When you’re out hiking or swimming in nature, what creatures do you dread encountering?Many of us automatically think of creatures with gnashing teeth or razor sharp claws. Animals like lions, tigers, jaguars, sharks, and grizzly bears inspire plenty of fear. Many of the deadliest animals in the world however are quite small and sometimes even innocuous looking. Let’s take...
If you want to encounter a life-form on Earth which will challenge your views of what it means to thrive in the universe, look no further than the insect class of the animal kingdom. There is a reason that many of the aliens featured in our science fiction literature and films resemble insects. We find them very unusual, because...
When you think of an inspirational landscape, what comes to mind? Everyone has different preferences, but a lot of people will immediately think of mountaintops. Look up “inspirational photos” online and you are bound to see more than a few beautiful, transcendent summits.
As human beings, we are naturally drawn to the heights. Mountains are breathtakingly beautiful and remind us...
When we think about plants and trees, there is a tendency to think of them as “slow” things. After all, you can stare at a plant all day and you will probably not see it budge a millimeter. And yet, when you walk away from a plant and come back a week later, you will often observe change.Believe it...
A lot of different landscapes form part of our day to day existence. Most of us, even city dwellers, have spent time in the forest, mountains, desert, or plains.But how much time have you spent underground, plumbing the depths of the earth? Many people can only remember a handful of times they ever had a chance to explore a...
As one of the favorites among wildlife watchers, dolphins are best known for their agility and playful behavior creating a beautiful sight as they leap from the water.Part of the toothed whale family that also includes pilot whales and orcas, dolphins are highly intelligent and sociable marine mammals that can found in nearly every corner of the globe.Although they...
Known for being the world’s fastest land animal, the cheetah is a large feline that can run up to 75 miles per hour in short bursts to cover distances up to 1,600 feet and accelerate to over 60 miles per hour within just three seconds!Easily recognizable from the other popular big cats for their spotted coat, characteristic “tear stripes”...
Resembling an amphibious mole, the platypus is often described as having the body of a beaver with a duck’s bill sewn on perfectly. As one of the most evolutionary distinct mammals alive, the platypus is instantly recognizable for its broad flattened bill, dense waterproof fur, webbed feet, and long thick tail.While this species is most famous for being among...
1. Belcher’s Sea SnakeWhen most people think of poisonous snakes, the rattlesnake springs to mind pretty quickly. These snakes are found throughout the Americas and are actually a type of viper. Their name comes of course from the rattle which is found at the end of the tail and which creates a distinctive noise. Eastern Diamondbacks are the most...
As one of the most iconic animal species endemic to Australia, the koala is well-known for its bear-like appearance with a stout body and predominately gray fur. Often found climbing in the canopy of trees, koalas are fuzzy and muscular marsupials that are the only remaining representative of their family on Earth.
To learn more about this teddy bear lookalike,...