The first complex multicellular animals appeared in the fossil record around 590-600 million years ago, with simple cup-shaped fossils found in Canada and China. The Cloudina fossil, made up of calcite cones, is another example of an ancient complex animal, with uncertain classification. The earliest true fossils of complex animals are around 575 million years […]
Transgenic animals have had their DNA altered by inserting another animal’s DNA into their own code. They can be used for research, medicine, and food production. The public is still wary of eating them, and there are concerns about their impact on native populations. The GloFish® brand is a notable example of a transgenic animal, […]
Pleistocene Australia was home to many exotic animals, including the largest kangaroo and marsupial ever known, as well as giant flightless birds and reptiles like the ambush predator snake Wonambi and the dragon-like Megalania. Many of these animals went extinct when humans arrived on the continent, but some survived until the 19th century. Numerous exotic […]
Flying animals evolved independently four times in the history of life on Earth: in insects, pterosaurs, birds, and bats. Insect flight may have evolved much earlier, in the Devonian period. Flying animals vary widely in size, from the tiny fairy wasp to the massive extinct pterosaur, Quetzalcoatlus. There are a variety of types of aerial […]
The body cavity, or coelom, enabled the development of larger, more complex animals. Animals with one are coelomates, while those without are acoelomates. Some animals have a pseudocoele. The cavity allows for organ movement, cushioning, and chemical exchange. Coelomates evolved from cnidarians, and acoelomates evolved from coelomate ancestors. Acoelomates tend to be flat and lack […]
Europe had many extinct animals during the Pleistocene, adapted to the cold and changing characteristics during glacial and interglacial periods. These included the cave bear, giant unicorn, and woolly rhinoceros. Hominids, including Neanderthals, also lived in Europe and became extinct. During most of the Pleistocene (1.8 million to 10,000 years ago), Europe had many unusual […]
Many North American animals went extinct after the last ice age, with humans believed to be the cause. Megafauna, including the American lion and ancient bison, are mostly extinct. Other extinct animals include the giant short-faced bear, saber-toothed tiger, and wooly mammoth. Like everywhere else, numerous animals in North America went extinct shortly after the […]
The Paleozoic era spanned from the Cambrian period to the Permian-Triassic extinction event, and saw the evolution of hard-shelled animals, land plants, and animals that could walk on land. Iconic animals include trilobites and sea scorpions. The era ended with a catastrophic extinction. Paleozoic animals lived during the Paleozoic era, a huge span of time […]
After the extinction of dinosaurs, small reptiles and rodent-like mammals became the primary land animals. These mammals diversified rapidly and became the dominant Cenozoic animals. Early Cenozoic animals adapted to nocturnal hunting and differentiated into various lineages, including the clade Ferae, which gave rise to modern carnivores, ungulates, and cetaceans. Large herbivorous animals radiated from […]
The Arctic is the area surrounding the North Pole, defined as anything north of the Arctic Circle or where the average temperature is below 50°F in July. It is sparsely populated by animals such as lemmings, musk ox, caribou, arctic fox, wolves, polar bears, wolverines, stoats, arctic hares, arctic ground squirrels, seals, and walruses. These […]
Amber is fossilized resin or tree sap that forms over millions of years. It is often used for jewelry and can contain organic or inorganic inclusions, including insects, plants, and even rare finds like mammalian bones or feathers. Inclusions are relatively rare, with one found per 100 pieces of Dominican amber and per 1000 pieces […]
Napoleon Bonaparte was once charged by rabbits while hunting, mistaking him for their keeper. He had little sense of humor and only associated with those who could advance his career. He requested a code for soldiers to read without light, and offered a prize for food preservation methods. He admired George Washington and ordered 10 […]
Pet psychics believe in communicating telepathically with pets to understand their behavior and feelings. They work remotely using photos or telephone, sending telepathic messages in the form of images. Animal telepathy can be learned by anyone with the will to engage in it. Pet psychics, also known as intuitive animals or animals, believe that it […]
Most vertebrates produce tears for healthy eyes, used to cleanse and moisten the cornea. Tear fluid has antibacterial properties and nutrients. Animals may show emotional distress through cries and grief over the death of their owners. Elephants have been observed “crying” tears of pain. Anthropomorphism may have a factual basis. Even though animals don’t cry […]
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