Pistol Shrimp
Basics Pistol shrimp, or snapping shrimp, are a family of shrimp known for their asymmetrical claws and their ability to create shockwaves with their bigger claw. There are hundreds of species, the majority of which live in tropical and temperate coastal and marine waters. These guys are so loud that they can interfere with sonars … Continued
Saiga Antelope
Basics The saiga is an antelope from Central Asia. They’re critically endangered. There are less than 20,000 mature saigas in the world. This is incredibly worrying considering there used to be about 1 million of them 40 years ago. One of the reasons they’re disappearing rapidly is because their horns are used in traditional Chinese … Continued
Shoebills
Basics Shoebills are large African birds named after their huge shoe-like bill. They’re one of the only members of their genus. The only other member of their family is the hamerkop, named after their hammer-like head. They have historically been linked with storks, but they’re closer to herons, ibis, and pelicans than to storks. Perhaps … Continued
Tarsier
Basics Tarsiers are small primates found in Philippines, Indonesia, and Malaysia. They used to be more widespread but have gone extinct everywhere else. The There are 8 recognized species of tarsier. The head and body range from 10 to 15 cm in length, but the hind limbs are about twice this long (including the feet), … Continued
Vipers
Basics: Vipers are a family of venomous snakes found everywhere except Oceania, the Antarctic, and some isolated islands. They have long, hinged, hollow fangs that are good for penetration and for venom injection. This is one of the most sophisticated venom-injections systems in the snake world. Their fangs can be folded back when not in … Continued
Tigers
Basics The tiger is the largest cat in the world. Siberian tigers can reach up to 3.9 m and weigh up to 300 kg. Males are about 70% heavier than females. The Sumatran tiger, is just about 70 to 140 Kg. This is partly explained by Bergmann’s law, which says animals in colder climates grow … Continued
Honey Badgers
Basics Honey Badgers are also known as ratels and belong to mustelids (the same family as otters and weasels) They are native to Africa, India, and Southwest Asia. They’re about 1m long (including tail). In Africa males weigh about 10 to 15 Kg, while females usually stay in the 5 to 10 Kg. But in … Continued
Moray Eels
Basics Morays are a family of eel found worldwide. Most of the over 200 species are marine, but some live in brackish or freshwater The name moray is derived originally from the Greek word, muraina, which is a kind of eel that is common in the Mediterranean They’re completely scaleless. They have poor vision and mostly … Continued
Kingfisher
Here’s everything we know about this fantastic bird. Basics: Kingfishers are a family of birds found all over the world—though most species live in Africa, Asia, and Oceania. There are over 100 described species. Most species have big heads, long pointy bills, small legs, and short tails (but some species have very long tails) They’re … Continued
Tardigrades
The Basics: Tardigrades have 8 legs, are normally found in freshwater, and are segmented. They were discovered in the 1773 and named water bears. They’re also known as water bears or moss piglets. The name tardigrades appeared three years later and it means “slow steppers”. It refers to their slow movement. They’re most famous … Continued
Clouded Leopards
The clouded leopard is one of the most adorable predators in the world, but unfortunately, they are also one of the most poached. Basics The clouded leopard is found in Asia, from the himalayas to Southeast Asia. Their habitats are getting smaller and more fragmented, which makes them vulnerable to extinction The number … Continued
Wasps
The Basics: Wasps are closely related to bees, ants, and sawflies. In fact, one of the definitions of wasp is any member of the suborder apocrita that is neither a bee or an ant. The taxonomy of wasps is kinda complicated, but some wasps (like the spider wasps) are more closely related to bees and … Continued
Chameleon
The Basics: Chameleons are a family (chamaeleonidae) of old world lizards. They’re found in Africa, the Iberian Peninsula, the southern tip of the Arabian Peninsula, the Eastern Mediterranean, and in the west coast of India. They have also been introduced to warm parts of the USA.Their name has Greek origins and means “ground lions” due to … Continued