baby-makers! Mother rabbits are pregnant for between 28-31 days, giving birth to up to 14 baby rabbits - called kittens - in a single litter. There are over 45 million rabbits in the UK alone!

Want more cute animal facts? Check out our dog facts article, then discover our top ten rat facts! Plus, if you're a parent or teacher, visit our pet facts primary resource.

What did you think of our top ten rabbit facts? Let us know by leaving a comment below!

Images ⓒ Getty Images: Rabbits jumping, (599204120). Rabbit profile, (596039595)

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10 hopping fun rabbit facts! - National Geographic Kids

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Cute, fuzzy, fluffy and hopping mad, who doesn't love these adorable creatures, also known as bunnies? Check out our top ten rabbit facts! Rabbit facts 1) A baby rabbit is called a kit, a female is called a doe and a male is called a buck.

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Common Name:

Eastern Cottontail Rabbit

Scientific Name:

Sylvilagus floridanus

Average Life Span In The Wild:

Up to 3 years

Size:

15.5 to 18.75 inches

Size relative to a teacup:

There are several species of cottontail rabbit, but the eastern cottontail is the most common. This ubiquitous animal can be found from Canada to South America and, in the United States, from the East Coast to the Great Plains. Cottontails range from reddish brown to gray, but all feature the distinctive "cotton ball" tail for which they are named.

Habitat and Diet

These rabbits seek out habitat on the fringes of open spaces, such as fields, meadows, and farms, but can adapt to other habitats-including those of humans.

They browse at night on grasses and herbs and are fond of garden fare such as peas and, of course, lettuce. In winter, their diet becomes a bit coarse and consists of bark, twigs, and buds. During the day, cottontails often remain hidden in vegetation. If spotted, they flee from prey with a zigzag pattern, sometimes reaching speeds of up to 18 miles an hour.

Reproduction

Females give birth in shallow ground nests, to young so helpless that perhaps only 15 percent survive their first year. Fortunately, rabbits breed three or four times every year and produce three to eight young each time. Young rabbits mature quickly and are self-sufficient after only four or five weeks. They are sexually mature after only two or three months, so populations are able to grow with staggering speed.

Cottontails are plentiful and can be problematic for farmers; they are also a popular game animal.

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Eastern Cottontail Rabbit | National Geographic

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Common Name: Eastern Cottontail Rabbit Scientific Name: Sylvilagus floridanus Average Life Span In The Wild: Up to 3 years Size: 15.5 to 18.75 inches Size relative to a teacup: There are several species of cottontail rabbit, but the eastern cottontail is the most common.

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Whales are large animals that live in water. Whales may look like fishes, but they are mammals. They breathe air and produce milk for their young. Whales make up an order, or...

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The beluga, or white whale, is one of the smallest species of whale. Their distinctive color and prominent foreheads make them easily identifiable.

Unlike most other whales, the beluga has a very flexible neck that enables it to nod and turn its head in all directions.

Belugas generally live together in small groups known as pods. They are social animals and vocal communicators using a diversified language of clicks, whistles, and clangs. Belugas can also copy a variety of other sounds.

These whales are common in the Arctic Ocean's coastal waters, though they are found in subarctic waters as well. Arctic belugas migrate southward in large herds when the sea freezes over.

Belugas feed on fish, crustaceans, and worms.

The whale is related to the tusked "unicorn" whale known as the narwhal.

The beluga is not related to the sturgeon of the same name, which has been heavily fished for its famous caviar.

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The beluga, or white whale, is one of the smallest species of whale. Their distinctive color and prominent foreheads make them easily identifiable. Unlike most other whales, the beluga has a very flexible neck that enables it to nod and turn its head in all directions.

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Found in every ocean on Earth, whales are the biggest creatures we have, and some of the most mysterious.

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Brace yourselves for a big ocean adventure, gang, with our brilliant blue whale facts. And by 'big', we in fact mean absolutely ginormous!

Fast blue whale facts

Scientific name: Balaenoptera musculus
Phylum: Chordata
Family: Balaenopteridae
Classification: Mammal
IUCN status: Endangered
Lifespan (in wild): 80-90 years
Weight: More than 130,000kg
Body size: 30m long
Diet: Carnivore
Habitat: Ocean
Range:

1) The largest animals to have ever lived on Earth, blue whales can grow to over 30m long and weigh more than 130,000kg - that's longer than three buses and heavier than three lorries!

2) Pretty much everything about the blue whale is massive. It's tongue weighs as much as an elephant, its heart is the size of a car and its blood vessels are so wide you could swim through them!

3) These blue-grey giants have a long, stream-lined body, a wide head, huge flippers, a powerful tail and a small dorsal fin. Some individuals have a yellowy-coloured underside, giving rise to the nickname ' sulphur bottom ' whales.

4) Blue whales can be found in all of our planet's oceans, except the Arctic, usually swimming alone or in groups of two to four. But in areas where there's lots of food available, as many as 60 whales may come together.

5) Despite their humongous size, blue whales eat tiny shrimp-like crustaceans called krill. But they shift a fair few of these seafood snacks - up to 40 million each day, in fact!

6) These marine marvels are a species of ' baleen' whale. Instead of teeth, they have baleen, a fibrous material used to filter their food. When eating, the whale lets a huge volume of water and krill into its mouth. It then pushes the water through its 300-400 baleen plates, which trap the tasty grub to be swallowed. Gulp!

7) To communicate with each other, blue whales make a series of super-loud vocal sounds. Their calls are the loudest of any creature on the planet, in fact, and can be heard underwater for hundreds of kilometres.

8) These awesome aquatic animals follow a seasonal migration pattern. During the feeding season, they fill up on krill in cold polar waters. They then travel to warmer, tropical waters to mate and give birth.

9) At birth, blue whale calves measure around 8m long and weigh a massive 4,000kg! They grow quickly, too - for seven to eight months, these bulky babies suckle on their mother's rich, fatty milk, and gain around 90kg each day!

10) Sadly, in the late 19th early 20th century, blue whales were heavily hunted. And despite a global hunting ban in 1966, their population has declined by 70-90 percent in the past 150 years. With only 10,000-25,000 left in the wild, these magnificence marine mammals are today classified as an endangered species.

Images ⓒ: Blue whale with head out of water: Anthony Pierce, Alamy. Blue whale with back out of water: Sburel, Dreamstime. Blue whale in dark blue ocean: Brandon Cole Marine Photography, Alamy. Blue whale fluke: Richard Fitzer, Shutterstock. Blue whale in light blue ocean: Wolcott Henry, National Geographic Creative. Group of blue whales: Flip Nicklin.

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Blue whale facts for kids | National Geographic Kids

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Blue whale facts for kids: learn about these mega mammals, with facts about blue whale size, characteristics, diet, range, behaviour and migration patterns

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Blue whales are able to breathe air, but they are very comfortable in the ocean waters where buoyancy helps to support their incredible bulk. These mammals are found in all the world's oceans and often swim in small groups or alone.

A blue whale calf weighs two tons (1,814 kilograms) at birth and gains an extra 200 pounds (91 kilograms) each day of its first year. These giant creatures feed on tiny shrimplike animals called krill.

Only a few thousand blue whales are believed to swim the world's oceans. They were hunted for many years for their blubber and oil, and they were almost hunted to extinction. They were protected under the 1966 International Whaling Convention and are now considered to be an endangered species.

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The blue whale is the largest mammal in the world. A blue whale calf weighs two tons (1,814 kilograms) at birth and gains an extra 200 pounds (91 kilograms) each day of its first year. Blue whales are able to breathe air, but they are very comfortable in the ocean waters where buoyancy helps to support their incredible bulk.

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Owls are birds of prey, meaning that they hunt and eat animals. Unlike most other birds of prey, owls are nocturnal, or active at night. Their nighttime activity, quiet flight, and strange calls have made them the subject of many stories. Common types of owl include barn owls and the short-eared owl.

Owls live around the world in almost every kind of habitat. Their length varies from about 5 to 28 inches (13 to 70 centimeters). Most owls have brown, gray, or white feathers with streaks or spots.

All owls look about the same. Each owl has a large head, a flat face, a hooked beak, and large eyes. It also has a short tail, long wings, and sharp claws. Owls have excellent eyesight and hearing. An owl cannot move its eyes much. But it can turn its head far around to look directly backward.

Most owls eat small animals such as mice, voles, and rabbits. Some owls eat insects, birds, or other animals. Most owls swallow their prey whole. They later spit up the bones, fur, and feathers that they cannot digest.

Owls make a variety of sounds. An owl may snap its bill, clap its wings in flight, or sing. Its song may be anything from deep hoots to chirps or whistles.

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Owls are birds of prey, meaning that they hunt and eat animals. Unlike most other birds of prey, owls are nocturnal, or active at night. Their nighttime activity, quiet...

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Keep scrolling for 10 facts about one of nature’s slowest, sleepiest animals.

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Two-toed Sloth | San Diego Zoo Animals & Plants

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“Leaf it” to the sloth: Thousands of years ago, large ground sloths roamed the United States. They ranged in size from an average-size dog to that of an elephant. These ground sloths had long claws and ate plants. They became extinct about 10,000 years ago. Present-day sloths are much smaller, and l…

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The extinct giant ground sloths were some of the only mammals that had digestive systems large enough to process the huge avocado seeds whole. They feasted on the fruit and then dispersed the seeds far and wide. All tree sloths that we see today evolved from giant ground sloths. There were thought to be over 80 different types with the largest (Megatherium) reaching over six meters in height. There is even evidence to suggest that several different species of marine sloth existed, feeding from sea grass and seaweed in shallow water.

2. Sloths are three times stronger than us

Sloths are the undisputed pull-up world champions. From the moment they are born sloths are able to lift their entire body weight upwards with just one arm. Not only that, but sloths have 30% less muscle mass than similar sized mammals and are over three times stronger than the average human. They have a highly specialised muscle arrangement that can produce enough strength to withstand the force of a jaguar trying to rip them from the tree. Specialised tendons in the sloth's hands and feet lock into place, allowing them to hang upside down for long periods of time without wasting any energy. This unique locking mechanism is also how sloths are able to sleep while hanging from a tree branch. They have even been known to remain suspended upside down after death!

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10 incredible facts about the sloth - The Sloth Conservation Foundation

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The extinct giant ground sloths were some of the only mammals that had digestive systems large enough to process the huge avocado seeds whole. They feasted on the fruit and then dispersed the seeds far and wide. All tree sloths that we see today evolved from giant ground sloths.

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What kind of animal is a sloth?

How many types of sloths are there?

sloth, (suborder Folivora), tree-dwelling mammal noted for its slowness of movement. All six living species are limited to the lowland tropical forests of South and Central America, where they can be found high in the forest canopy sunning, resting, or feeding on leaves. Although two-toed sloths (family Megalonychidae) are capable of climbing and positioning themselves vertically, they spend almost all of their time hanging horizontally, using their large hooklike extremities to move along branches and vines. Three-toed sloths (family Bradypodidae) move in the same way but often sit in the forks of trees rather than hanging from branches.

Sloths have long legs, stumpy tails, and rounded heads with inconspicuous ears. Although they possess colour vision, their eyesight and hearing are not very acute; orientation is mainly by touch. The limbs are adapted for suspending the body rather than supporting it. As a result, sloths are completely helpless on the ground unless there is something to grasp. Even then, they are able only to drag themselves along with their claws. They are surprisingly good swimmers. Generally nocturnal, sloths are solitary and are aggressive toward others of the same sex.

Sloths have large multichambered stomachs and an ability to tolerate strong chemicals from the foliage they eat. The leafy food is digested slowly; a fermenting meal may take up to a week to process. The stomach is constantly filled, its contents making up about 30 percent of the sloth's weight. Sloths descend to the ground at approximately six-day intervals to urinate and defecate ( see Sidebar: A moving habitat). Physiologically, sloths are heterothermic -that is, they have imperfect control over their body temperature. Normally ranging between 25 and 35 °C (77 and 95 °F), their body temperature may drop to as low as 20 °C (68 °F). At this temperature the animals become torpid. Although heterothermicity makes sloths very sensitive to temperature change, they have thick skin and are able to withstand severe injuries.

All sloths were formerly classified in the same family (Bradypodidae), but two-toed sloths have been found to be so different from three-toed sloths that they are now classified in a separate family (Megalonychidae).

The three-toed sloth (family Bradypodidae) is also called the ai in Latin America because of the high-pitched cry it produces when agitated. All four species belong to the same genus, Bradypus, and the coloration of their short facial hair bestows them with a perpetually smiling expression. The brown-throated three-toed sloth ( B. variegatus) occurs in Central and South America from Honduras to northern Argentina; the pale-throated three-toed sloth ( B. tridactylus) is found in northern South America; the maned sloth ( B. torquatus) is restricted to the small Atlantic forest of southeastern Brazil; and the pygmy three-toed sloth ( B. pygmaeus) inhabits the Isla Escudo de Veraguas, a small Caribbean island off the northwestern coast of Panama.

Although most mammals have seven neck vertebrae, three-toed sloths have eight or nine, which permits them to turn their heads through a 270° arc. The teeth are simple pegs, and the upper front pair are smaller than the others; incisor and true canine teeth are lacking. Sloths, however, have true molars, each species having five upper molars and four lower ones. Adults weigh only about 4 kg (8.8 pounds), and the young weigh less than 1 kg (2.2 pounds), possibly as little as 150-250 grams (about 5-9 ounces) at birth. (The birth weight of B. torquatus, for example, is only 300 grams [about 11 ounces].) The head and body length of three-toed sloths averages 58 cm (23 inches), and the tail is short, round, and movable. The forelimbs are 50 percent longer than the hind limbs; all four feet have three long, curved, sharp claws.

Sloths' coloration makes them difficult to spot, even though they are very common in some areas. The outer layer of shaggy long hair is pale brown to gray and covers a short dense coat of black-and-white underfur. The outer hairs have many cracks, perhaps caused by the algae living there. The algae give the animals a greenish tinge, especially during the rainy season. Sexes look alike in the maned sloth, but in the other species males have a large patch (speculum) in the middle of the back that lacks overhair, thus revealing the black dorsal stripe and bordering white underfur, which is sometimes stained yellow to orange. The maned sloth gets its name from the long black hair on the back of its head and neck.

Three-toed sloths, although mainly nocturnal, may be active day or night but spend only about 10 percent of their time moving at all. They sleep either perched in the fork of a tree or hanging from a branch, with all four feet bunched together and the head tucked in on the chest. In this posture the sloth resembles a clump of dead leaves, so inconspicuous that it was once thought these animals ate only the leaves of cecropia trees because in other trees sloths went undetected. Research has since shown that sloths eat the foliage of a wide variety of other trees and vines. Locating food by touch and smell, the sloth feeds by hooking a branch with its claws and pulling it to its mouth. Sloths' slow movements and mainly nocturnal habits generally do not attract the attention of predators such as jaguars and harpy eagles. Normally, three-toed sloths are silent and docile, but, if disturbed, they can strike out furiously with their sharp foreclaws.

Reproduction is seasonal in the brown- and pale-throated species; the maned sloth may breed throughout the year. Reproduction in pygmy three-toed sloths, however, has not yet been observed. A single young is born after less than six months' gestation. Newborn sloths cling to the mother's abdomen and remain with the mother until at least five months of age. Three-toed sloths are so difficult to maintain in captivity that little is known about their breeding behaviour and other aspects of their life history.

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Sloth | Definition, Habitat, Diet, Pictures, & Facts

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sloth, (suborder Folivora), tree-dwelling mammal noted for its slowness of movement. All six living species are limited to the lowland tropical forests of South and Central America, where they can be found high in the forest canopy sunning, resting, or feeding on leaves.

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Giraffes are the tallest land animals. A giraffe could look into a second-story window without even having to stand on its tiptoes! A giraffe's 6-foot (1.8-meter) neck weighs about 600 pounds (272 kilograms). The legs of a giraffe are also 6 feet (1.8 meters) long.

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The world's tallest mammal is at risk of becoming extinct in the wild.

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Africa's giraffe population dropped 40% in the last 30 years. AWF is defending giraffe habitat and protecting giraffes from illegal hunting to save it from extinction.

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giraffe, (genus Giraffa), any of four species in the genus Giraffa of long-necked cud-chewing hoofed mammals of Africa, with long legs and a coat pattern of irregular brown patches on a light background. Giraffes are the tallest of all land animals; males (bulls) may exceed 5.5 metres (18 feet) in height, and the tallest females (cows) are about 4.5 metres. Using prehensile tongues almost half a metre long, they are able to browse foliage almost six metres from the ground. Giraffes are a common sight in grasslands and open woodlands in East Africa, where they can be seen in reserves such as Tanzania's Serengeti National Park and Kenya's Amboseli National Park. The genus Giraffa is made up of the northern giraffe ( G. camelopardalis), the southern giraffe ( G. giraffa), the Masai giraffe ( G. tippelskirchi), and the reticulated giraffe ( G. reticulata).

Giraffes grow to nearly their full height by four years of age but gain weight until they are seven or eight. Males weigh up to 1,930 kg (4,250 pounds), females up to 1,180 kg (2,600 pounds). The tail may be a metre in length and has a long black tuft on the end; there is also a short black mane. Both sexes have a pair of horns, though males possess other bony protuberances on the skull. The back slopes downward to the hindquarters, a silhouette explained mainly by large muscles that support the neck; these muscles are attached to long spines on the vertebrae of the upper back. There are only seven neck (cervical) vertebrae, but they are elongated. Thick-walled arteries in the neck have extra valves to counteract gravity when the head is up; when the giraffe lowers its head to the ground, special vessels at the base of the brain control blood pressure.

The gait of the giraffe is a pace (both legs on one side move together). In a gallop, it pushes off with the hind legs, and the front legs come down almost together, but no two hooves touch the ground at the same time. The neck flexes so that balance is maintained. Speeds of 50 km (31 miles) per hour can be maintained for several kilometres, but 60 km (37 miles) per hour can be attained over short distances. Arabs say of a good horse that it can "outpace a giraffe."

Giraffes live in nonterritorial groups of up to 20. Home ranges are as small as 85 square km (33 square miles) in wetter areas but up to 1,500 square km (580 square miles) in dry regions. The animals are gregarious, a behaviour that apparently allows for increased vigilance against predators. They have excellent eyesight, and when one giraffe stares, for example, at a lion a kilometre away, the others look in that direction too. Giraffes live up to 26 years in the wild and slightly longer in captivity.

Giraffes prefer to eat new shoots and leaves, mainly from the thorny acacia tree. Cows in particular select high-energy low-fibre items. They are prodigious eaters, and a large male consumes about 65 kg (145 pounds) of food per day. The tongue and inside of the mouth are coated with tough tissue as protection. The giraffe grasps leaves with its prehensile lips or tongue and pulls them into the mouth. If the foliage is not thorny, the giraffe "combs" leaves from the stem by pulling it across the lower canine and incisor teeth. Giraffes obtain most water from their food, though in the dry season they drink at least every three days. They must spread the forelegs apart in order to reach the ground with the head.

Females first breed at four or five years of age. Gestation is 15 months, and, though most calves are born in dry months in some areas, births can take place in any month of the year. The single offspring is about 2 metres (6 feet) tall and weighs 100 kg (220 pounds). For a week the mother licks and nuzzles her calf in isolation while they learn each other's scent. Thereafter, the calf joins a "nursery group" of similar-aged youngsters, while mothers forage at variable distances. If lions or hyenas attack, a mother sometimes stands over her calf, kicking at the predators with front and back legs. Cows have food and water requirements that may keep them away from the nursery group for hours at a time, and about half of very young calves are killed by lions and hyenas. Calves sample vegetation at three weeks but suckle for 18-22 months. Males join other bachelors when one to two years old, whereas daughters are likely to stay near the mother.

Bulls eight years and older travel up to 20 km per day looking for cows in heat ( estrus). Younger males spend years in bachelor groups, where they engage in "necking" bouts. These side-to-side clashes of heads cause mild damage, and bone deposits subsequently form around the horns, eyes, and back of the head; a single lump projects from between the eyes. Accumulation of bone deposits continues through life, resulting in skulls weighing 30 kg. Necking also establishes a social hierarchy. Violence sometimes occurs when two older bulls converge on an estrous cow. The advantage of a heavy, knobbed skull is soon apparent. With forelegs braced, bulls swing their necks and club each other with their skulls, aiming for the underbelly. There have been instances of bulls being knocked off their feet or even rendered unconscious.

Paintings of giraffes appear on early Egyptian tombs; just as today, giraffe tails were prized for the long wiry tuft hairs used to weave belts and jewelry. In the 13th century, East Africa supplied a trade in hides. During the 19th and 20th centuries, overhunting, habitat destruction, and rinderpest epidemics introduced by European livestock reduced giraffes to less than half their former range. Today giraffes are numerous in East African countries and also in certain reserves of Southern Africa, where they have enjoyed somewhat of a recovery. The West African subspecies of the northern giraffe is reduced to a small range in Niger.

Giraffes were traditionally classified into one species, Giraffa camelopardalis, and then into several subspecies on the basis of physical features. Nine subspecies were recognized by coat pattern similarities; however, it was also known that individual coat patterns were unique. Some scientists contended that these animals could be divided into six or more species, since studies had shown that differences in genetics, reproductive timing, and pelage patterns (which are indicative of reproductive isolation) exist between various groups. By the 2010s mitochondrial DNA studies had determined that genetic uniquenesses brought on by the reproductive isolation of one group from another were significant enough to separate giraffes into four distinct species.

The giraffe had long been classified as a species of least concern by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), which places all giraffes in the species G. camelopardalis. A study in 2016, however, determined that habitat loss resulting from expanding agricultural activities, increased mortality brought on by illegal hunting, and the effects of ongoing civil unrest in a handful of African countries had caused giraffe populations to plummet by 36-40 percent between 1985 and 2015, and, as of 2016, the IUCN has reclassified the conservation status of the species as vulnerable.

The only close relative of the giraffe is the rainforest-dwelling okapi, which is the only other member of the family Giraffidae. G. camelopardalis or something very similar lived in Tanzania two million years ago, but Giraffidae branched off from other members of the order Artiodactyla-cattle, antelope, and deer -about 34 million years ago.

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Giraffe | Facts, Information, Habitat, Species, & Lifespan

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Giraffe, any of four species of long-necked cud-chewing hoofed mammals of Africa, the tallest of all land animals.

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Discover why giraffes are much more than the world’s tallest mammals. Learn how their young are welcomed, rather rudely, into the world.

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Everything you need to know about chimpanzees

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Facts about chimpanzees and what Born Free is doing to protect them.