Articles Index
A Guide to Buying Binoculars
I was recently in the market for a new pair of binoculars and when I first started shopping around, I was bewildered by the vast number of makes and models available these days. Since I received my first pair of binoculars as a gift more than twenty years ago, I lacked experience shopping for the gadgets myself. I knew I had a lot to learn if I was going to invest my money wisely.
Ten Facts About Dolphins
Dolphins are well known for their intellect, their gregarious nature, and their acrobatic abilities. But there are many lesser known qualities that makes a dolphin what it is. Here we'll explore ten characteristics of dolphins and learn more about these much-loved marine mammals.
Ten Facts About Octopi
From clouds of ink to chromatophores, there's more to octopi than eight arms.
Animal Profiles - An A to Z List of Common Names
The following is an A to Z list of animal profiles available, sorted alphabetically by common name.
An Online Tour of Zoology Degrees
Looking for a university that offers a degree in zoology? Curious about faculty and research topics? Trying to find out more about the zoology courses offered at colleges throughout the country? If so, the links listed in this article can help you find the answers you need.
The Working Zoologist
Do you ever wonder how to employ your love of animals and wildlife? Here are some professions to consider.
Lobster's Unique Sounds Defy Predators
Scientists now understand more about the unique way spiny lobsters create sound to ward off predators. Using a method of sound production resembling that of stringed instruments, spiny lobsters startle attackers by emitting loud, raspy noises.
Gardening with Wildlife in Mind
Attracting wildlife to your garden is a rewarding way to learn about animals. By tailoring your garden to the needs of animals, you help to improve your local environment and foster wildlife diversity.
A Biography of Charles Darwin
Charles Darwin was born in Shrewsbury, England on February 12, 1809. He was the fourth child born to Robert Waring Darwin and Susannah Wedgwood. The Darwin family was wealthy and Charles grew up in comfort.
Ten Facts About Zebras
Zebras, with their familiar horse-like physique and their distinct black and white striping pattern, are among the most recognizable of all mammals. We learn at an early age to distinguish zebras from other animals (when learning the alphabet, youngsters are often shown a picture of a zebra and are taught 'Z is for Zebra').
Mammal Research and Conservation
Learn about how scientists study mammals including primates, marine mammals, and others.
Habitat Profiles - An A to Z List of Wildlife Habitats
The following is an A to Z list of habitat profiles available, sorted alphabetically.
A Guide to Vertebrates and Invertebrates
Among the most fundamental criteria by which animals are sorted is whether or not they possess a backbone. This distinction places an animal into one of two groups: the vertebrates or the invertebrates.
Understanding the Threats to Animals and Wildlife
Living things face a constant barrage of external stresses or threats that challenge their ability to survive and reproduce. If a species is unable to successfully cope with these threats through adaptation, they may face extinction.
Threatened and Endangered Reptiles of the US
The following list is an adaptation of threatened and endangered species data published at the The US Fish & Wildlife Service's Endangered Species Program Website.
The Evolutionary Lessons of Marsupials
By 110 million years ago, mammals had diverged into two distinct groups: the placental mammals-a group that includes humans and most modern mammals-and the marsupial mammals-a group that includes koalas, kangaroos, wombats, and pouched mice.
An Overview of Field Guides
As a collector of nature books, field guides have long been among my favorite purchases (and reads). These compact texts—often light enough to slip unnoticed into a backpack or shoulder bag—hold photos, illustrations, maps, and data of encyclopedic proportion. You can dip in and out of them quickly locating information that might otherwise take a great deal of effort to acquire.
Six Basic Animal Groups
If you're just starting to learn about animals and wildlife, it would be an overwhelming task to try and memorize species, one by one. Instead, an understanding of the main groups of animals provides a good foundation for further learning.
What Makes an Organism an Animal?
What is an animal? It's a simple enough question, but the answer is complex and requires an understanding of some rather hefty scientific concepts and terms. Here we'll explore the basic characteristics that make an organism an animal and attempt to decipher the scientific jargon that surrounds these concepts.
The Rhythms of the Great Barrier Reef
Life on the Great Barrier Reef is shaped by the rhythms of the tide and the rhythms of day and night. The assortment of animals that are active on the reef at any given time reflect the dynamics of the reef itself.
Animals of the Great Barrier Reef
It wasn't until the mid-18th century that corals were recognized as animals, not, as previously thought, plants.
Understanding Organ Systems in Animals
Animals' bodies are made up of various organ systems, groups of organs that work together to perform a function.
The Island That Exploded
At 10:02 am on August 27, 1883, the equatorial island of Krakatau was violently and abruptly re-sculpted. Preceded by a series of earthquakes and recurrent volcanic activity, the August 27th eruption shattered the island with a force exceeding that of 100 megatons of TNT.
Twelve Black Rhinos Released in South African Game Reserve
The WWF reports that twelve black rhinos (Diceros bicornis) have been released into a reserve located in Northern KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.
The Anatomy of a Cell
The cell is a fundamental component of our modern definition of life and living things. The cell is regarded as the basic building block of life and is used in the elusive definition of what it means to be 'alive'.