The Japanese spider crab (Macrocheira kaempferi) is the largest of all crustaceans. It occurs on muddy or sandy bottoms in water to a depth of 30 – 50 m (100 – 160 ft). The crab is thought to feed on echinoderms, molluscs, crustaceans, and worms. It is also known as takaashigani means ‘tall leg’. Japanese…
The echidna (Tachyglossidae) is a small to medium-sized invertebrate. Along with platypus, it is the world’s only egg-laying mammal. Sometimes echidnas are also called spiny anteaters probably because of their spiny skins. In appearance echidnas seem more like porcupines or hedgehogs. They are found in Australia and New Guinea. Echidna is an interesting animals, lets discover…
Sloths (Megalonychidae) are the medium-sized mammals that occur in the tropical rainforests of the Central and South America. Sloths are unique in their physical appearance and features. Their long limbs and long shaggy coats make them stand out among the rest of the mammalian kingdom. They are almost the size of a large domestic cat.…
The giant squid (Architeuthis) is the largest living invertebrate on the planet. It has probably the largest eyes in the entire animal kingdom. The squid is a bottom-dwelling species and it grows to a tremendous size of 43 feet. It is one of the poorly known oceanic species. The precise distribution is unknown but it…
The brown pelican (Pelecanus occidentalis) is a heavyweight hunter that flies American coastlines in large aerial formations. It is the only pelican species that dives into the sea to catch fish. The bird is a relatively common species as it often visits tourist beaches. The pelican patrols west coast of America from California to as…
The pileated woodpecker (Dryocopus pileatus) is the largest woodpecker species in the United States. The bird is almost the size of a crow and is often found in the boreal forests of Canada or in the deciduous forests in eastern North America. The physical appearance and the vocalizations are quite unique to this bird. This…
Gray whales (Eschrichtius robustus) are the most primitive of the baleen whales. They are twice the size of orcas. Biologists however believe that gray whales get along peacefully with many other marine species. They are not named after their body color because they are not gray—not at least at birth. Gray Whale Facts Anatomy Unlike…
Harris hawk (Parabuteo unicinctus) is a medium-sized bird of prey which is found in much of the southwestern United States, central Argentina, and south to Chile. The bird is threatened in many areas and is also disappeared from its former range including lower Colorado River Valley. Unlike many other birds of prey the Harris hawk…
The emperor penguin (Aptenodytes forsteri) is the world’s largest penguin species. Emperor Penguins diet consists of crustaceans and fish. Both parents forage at sea in coordination with each other. It has a varied diet but the diet mainly depends on the location. A survey of 1998 showed that the emperor penguins had 90% of their…
King snake is a nonvenomous species belongs to the genus Lampropeltis and it includes four species and 45 subspecies. The king snakes also make very good pets. So if you are considering to have them as pets then it is better to know them first through these King Snake Facts. Common king snake is one of the…
The whale shark (Rhincodon typus) is a filter feeding shark and it has a cosmopolitan distribution in the tropical and warm temperate waters. It is known to live in the open seas usually avoiding the great depths of water. The whale shark feeds on the coastal sites of the eastern and southern parts of South…
Amazon River dolphin (Inia geoffrensis) is the world’s largest river dolphin with the length reaching at 225 cm. The males are significantly greater in size and heavier than the females. It is also called boto in Brazil, keep on reading these Amazon River Dolphin Facts to know more about these amazing dolphins. The amazon river dolphin…
The black rat snake (Elaphe obsoleta obsolete) is a medium-sized snake with the white chin and throat. It has all black and shiny skin. The black rat snake is the largest snake in Michigan State. Get to know this black snake through these informative black rat snake facts. It is amongst the most common snakes…
Zebras are the species of African equids and they are separated by their unique black and white stripes. They are medium-sized herbivores with long necks and heads. The legs are slender. The African zebras are classified into three distinct species: Grevy’s zebra, the plains zebra and the mountain zebra. Are Zebras Endangered Some of the…
The manatee (Trichechidae) is a massive animal with an uncomplicated behavior. Scientists believe that manatees are semi-social mammals. While they are mostly herbivorous manatees also feed on small animals because of their opportunistic nature. Read on to know what do manatees eat to fill up their big tummy. They are typically slow swimmers because their…
The wandering albatross (Diomedea exulans) is a large seabird and is primarily known for its large wingspans. It is arguably one of the largest birds in the world. The wandering albatross is clearly recognizable by its chocolate brown wings and snowy white plumage. We have gathered informative wandering albatross facts to let you know all…
Penguins (Sphenisciformes) are monogamous means once they choose their partner they are not going to change it unless the partner dies. This clearly answers the question do penguins mate for life, continue reading to know more about their mating behavior. King and emperor penguins lay only one egg while the remaining species lays eggs in a…
Manatees are warm-blooded animals with the bulky body giving it an appearance of a large floating rock. They are also known as ‘sea cows’. There are three species of manatees all of which are listed as ‘Vulnerable’ by the World Conservation Union. The three species are Amazonian manatee, West Indian manatee, and the West African…