Dinosaurs were not only carnivorous (Theropoda) but some of them were almost entirely herbivorous such as Sauropodomorpha and Ornithischia. The dietary preference is determined by various factors including tooth morphology, jaw mechanics, and tooth wear facets. The only way to assume dinosaur’s diet is to understand its thermal physiology, the amount of food required by…
Bears are lumbering animals as they typically move slowly and deliberately. Although they have stout limbs and plantigrade feet bears possess the ability to run fast. Each bear species has adapted itself to move on bare ground as well as on thick arctic sheet. Some of them are even fast enough to outrun a human…
Normally sharks swim at a speed of less than 5 kph but few species such as mako sharks are able to cruise at a speed of 48 kph. Makos are the world’s fastest swimmers. They are agile hunters; built for the speed and chasing prey. Their body is thickest at the center and narrow at…
Sharks have long been swimming in the waters of North Pacific Ocean before anything human-like walked on the planet. They have evolved into various forms, many of which show mysterious behavior. White sharks are not easy to study as it offers numerous challenges to the scientists. Besides, many scientists could not even assume the significance…
Squirrel monkey belongs to the New World Monkey order and it is quite different from the Old World monkeys in that it has wide open nostrils that are open to the side. The squirrel monkey displays round head with large eyes facing forward. They are classified into two groups; Gothic (pointed) and Roman (rounded). Squirrel…
Almost all sharks are carnivorous. They have adapted a number of different feeding tactics. These sharks include whale sharks, megamouth sharks, and basking sharks. Some shark species are very fond of eating marine mammals. Great whites and tiger sharks usually consume both live and dead marine animals, but many sharks rely on dead animals for…
Just like humans, animals are susceptible to different ailments and diseases which can cause them to lose limbs. Depending upon the type of animal, this can be detrimental to the growth and vitality of your pet. With the advancements of modern medicine, there are new and improving treatment methods, including prosthetics. There are a few…
The Red bellied black snake (Pseudechis porphyriacus) is commonly found in Australia including New South Wales, rural Victoria, and Queensland. It makes its habitat in regions that are abundant in water bodies such as creeks, lakes, waters, and some swamps and rivers. It is characterized by its shiny dorsal surface along with its unique reddish…
Pythons are largely ambush hunters and they feed on vertebrate prey. Pythons find active way of foraging. The bulk of small python’s diet is composed of lizards. However as the size of the python increases, it begins to rely more on mammals for consumption. While they do not often consume birds pythons are known to…
Corn snakes are small rat snakes of North America. They live in the central and southeastern United States. Rat snakes are recognized by their red spots with black edges down the middle of the back, together with their orange to yellowish body. Their belly is marked by black and white stains in alternating rows. There…
Scientists are looking deep into sharks’ behavior trying to explore as much as they can. But sadly, sharks are still one of the least studied marine animals though they have been living underwater for millions of years leaving behind even dinosaurs. It is in part because marine life research is quite a new discipline which…
Prominent among the family Ursidae is a polar bear that is adapted to a highly specialized semi-aquatic lifestyle. Although it is a bear yet it is listed as a marine mammal precisely due to the fact that it spends 50% of its life on ice floes and is able to swim as far as 90…
Yes indeed! Some sharks do lay eggs but not all of them exhibit the same behavior. Almost 40 percent of shark species lay eggs while the remaining 60 percent bear live young. Different species of sharks display different modes of reproduction. Therefore, some sharks lay eggs and some do not. Those sharks that lay eggs…
Like baleen whales, humpback whales predominantly feed on crustaceans and krill such as copepods and Euphausia, small fish including capelin, sandeel, herring, and mackerel. They usually consume the concentrated masses of prey. Humpback whale eats 4,400 – 5,500 pounds on an average. What Do Humpback Whales Eat The whale has a generalist diet in that…
Manatee is a large aquatic mammal with nearly hairless body. It has a bulky body with herbivorous diet. It is the only aquatic mammal with herbivorous diet. Manatee makes its habitat in the tropical and subtropical estuarine in the Atlantic waters. Manatees are predominantly found in the southeastern United States, west coast of Africa, all…
According to the International Union Conservation for Nature (IUCN) there are around 20,000 – 25,000 polar bears (Ursus maritimus) left in the world. The numbers are continuously declining due to climate change and pollution. Previously these bears were in the list of Least Concern but in 2008 they became vulnerable species. How Many Polar Bears are Left…
Polar bears are typically found in one of the extreme climates on earth—Arctic. They also live in Alaska because Arctic Ocean (the original habitat of polar bears) also touches Alaska. In the United States, one can come across polar bears in Barrow—a place where tourists visit commercially to see polar bears. As and when the…