Archive : Mammals

Koalas are often referred to as bears, but in fact, they are marsupials and mammals. What that means is that they carry their developing young (known as a “joey”) in a pouch and feed it milk. Koalas are found in parts of Australia, specifically in Queensland, Victoria, New South Wales, and South...

The capybara is a semi-aquatic animal that has the good fortune of being the largest rodent in the world. It is indigenous to South America including Ecuador, Colombia, Venezuela, Argentina, Uruguay, Brazil, Paraguay, and Peru. Its name translates into “master of grasses” in Guarani, whereas the...

Whale sharks, the gentle giants of the water; the largest fish in the world, are very elusive creatures. It might be hard for you to digest that a fish that size could elude observation but that is the truth. Very little is known about the whale shark. But you can be absolutely sure that it is not a...

Gorillas have a reputation of being the smartest among all primates. In various studies and scientific experiments, they have been taught to use sign language to communicate words and they are able to form very basic sentences by putting simple words together. The Eastern Lowland Gorilla is a subspecies...

“Rhinoceros” is a Greek word that means “nose horn,” which, we all know, is the most distinctive feature of this animal. Its scientific name, Ceratotherium simum, is also Greek, translating into horn (cerato) wild beast (thorium) and flat nosed (simum). The white rhinoceros is also known as the...

To begin with, not all Red Kangaroos are actually the vibrant shade of red that you might imagine them to be. Their color can vary from region to region. Males can be seen sporting shades of red, such as pale red and brick red, and sometimes, they can also have a hint of brown in them. The females, on...

The European Hare (Lepus europaeus), also known as the Brown Hare, is native to western Asia and northern, central and western Europe. Even though it is related to the rabbit, it is larger in size and has longer legs and ears. The average European hare grows up to 50 to 70 cm and its tail is about 7...

During early times, the giraffe was considered to be an exotic animal, a cross between a leopard and a camel, earning it the scientific name “Giraffa camelopardalis.” So intrigued was man by the sight of this animal that it was exchanged as diplomatic gifts between different countries. In early records,...

Unlike all the scary aquatic life based movies you’ve seen where the biggest beasts are the most destructive; in real life, the largest among all creatures that has ever walked across the face of this earth isn’t bloodthirsty. I am talking about the gigantic blue whale. Blue whales belong to the...

Southern Elephant Seals, also known as “sea elephants” locally, are found on the Antarctic and sub-Antarctic islands. These are the biggest among all the Antarctic seals and during the 19th and 20th century, they were hunted for their oil. Thankfully, active participation by wildlife enthusiasts...