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3 days ago | 
a-z-animals.com | Sharon Parry
Whale sharks, Rhincodon typus, are the largest fish in the world. They can trace their ancestry to the Jurassic and Cretaceous periods, 245–65 million years ago, and are members of the Orectolobiformes order. This elusive sea creature was not formally recognized until 1828, and sightings were rare prior to the mid-1980s. Now, however, we know a lot more about their global distribution and where you are most likely to find them.
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4 days ago | 
a-z-animals.com | Sharon Parry
The link between clouds and penguin poop is not an obvious one but it has important implications for climate change. New research has revealed the cloud-forming properties of penguin guano (poop) on the Antarctic Peninsula. We will examine the science behind this link and its significance for the fight against climate change. Clouds are made up of tiny water droplets, minute ice crystals, or both, suspended in the air. For a cloud to form, invisible water vapor must condense into droplets.
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4 days ago | 
a-z-animals.com | Sharon Parry
If you are asked which sound you associate with a snake, you’ll probably suggest a hiss. Perhaps even the sound of a rattle? Very few people would say a fart! Yet, there is a species of snake that can break wind on demand, producing a sound suspiciously similar to a fart. Here we will investigate the science behind snake farts and find out when they produce them.
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5 days ago | 
a-z-animals.com | Sharon Parry
Piranha is a general name used to describe a group of freshwater fish with a fearsome reputation when it comes to feeding. There are between 40 and 60 different species; none grow larger than two feet in length. All of them live in South America, but there are isolated reports of them being spotted in other parts of the world. Are these fish the ruthless predators that we have seen in movies? Let’s look at the facts about piranha feeding behavior.
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1 week ago | 
a-z-animals.com | Sharon Parry
If you think that dogs chasing their own tails are fascinating, the snake in this YouTube video clip will blow your mind! It features a speckled kingsnake that has swallowed its own tail.
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1 week ago | 
a-z-animals.com | Sharon Parry
The two fish in this YouTube clip are having a serious disagreement as some amused humans watch on. The footage was captured in a fish tank, and it is likely between a jawfish and a goby. They are literally spitting sand in each other’s faces! But why would they do this, and is this usual behavior? Read on to discover the potential explanations. It is not unusual to see fish spitting out sand and small pebbles. It can be part of the feeding behavior.
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1 week ago | 
aol.com | Sharon Parry
Fans of Finding Nemo will love the crystal-clear underwater footage in a YouTube clip captured at Anilao in the Philippines. It provides a close-up view of two clownfish tending to their batch of eggs. Take a look and then read on to find out how clownfish reproduce and ensure the safety of their next generation. Are These Really Clownfish? Observant viewers may notice that these fish do not look exactly like Nemo.
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1 week ago | 
aol.com | Sharon Parry
The beautiful male cardinal bird in this hilarious YouTube clip is very interested in a female and is not being subtle about it! The obvious way he is checking her out may seem amusing to us, but it is actually part of this species’ mating ritual. Watch the clip and then read on for our analysis of the behavior and to find out more about these striking birds.
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1 week ago | 
a-z-animals.com | Sharon Parry
The male greater sage grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus) is the largest grouse species in North America and puts on one of the most spectacular mating rituals. Their range spans the Sagebrush Sea (an area of sagebrush grasslands) that runs across 11 U.S. states and two Canadian provinces. In this Instagram post, we get a close-up view of their behavior during the mating season. Let’s discover how and why they behave in this way. The greater sage grouse belongs to the Phasianidae family of birds.
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1 week ago | 
a-z-animals.com | Sharon Parry
The horseshoe crab in the amazing YouTube clip captured at Aquaria KLCC in Malaysia appears to have gotten itself in a tricky situation! You normally see them scuttling around the ocean floor, but these horseshoe crabs sometimes flip onto their backs while swimming or during rough seas. Here’s why it happens. One is upside down, with its protective shell (carapace) dragging along the sand. Here, we will examine this seemingly bizarre behavior and explain why the horseshoe crab is acting this way.
