Animals / Wildlife: Most Popular Articles

Animal Profiles - A to Z List
The following is an A to Z list of animal profiles available, sorted alphabetically by common name.

Great Barrier Reef Climate
The Great Barrier Reef is the world's largest tropical reef system, covering an area of 348,000 km2 and stretching along 2300km of the eastern Australian coastline.

Blue-Footed Booby (Sula nebouxii)
The blue-footed booby (Sula nebouxii) is an adorable seabird with bright seafoam-blue webbed feet and a blue-gray face to match.

Snail Classification
Snails are invertebrates, they lack a backbone. They belong to a large and highly diverse group of invertebrates known as the Phylum Mollusca (also known more commonly as 'mollusks'). The Phylum Mollusca includes slugs, clams, oysters, mussels, squids, octopuses, and nautiluses, in addition to snails.

Birds (Aves)
Birds (Aves) are warm-blooded (endothermic) vertebrates. Birds have feathers covering their skin and their forelimbs are modified into wings.

Great Barrier Reef Animals
It wasn't until the mid-18th century that corals were recognized as animals, not, as previously thought, plants.

Predators of the Reef
Predators on the reef come in many shapes and sizes. Sharks are the iconic reef predator and species that visit the reef include tiger sharks, black-tipped reef sharks, and white-tipped reef sharks.

How Large Do Snails Grow?
Snails grow to a variety of different sizes depending on the species and individual.

Animal Profiles: A to Z
The following is an A to Z list of animal profiles available, sorted by animal group.

Quiz: Do You Know Your Animal Groups?
Put your animal identification skills to the test in this quiz.

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.

Reptiles
Reptiles (Reptilia) includes turtles, snakes, lizards, worm lizards, crocodiles, alligators, caimans, and gavials.

Ten Facts About Owls
Owls are a group of birds known for their distinct calls, nocturnal habits, and silent flight. Owls are familiar to many people because they are often depected in various ways in popular culture.

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').

Ten Facts About Jellyfish
Jellyfish have a bad reputation for the threats they can pose to swimmers and holiday makers visiting beaches around the world. But there's more to jellyfish than a nasty sting. In this article we'll take a closer look at these unique creatures.

Sponges and Echinoderms
Sponges belong to the Phylum Porifera. Sponges occur in almost every type of aquatic habitats but are most common in the marine habitats.

Appalachian Mountains
The Appalachian Mountain Range is an ancient band of mountains that stretches in a southwestern arc from the Canadian province of Newfoundland to central Alabama, the heart of southeastern United States.

Glossary of Bird Terms
This glossary is a collection of specialized words (and their definitions) used to describe all aspects of birds including their behavior, evolution, anatomy, life history, adaptation, and conservation.

Blue-Footed Booby
The blue-footed booby (Sula nebouxii) is an adorable looking sea bird with bright seafoam-blue webbed feet and a blue-gray face to match.

Six Basic Groups of Animals
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.

Jellyfish
Jellyfish are a group of invertebrates that belong to the Phylum Cnidaria.

Polar Bear
The polar bear (Ursus maritimus) is among the largest land carnivores, comparable in size only to the brown bear. Polar bears weigh in the range of 400kg-680kg (880lb-1500lb) and are 2.1m-3.3m (7ft-11ft) in length.

What Is 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.

Chordates
The unifying characteristic of chordates (Phylum Chordata) is the presense of a notochord (an internal skeletal rod that provides support) during some stage of the animal's development.

Marine Fish of the Great Barrier Reef
Well over one thousand species of marine fish inhabit the Great Barrier Reef.

North and South American Cats
Pumas, also known as mountain lions, catamonts, panthers or cougars, are a large cat whose former range extended from coast to coast across North America. By 1960, they were declared extinct in most midwestern and eastern ranges.

Endangered Species Directory - By State
Endangered Species Directory - By State A Directory to Threatened and Endangered Animals in the US By

Arthropods
The Phylum Arthropoda includes insects, spiders, crustaceans, scorpions, and centipedes. Arthropods are bilaterally symmetrical and have segmented bodies. Their body is covered with an exoskeleton and many arthropods have compound eyes.

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.

The Working Zoologist
Do you ever wonder how to employ your love of animals and wildlife? Here are some professions to consider.

Arctic Wolf
The Arctic wolf (Canis lupus arctos) is a subspecies of the Grey wolf (Canis lupus). Adult Arctic wolves are between 25 and 31 inches in height (measured at shoulder) and reach weights of up to 175 pounds. Females tend to be smaller and lighter than males. They measure between 3 and 5 feet from head to tail. Their thick coat is off-white.

A Natural History of Terrestrial Snails
Snails start life as an egg. Snails bury their eggs in a nest a few centimeters below the surface of the ground.

Top 10 Conservation Groups
A personal inventory of the first ten organizations that come to mind when I donate my money to protect wildlife. There are many superb organizations, I'm certain this list could easily be lengthened. Still, if you're new to conservation or are looking for a well-established, reputable organization to join, this is a good starting point.

Protecting Endangered Species
Explore this quick guide to endangered species topics and find links to conservation organizations that act on behalf of threatened animals. Locate the information you need to participate in conservation efforts. Find information about how you can stay informed about current wildlife protection efforts.

Molluscs
Molluscs (Mollusca) are a highly diverse group of animals that include cephalopods (squid, octopuses, cuttlefish), gastropods (nudibranchs, snails, slugs, limpets, sea hares), bivalves (mussels, clams, oysters, scallops) and many other groups of organisms.

A Natural History of Hummingbirds
In the 17th century, hummingbirds were prized for their feathers and many birds were hunted extensively. Fortunately today hummingbirds are protected against such collection.

Quiz: Biochemistry Basics
Put your biochemistry knowledge to the test in this quiz.

Life Cycle of a Jellyfish
The most recognized image of a jellyfish is that of the adult jellyfish, with its bell-shaped body and long tentacles.

California Sea Hare
The California Sea Hare (Aplysia californica) is among the world's largest gastropods and grows to lengths of 41cm (16in). It has ruffled flaps along its back and two pairs of antennae.

Animals (Metazoa)
Animals (Animalia) are multicellular organisms that are capable of locomotion and rely on other organisms to obtain their nourishment.

Loggerhead Sea Turtle
The loggerhead sea turtle (Caretta caretta) is a marine turtle that grows to lengths of 28 to 39 inches. Caretta caretta is the world's largest hard-shelled turtle.

Snail Diet and Feeding Habits
Most terrestrial snails are herbivorous. They feed on plant material (such as leaves, stems, and soft bark), fruits, and algae. A few species of snails are scavengers, feeding on decaying animals. Some marine snails (which, keep in mind, aren't in the same group as terrestrial snails) feed on clams, fish, worms and mollusks.

Endangered Animals (AZ)
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.

What is a Niche?
The term niche is used to describe the role an organism or population plays within its community or ecosystem. It encompasses all relationships that the organism (or population) has with its environment and with other organisms and populations in its environment.

Endangered Animals (ME)
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.

Panthera Subspecies
There are numerous lion subspecies and there is disagreement among experts as to which subspecies are recognized.

Endangered Animals (LA)
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.

Intertidal Zone
The intertidal zone (or littoral zone) is the area of the sea floor that lies between the high and low tide marks, bridging the gap between land and sea.

Recommended Reading
If you would like to learn more about the Great Barrier Reef, I would highly recommend Reader's Digest Guide to the Great Barrier Reef.

Snail Anatomy
Snails are very different from humans so when we think about body parts, we're often at a loss when relating the familiar parts of a human body to snails.

Tiger
The tiger is the largest of all cats. This majestic creature grows to lengths of 4 1/2 to 9 1/2 feet and weights of 220 to 660 pounds. The tiger's coat is orange with black stripes and white markings on its face, chest, and underside.

Eurasian Lynx
The Eurasian lynx (Lynx lynx) is a medium-sized cat with thick fur (yellow to gray-brown, patterned with pale spots or lines), long legs, dark tufts of fur on the tips of their ears, a collar of longer hair around the neck, and a short tail.

Endangered Animals (CA)
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.

African Elephant
The African elephant is among the largest land animals alive today. Adults grow to heights of 13 to 16 feet and weights of 4 to 7 tons. The African elephant has larger ears than the Asian elephant and its two front incisors grow into large tusks that curve forward.

Online Tour of 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.

An Introduction to Horses
Horses and their relatives, known collectively as equids, are beautiful, captivating mammals. They posess grace, speed, and endurance.

Endangered Animals (GA)
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.

Coelenterates
A group of primitive aquatic animals that includes jellyfish, corals, and sea anemones.

'Alliance for Zero Extinction' Targeting Key Habitats to Save Species
The Alliance for Zero Extinction (AZE) has drawn up a list of sites around the world where endangered species are under the imminent threat of extinction if no immediate action is take to save their habitat.

Sally Lightfoot Crab (Grapsus grapsus)
Sally Lightfoot Crabs (Grapsus grapsus), also known as red rock crabs, are scavengers and are common along much of South America's western coastlines.

Mammals
Mammals (Therapsida) belong to a group of vertebrates that includes approximately 5,400 extant species. Mammals display a remarkable array of adaptations that enable them to inhabit a wide range of habitats. Mammals range in size from the minute Bumblebee Bat which measures a mere three centimeters in length, to the magnificent blue whale, which can grow to as much as 33 metres in length—at such an immense dimension, it is undoubtedly the largest animal alive today.

Vertebrate Evolution
Vertebrates are well-known group animals that include mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, and fish. The defining characteristic of vertebrates is their backbone, a trait that showed up in the fossil record about 500 million years ago during the Ordovician period.

Ten Facts About Coral
If you've ever visited an aquarium or gone snorkeling when on holiday, you're probably familiar with a wide variety of corals. You may even know that corals play a fundamental role in defining the structure of marine reefs, the most complex and diverse ecosystems in our planet's oceans.

Marine Iguana
The marine iguana (Amblyrhynchus cirstatus) is a large iguana that reaches lengths of 2ft-3ft.

Prokaryotes and Eukaryotes
All living organisms can be sorted into one of two groups depending on the fundamental structure of their cells. These two groups are the prokaryotes and the eukaryotes.

Carnivores
Carnivores are animals belonging to the Order Carnivora. The Order Carnivora contains 7 families and about 250 species. This group of animals includes dogs and their relatives, bears, racoons, mustelids, civits, hyenas, aardwolf, and cats.

Diversity and Evolultion
The Great Barrier Reef is among the most complex ecosystems on the planet, providing habitat for a stunning variety and number of species.

Leopard
The leopard (Panthera pardus) is a member of the cat family (Felidae). The leopard's coat has a background color of pale, cream-yellow on its underside that darkens slightly to an orange-brown on its back.

Characteristics of Mammals
Characteristics of Mammals

Sea Star Outbreaks
There are some species that inhabit the Great Barrier Reef that can tips its balance from time to time. Among those species is the crown-of-thorns starfish (Acanthaster planci), a large starfish that can grow to diameters of more than a meter and can have up to 21 arms.

Classification of Cats
Cats belong to the group of vertebrates known as mammals. Within the mammals cats are classified with other meat eaters in the Order Carnivora (known commonly as 'carnivores').

Endangered Animals (NY)
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.

Density Dependent
Describes a factor that influences individuals in a population to a degree that varies in response to how crowded (dense) the population is.

The Small Cats
The Subfamily Felinae, or the small cats, are a diverse group of carnivores.

How Snails Move
Terrestrial snails move using their muscular foot. By creating an undulating 'wave' motion along the length of the foot, a snail is able to push against the ground and propel its body forward, albeit slowly.

Marsupial Evolution
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.

Xenarthrans
Armadillos, sloths, and anteaters belong to the Order Xenarthra, an ancient group of placental mammals that once roamed across Gondwanaland before the continents of the Southern Hemisphere separated into their present day configuration.

Quiz: Can You Identify These Birds?
Put your bird identification skills to the test in this quiz.

Protecting Wildlife
If you are interested in getting involved in wildlife conservation, be sure to take a closer look this list of organizations.

Amphibians
Amphibians (Class Amphibia) include fascinating creatures such as salamanders, newts, caecilians, frogs, and toads. These animals' ancestors were the first to venture out from the water and adapt to life on land. Amphibian larvea are often aquatic and go through a complex metamorphosis process as they grow to adulthood. They have moist skin and do not have scales, feathers or hair.

An Introduction to Mammals
Learn more about mammals including, their characteristics, evolution, adaptations, and more. Mammals, as a group of animals, belong to the Class Mammalia. The Class Mammalia, in turn, belongs to the larger group known as the vertebrates (animals with backbones; also called the Phylum Chordata).

Biome
A distinct group lifeforms and the environment in which they are found.

Snails, Slugs, and Nudibranchs
Gastropods (Gastropoda) include a wide variety of organisms such as terrestrial snails and slugs, sea slugs, sea hares, sea butterflies, canoe shells, conchs, whelks, limpets, periwinkles, oyster borers, coweries, nudibranchs, and many others.

Green Sea Turtle
The green sea turtle (Chelonia mydas) is among the largest marine turtles and is also the most widespread. It grows to lengths of about 3 to 4 feet and weights of up to 200 kg. Its front limbs are flipper-like and are used to propel itself through the water.

Density Independent
A factor that influences individuals in a population in a manner that does not vary with the extent of crowding present in the population.

Endangered Animals (AL)
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.

Cats
Cats inhabit a wide variety of habitats including coasts, deserts, forests, grasslands, and mountains. They have colonized almost every corner of the globe with the exceptions of Australia, Greenland, Iceland, New Zealand, Antarctica, Madagascar, and remote oceanic islands.

An Introduction to Cats
Cats are graceful, efficient predators that belong to the Family Felidae (a family known commonly as 'felids').

Ten Facts About Octopi
From clouds of ink to chromatophores, there's more to octopi than eight arms.

African Cats
The cats of Africa include the caracal, serval, cheetah, lion, and leopard.

Amphibian and Reptile ID Tips
Through a series of steps, this identification key will help you to learn the basics of identifying the main families of reptiles and amphibians.

Endangered Animals (FL)
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.

Filter Feeder
An organism that filters food particles from its surrounding aqueous environment. It strains the water using sieve-like structures. Examples of filter feeders include clams and baleen whales.

Endangered Animals (ID)
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.

Warning Coloration
A combination of contrasting colors that warns that an animal is dangerous.

Rocky Mountains
The Rocky Mountains stretch through western North America from Alaska to New Mexico, forming the middle section of the Western Cordillera, an extensive belt of mountains that reaches from the Arctic Circle to Mexico.

Endangered Reptiles (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.

Galapagos Land Iguana (Conolophus subcristatus)
The Galapagos land iguana (Conolophus subcristatus) is dark brown to yellow-orange in color and has large pointed scales that run along its neck and down its back.

Dusky Dolphin
The dusky dolphin (Lagenorhynchus obscurus) is a medium sized dolphin, growing to lengths of 5.5 to 7 feet and weights of 150 to 185 pounds. It has a sloping face with no dominant beak nose. It is dark gray (or dark blue-gray) on its back and white on its belly.

Endangered Animals (MD)
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.

Giant Panda
Giant pandas (Ailuropoda melanoleuca) belong to the bear family (Ursidae). They have distinct black and white coloration.

'Save the Albatross' Campaign Fights to Save Albatrosses
The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) and BirdLife International have joined together to create the Save the Albatross initiative that focuses on albatross protection and conservation. Their aim is to address the problem posed by longline fishing:

Feather Stars
animals wildlife coral reef Great Barrier Reef marine life feather stars echinoderms

Endangered Animals (NC)
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.

Endangered Animals (OH)
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.

Endangered Animals (MS)
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 for the state of Mississippi.

Meerkat Manor
Get an intimate glimpse of some personality-packed meerkats as they face the challenges of life in Africa's Kalahari Desert.

Aye-Aye
The aye-aye (Daubentonia madagascariensis) is a mammal belonging to the group of primates referred to as the prosimians. Prosimians are more primitive than monkeys and apes and, in addition to the aye-aye, include animals such as lemurs, lorises, pottos and galagos.

Green Poison Dart Frog
Green poison dart frogs (Dendrobates auratus) belong to a family of frogs that includes the world's most poisonous amphibians. The green poison dart frog is a vibrantly colored frog, with distinct black and green patterns (although the green color can vary quite a bit, ranging from golden to blue).

Population Growth
Populations are groups of individuals belonging to the same species that live in a shared region at the same time.

Endangered Animals (KY)
A list of the threatened and endangered animals in the state of Kentucky (an adaptation of data from the US Fish & Wildlife Service's Endangered Species Program Website).

How Animals are Classified
For centuries, the naming and classification of living organisms into groups has been an integral part of the study of nature.

Giraffe
Giraffes (Giraffa camelopardalis) are hoofed mammals with long legs and a long neck. Their skin is a patchwork of dark chestnut spots separated by thin cream colored lines.

A Visual Guide to Hummingbirds
Ruby-Throated Hummingbirds are one of fifteen species of hummingbirds thatbreed within the United States. Of those fifteen species, the ruby-throated hummingbird is the only species that ventures east of the Mississippi River.

Brief History of Life on Earth
It all began 4500 million years ago (Mya) with the Hadean Eon. That's when our solar system formed and, in that solar system, a molten Earth started to cool and take shape. Because there was no solid rock back then, we don't have a geological history of the Hadeon Eon. As soon as the Earth cooled and solid rock formed, that's when geological history began and the Hadeon Eon ended.

Hares, Rabbits, and Pikas
Hares, pikas and rabbits (Order Lagomorpha) are small terrestrial mammals that can be found in a diverse range of habitats on every continent except Australia and Antarctica. Lagomorphs have short tails, large ears, eyes that are positioned high on each side of the head, and narrow, slitlike nostriles that they are able to close completely.

Organ Systems and What They Do
Animals' bodies are made up of various organ systems, groups of organs that work together to perform a function.

Evolution of Snails
The earliest known snails were similar in structure to limpets. These creatures lived in shallow sea water and fed on algae and they had a pair of gills.

Endangered Mammals (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.

Cats of Asia
Snow leopards live in mountainous habitat at elevations of between 2000 and 6000 meters. Their range extends from northwestern China to Tibet and the Himalayas.

Endangered Animals (AR)
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.

Endangered Birds (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.

Anemonefish
Anemonefish are a unique group of fish that live amongst the tentacles of sea anemones. The anemone's tentacles sting and paralyze most fish that brush against them.

A Visual Guide to Terrestrial Snails
Malacology is the study of mollusks. So a malacologist is a scientist whose research focuses on mollusks.

Galapagos Tortoise (Geochelone nigra)
In this photographic guide, you'll find out more about the geography, climate, and wildlife of the Galapagos Islands.

Endangered Animals (NM)
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.

Endangered Animals (CO)
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.

Guide to Watching Wildlife
To say we want to learn about animals and wildlife is to say we want to step outside the confines of these human 'habitats' into the natural world: a world in which we are one of countless lifeforms that share this planet we call Earth.

What is Sexual Dimorphism?
Sexual dimorphism is the difference in form between male and female members of the same species.

Endangered Animals (NJ)
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.

Quiz: An Introduction to Zoology
Put your zoology knowledge to the test in this quiz.

Birds of Prey
Birds of prey (Order Falconiformes) include eagles, hawks, kites, the secretary bird, ospreys, and falcons. These birds have superb eyesight, strong legs and talons, a sharp, hooked bill and are adept hunters.

About the Great Barrier Reef
The Great Barrier Reef is the world's largest tropical reef system, covering an area of 348,000 sq km and stretching along 2300km of the eastern Australian coastline.

Nene Goose
The Nene (or Hawaiian) Goose (Branta sandvicensis) is the state bird of Hawaii. The Nene in some ways resembles its closest living relative, the Canada goose (Branta canadensis) although the Nene is smaller in size, reaching lengths of 53cm-66cm (21in-26in).

Eastern Deciduous Forests
Deciduous forests once stretched from New England south to Florida and from the Atlantic Coast west to the Mississippi River.

Endangered Animals (IL)
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.

Endangered Animals (PA)
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.

Wild Side of Animal Senses
Radar, compasses, and infrared detectors are all man-made contraptions that enable humans to stretch beyond our natural senses.

Snow Leopard Populations
A recent study by TRAFFIC, the World Wildlife Fund and the International Snow Leopard Trust revealed a sharp decline in the snow leopard population.

Penguins
Penguins (Order Sphenisciformes) are flightless birds that have stiff wings and distinct coloration (black or gray feathers on their backs and white feathers on their bellies). Their wing bones are fused to form flipper-like limbs and enable the birds to dive and swim with great skill.

Monarch Butterfly
The monarch butterfly (Danaus plexippus) has a black body with white spots and bright orange wings with black borders and veins (some white spots are dappled in the black wing areas too).

Cougars Reclaim Habitat
Wildlife experts confirmed that frequent cougar sightings have been reported in over twenty midwestern US states and Canada during the past year and a half.

Blue Whale
The magnificent blue whale (Balaenoptera musculus) is our planet's largest animal, reaching lengths of 66 to 98 feet and weights of 110 to 176 tons. Blue whales belong to the group of whales know as the baleen whales.

Feathers, Furculas, and More
Birds are an amazing and diverse group of animals. Birds, best known for their ability to fly, are unmatched in their command of the skies. Albatrosses glide long distances over the open sea, hummingbirds can hover motionless in mid-air, and eagles are highly effective aerial predators.

Endangered Animals (NV)
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.

Endangered Animals (IN)
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.

Great White Shark
The great white shark (Carcharodon carcharias), also known as the 'white shark' or 'white pointer', is a powerful swimmer and efficient predator that inhabits temperate and subtropical regions of the world's oceans. Adult white sharks reach lengths of 6m-8m (20ft-26ft) and can weigh 2 tons (2 tonnes) or more.

What is a Rain Shadow?
A rain shadow is an area of dry land that lies on the leeward (or downwind) side of a mountain. Winds carry air masses up and over the mountain range and as the air is driven upward over the mountain, falling temperatures cause the air to lose much of its moisture as precipitation.

Endangered Animals (SC)
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.

How Do Coral Reefs Form?
Stony corals are a remarkable group of animals that inhabit tropical marine waters around the world and form vast colonies known as coral reefs