The American Manatee may not be one of the most beautiful animals, but they are one of the few mammalian species that eat underwater vegetation. Having suffered greatly from hunting, the manatees are currently one of the most endangered sea creatures. American Manatees live in tropical and subtropical seas in the waters adjacent to the
Caracal, also called the African or the desert lynx, is a long-legged, slender predator that lives in arid regions. These cats can easily be recognized by their soft, sandy fur and emphatic, long black hairs that end their ears. The word “Caracal” in turkish means “black ear”, also emphasizing on this animal’s unique decoration. Caracals
The North American Porcupine is a large rodent, native to the North America. These spiked mammals spend most of their time in trees higher than 30 metres. From first glance it might seem somehow weird that this animal lives in trees, but in fact this porcupine is very well adapted to the above-ground lifestyle. North
Honey Possum is a tiny nocturnal marsupial (a mammal with a pouch, where females carry the young) that feeds solely on nectar and pollen. They are so almost lightweight and have lifestyles that are very unusual to mammals. So far no fossils of any creature similar to the Honey Possum have been found, making this
Eastern Cottontail is not only the most widespread rabbit in the United States, but also the only species that made its way to as far as South America. These rodents are often seen in the outskirts of forests and in meadows and is the most popular animal to be hunted by humans in the United
Physalia, sometimes also called “Portugese Man of War” is actually a colony made up of many polyps. This warm ocean creature deceives with its beautiful colours, but in fact it’s very dangerous. The Physalia’s venom kills quickly and efficiently. A Physalia, having just caught a number of fish Physalias inhabit the warm seas in the
Norway Lemmings are a common species of lemming, found in Scandinavia and bordering parts of Russia. These attractive little mammals have an unusual lifestyle, having one of the fastest reproduction rates of all animals. Every three to four years, when the population hits peak, they have to move to new territories and for many years,
Pygmy Anteater, also called Silky Anteater is a species of anteaters that live in tropical forests of Southern and Central America, from Southern Mexico to Bolivia and Brazil. This small anteater spends his life in the trees, maneuvering through the branches, looking for termite nests. Pygmy Anteater on a branch The Pygmy Anteater is the
Takahe is a flightless bird, endemic to New Zealand, which means it is only found in that area. This bird was thought to be extinct twice already, but a population of about 200 birds still lives in the mountain valleys of the Fiordland national park. A pair of Takahe feeding The Takahe is a massive
Douc (pronounced Dook) is one of the most beautiful and colourful primates. In the past the Douc had a large population, spread all over the monsoon forests in Southeastern Asia. Unfortunately, this species became a victim during to massive bombing during the Vietnam War. A male Red-shanked Douc in the jungle The Douc are 55
Barbary Macaque (Macaca Sylvanus) used to be common throughout all North Africa. Today you can find this macaque only in Algeria, Morocco and the Gibraltar. Barbary Macaques live in plains and mountainous areas, up to 2 km above the sea level. This species of monkeys is notable for it is the only primate besides Homo
The brightly coloured Clownfish are a true treasure of the coral reefs. They belong to the group of screaming bright coloured fishes that called coral fishes. These inhabitants of the coral reefs are immune to the venom of actinias and thus can cover in the relatively safe parts of the ocean, out of the predators’
At first glance it seems that the Springhare is a smaller form of kangaroo, but it’s closer to a rabbit by size. The origins and evolution of these rodents are still a mystery – in the past they were grouped with tjerboas (jumping rodents), later with porcupines porcupines, then with the flying squirrels, but now,
The fossils of Archaeopteryx were discovered in 1861 and this amazing discovery shocked the world of science at that time. Sometimes referred to by its German name – Urvogel (“The first bird”) it was the first creature that possibly creates a link in evolution between reptiles and birds. The Archaeopteryx's body structure is very close
The Eastern Kingbird nests in Northern America and is known for its militant nature. Even the Latin name – Tyrannus tyrannus gives a hint of how aggressive this bird can be. No need to worry, though, as these birds will only show their truculent nature when something threatens their nests. These medium-sized birds are dark
