The word “animal” comes from the Latin animalis, meaning ‘having breath’, ‘having soul’ or ‘living being’. The biological definition includes all members of the kingdom Animalia. In colloquial usage, the term animal is often used to refer only to nonhuman animals. Animals are categorised into ecological groups depending on how they obtain or consume organic … Read more
The Bernese Mountain Dog is a giant dog breed. It is one of the four breeds of Sennenhund-type dogs from the Swiss Alps. Some experts believe this breed’s history traces to the Roman invasion of Switzerland, when the Roman mastiffs were crossed with native flock-guarding dogs. This cross produced a strong dog that was able … Read more
The capuchin monkeys are New World monkeys of the subfamily Cebinae. Capuchin monkeys are native to Central and South America. They are particularly abundant in Argentina, Brazil, Costa Rica, Honduras, Paraguay and Peru. Their habitas include low-lying forests, mountain forests and rainforests. They also can easily adapt to places colonized by humans. The lifespan for … Read more
The ring-tailed lemur is the most recognizable lemur species. Like all lemurs it is endemic to the island of Madagascar. It is found in southern and southwestern Madagascar, the ring-tailed lemur ranges further into highland areas than other lemurs. The ring-tailed lemur inhabits deciduous forests, dry scrub, montane humid forests, and gallery forests (forests along … Read more
The honey badger or ratel is a badger-like member of the weasel family (Mustelidae) noted for its fondness for honey. It is widely distributed in Africa, Southwest Asia, and the Indian subcontinent. The honey badger is found mainly in dry areas but are also found in forests and grasslands. It is known to range from … Read more
Reptiles are air-breathing, cold-blooded vertebrates that have scaly bodies. There are more than 10,700 extant species of reptiles, making reptiles one of the most diverse types of vertebrates in the world. The major groups of living reptiles are turtles, snakes, crocodilians, tuatara, lizards, and amphisbaenians. Reptiles can be found on every continent except Antarctica. They … Read more
Tree squirrels are the members of the squirrel family (Sciuridae) commonly just referred to as “squirrels.” They get their common name from the fact that they are found in wooded and urban areas with trees. There are 122 species of tree squirrels. Tree squirrels inhabit the forests of Europe, Asia, North America, and South America. … Read more
The fennec fox or fennec (Vulpes zerda) is a mammal of the order Carnivora. It is found in the Sahara of North Africa, the Sinai Peninsula, South West Israel (Arava desert) and the Arabian desert. Fennecs are highly specialized to desert life and found almost exclusively in arid, sandy regions. The presence of desert grasses … Read more
The muskrat (Ondatra zibethicus) is a medium-sized semiaquatic rodent. The muskrat is found in swamps, marshes, and wetlands from northern North America to the Gulf coast and the Mexican border. Early in the 20th century, muskrats were introduced to northern Eurasia including Ukraine, Russia, Siberia, adjacent areas of China and Mongolia. Muskrats are live in wet … Read more