Animal Lists

Birds’ tails vary more than their wings. Some birds, like the Lyre-tailed nightjar, can have tails eight times longer than their body.  Forked tails are important for birds because they help with aerial agility – the split tail shape makes the bird more agile when flying at high speeds. While the birds are flying, if…

Prairie dogs are some of the most interesting animals that exist. They bark like dogs and scan the horizon for predators like meerkats. But yet they are neither of those.  And if you were wondering if there are animals that resemble prairie dogs, you would be surprised to learn that there are plenty! Meerkats, ground…

Meerkats are charming animals, famous for their scanning of the horizon for danger, posing for the National Geographic cameramen, and one Disney cartoon character called Timon. They have some distinctive looks: slender bodies, pointy little faces, tiny ears, and black eye patches. But are there animals that remind us of them? You might be surprised to…

Animals that have huge foreheads are always amusing to see. They look funny and somehow remind us of our weird-looking uncle Stanley (thank god we didn’t inherit our foreheads from him).  Land animals with huge brows are common to find, but did you know that there are even more fish with big foreheads?  These include…

Anteaters are cute-looking creatures living in Central and South America that feed on ants and termites. One of their most noticeable body traits is the long and tapered snout they use to grab those insects.  But what about other creatures similar to them? Are there animals that look like anteaters? Believe it or not, there…

Lakes are large areas of water surrounded by land that are rich in aquatic animals. According to McGill University’s 2016 study, there are over 102,500 lakes and ponds in the US spread over 130,000 square miles. That’s almost like the entire area of Japan! Such a lentic ecosystem is full of different animal species. Besides…

Every February the 2nd groundhogs get their 5 minutes of fame – before they are forgotten for the next 12 months. If a groundhog gets out of its burrow and sees its shadow, it will retreat to its den, and winter will go on for six more weeks; if not, spring will arrive early. This…

Ear shape can play a role in how well animals hear. The pointy shape of the ears, specifically of the outer part of the ear called the pinna, allows for better directional hearing.  Ears don’t just help with hearing ability. They might aid with balance, navigation, and heat saving.  Some pointy-ear animals living in cold…

People say that those with large foreheads are extremely smart. They have many abilities and can complete any job they receive well ahead of time.  When it comes to animals with big foreheads, the situation is completely different. Although head-to-body ratio (or brain-to-body ratio) can indicate intelligence, animal brows can serve different purposes – to…