Characteristics Of Animals

1.  Arapaima have broad, bony heads, upturned mouths and streamlined bodies with a dorsal fin stretching along their backs toward their tails, which are massive, yet stumpy in appearance. The head of the arapaima is copperish-green in color, their bodies are black with a white center and their tails are red. 2. The arapaima can grow up to 15′ long and weigh up to 440 lbs. Because of that is considered by most people to be among the largest fish along with the beluga sturgeon, mekong giant catfish, giant freshwater stingray and alligator gar. 3. The arapaima evolved a unique scale design that helps it resist piranha bites, including up to 1.7 million pounds per square inch of pressure. 4. Common uses include: Large unstructured handbags. The large, wild scales of the arapaima skin and its plush body drape beautifully over the shoulder of a fun-loving fashionite. Garments often require huge panels to reduce the appearance of stitch marks. 5. The arapaima is the la...

1.  Antarctic scale worms (eulagisca gigantea) grow up to a giant 8 inches (20 cm) in length. They are virtually flat from their back to their abdomen. But across the back or abdomen, the worms are up to 4 inches (10cm) wide. These sea creatures have 40 body segments covered by 15 pairs of scales called elytra. 2. The Scale Worm is a short, compact worm with 12 pairs of overlapping scales, called elytra, covering the upper surface. Each scale is marked a distinctive C-shaped brown pattern. The scales may shed if touched. This worm has two pairs of eyes, and two single side antennae. 3. Their scales slough off and regenerate as a defensive mechanism. In some species, the scales produce bioluminescent light, which can leave a predator with a mouthful of glowing parts. That in turn advertises the unwitting animal's whereabouts to its own predators. 4. This bizarre marine worm is found in the Southern Ocean near Antarctica at depths of more than 500 metres. 5. Scale...

 1. Aye-ayes have coarse, shaggy black fur with a mantle of long white-tipped guard hairs. They have a round head, large triangular ears, yellow-orange eyes and a pink nose. They have long digits with long curved claws except for the big toes. 2. The Aye-aye (Daubentonia madagascariensis) is a long-fingered lemur that inhabits the rainforests in Madagascar. It is the world's largest nocturnal primate and has a unique appearance. 3. Aye-ayes spend their lives in rain forest trees and avoid coming down to earth. They are nocturnal, and spend the day curled up in a ball-like nest of leaves and branches. The nests appear as closed spheres with single entry holes, situated in the forks of large trees. 4. Aye-ayes may help to disperse fruiting tree seeds through their frugivory. They are also important predators of wood-boring beetle larvae. 5. As arboreal animals, they maintain all daily activities while navigating treetops and living general life. The tree cove...

 1. Bark scorpions are relatively small, and have a maximum length of about 2.5 inches (6.4cm). 2. Their bodies are tan, and their backs are slightly darker in color. 3. Under UV light, these scorpions will glow a bright bluish color making them easy to spot. 4. They are nocturnal and are generally only seen at night. 5. scorpion, (order Scorpiones or Scorpionida), any of approximately 1,500 elongated arachnid species characterized by a segmented curved tail tipped with a venomous stinger at the rear of the body and a pair of grasping pincers at the front. 6. Scorpions Were Around Long Before the First Dinosaurs. ... 7. They Are Not Insects. ... 8. They Dance Before Mating. ... 9. They Give Birth to Live Young. ... 10. Some Baby Scorpions Stay With Their Mom for 2 Years. ... 11. They Glow In UV Light. ... 12. Some Scorpions Can Go a Year Without Food. ... 13. Their Venom Can Include Dozens of Different Toxins. 14. Slender Tail & Pincers. 15. 2.7 – 3.1 inches long from tail...

 1. Axolotls have cylindrical bodies, short legs, a relatively long tail and feathery external gills. They have four toes on the front feet, five toes on the back feet and moveable eyelids. They are known for their blunt snouts and large mouths. 2. They Are Native to One Place in the World. The axolotl's native habitat is in dire straits. ... 3. They Are Carnivorous. Axolotls are carnivorous—they eat everything from fish and worms to insects and crustaceans. ... 4. They Can Regenerate Body Parts. ... 5. They Have a Large Genome. ... 6. They Are Critically Endangered. 7. Salamanders and lizards are known for their incredible ability to remove and regrow limbs when injured or avoiding predators. Take for example the axolotl. These aquatic salamanders can not only regrow limbs but also replace their spinal cords, hearts, and other organs. 8. They Have a Wide Range of Color Patterns. ... 9. They Are Native to a Single Country. ... 10. They Are Carnivorous. ... 11. They Can Regener...

1. The American avocet is a large shorebird. It is 16-20 inches tall and has very long, grayish-blue legs; a long neck; and a long, turned-up black bill. The female's bill turns up a little more than the male's bill. Its head and neck are rusty-red in the summer and grayish-white in the winter. 2. How to identify. Avocets are mainly white, with black patches on the back and wings, and a black cap stretching down the back of the neck. They have long, blue legs, but are most easily recognised by their long, black, upturned bills. 3. The long, bluish, or grayish legs are adapted for wading into the water. The webbed feet enable them to become proficient swimmers. And the long bill is a very well-adapted instrument for feeding. The feathers are a combination of black, white, red, and brown. 4. Pied avocets have come up with a trick to distract nest robbers. They act as if they were injured and try to attract the attention of the attacker. They croak and limp away from th...

1. Identifying Features: greyish-brown oval-shaped body with a long, tapering tail; long head with a pointy snout and small black eyes on either side; hard, armor-like shell (carapace) with 7-11 distinct band-shaped breaks around the center; four short legs with long claws designed for digging.  2. Armadillo means “little armored one” in Spanish. 3. The nine-banded armadillo is the only species known to live in the United States, mainly in south-central areas. 4. The nine-banded armadillo can hold its breath for about six minutes allowing it to walk underwater for short distances. 5. The Giant armadillo is one of the largest species of armadillos. This animal is easily recognizable due to its powerful, enlarged central claw and the carapace, covered with tough bony scales. Pentagonal scales cover the legs and tail of the animal. 6. One of the armadillo's biggest weaknesses is its poor eyesight. When they are out at night, they are unable to see cars heading their direction unt...

 1. The Angora is generally smaller than other domestic goats and sheep. Both sexes are horned, and the ears are long and drooping. The strong elastic fibre of the coat differs from wool primarily in its smoothness and lustre. 2. Angora goats are raised worldwide, with the United States, South Africa, and Turkey being the largest producers. Each Angora goat is shaved twice yearly to collect the fiber. Adult Angora goats produce about 10.6 pounds of mohair annually. Angora goats are the only goat that produces hair. 3. Goats can be taught their name and to come when called. 4. They are very picky eaters. ... 5. Goats use the sneeze sound as an alarm. ... 6. They are extremely intelligent and curious and are very often not given credit for being the smart and loving creatures they actually are. 7. The Angora is very picturesque animal in which both sexes are horned. The bucks usually have a pronounced spiral to the horn, which comes back and away from the head; the horns of...

 1. Arctic wolves are well adapted to icy conditions. White fur allows them to blend into snowy surroundings. To help reduce heat loss their ears are small and rounded, the muzzle is short, and the fur is dense. Legs are shorter than other subspecies. 2. Wolves are complex, highly intelligent animals who are caring, playful, and above all devoted to family. Only a select few other species exhibit these traits so clearly. Just like elephants, gorillas and dolphins, wolves educate their young, take care of their injured and live in family groups. 3. Arctic wolves communicate via sounds and the position of their tail. ... 4. The Arctic wolf is smaller than the gray wolf. ... 5. Arctic wolves tolerate complete darkness. ... 6. Arctic wolves live in packs of 5 to 7. ... 7. Only the leaders of the pack mate. 8. Thanks to its isolation, the arctic wolf is not threatened by hunting and habitat destruction like its southern relatives. In fact, the arctic wolf is the only sub-speci...

1. The addax is a sandy to almost white color during the summer, darkening to a grayish brown in the winter. White markings are present on the face, ears, belly, hips, and legs, and there is a black tuft of hair on the forehead. Horns are present on both males and females, average about 72 cm in length. 2. A female addax's gestation lasts 257 to 264 days. Females typically give birth to only one baby at a time and have only one baby per year, according to the ADW. Baby addaxes are called calves. Calves are sand-colored so that they blend in with their surroundings to protect them from predators. 3. They will generally stay in one place and only wander widely in search of food. The addax has a strong social structure, probably based on age, and herds are led by the oldest female. Herds are more likely to be found along the northern edge of the tropical rain system during the summer and move north as winter falls. 4. Keystone species like the Addax and the Dama Gazelle...

 1. African grey parrots have an uncanny ability to mimic speech. They grow to be up to 13 inches in length, and are Africa's largest parrot. Their plumage can be various colors of grey, usually slightly darker on the wings and back, with a dramatic crimson tail. 2. African greys are very playful and enjoy climbing and chewing. "It is important to keep these smart birds busy, as boredom can lead to problems such as feather picking and screaming." It is important to keep these smart birds busy, as boredom can lead to problems such as feather picking and screaming. 3. Characteristic features of parrots include a strong, curved bill, an upright stance, strong legs, and clawed zygodactyl feet. Many parrots are vividly colored, and some are multi-colored. Most parrots exhibit little or no sexual dimorphism. They form the most variably sized bird order in terms of length. 4. African grey parrots have an extremely long lifespan – they live an average of 60 years, with some ...

 1. The African bush elephant is the largest land mammal in the world and the largest of the three elephant species. Adults reach up to 24 feet in length and 13 feet in height and weigh up to 11 tons. As herbivores, they spend much of their days foraging and eating grass, leaves, bark, fruit, and a variety of foliage. 2. They're the world's largest land animal. ... 3. You can tell the three species apart by their ears. ... 4. Their trunks have mad skills. ... 5. Their tusks are actually teeth. ... 6. They've got thick skin. ... 7. Elephants are constantly eating. ... 8. They communicate through vibrations. 9. Elephants are pregnant for a whopping 22 months. ... 10. At birth, a baby elephants weigh 210 lbs (or 95kg). 11. African elephants are smaller at birth than Asian elephants but are much bigger as adults. 12. trunk is an incredibly useful, dexterous and clever appendage. 13. Elephants are the largest land mammals on earth and have distinctly massive bodies, large ears, ...

 1. The aardwolf resembles a very thin striped hyena, but with a more slender muzzle, black vertical stripes on a coat of yellowish fur, and a long, distinct mane down the midline of the neck and back. It also has one or two diagonal stripes down the fore- and hind-quarters, along with several stripes on its legs. 2. Aardwolves are related to hyenas. ... 3. "Aardwolf" means "earth wolf" in Afrikaans. ... 4. They eat mostly termites. ... 5. Aardwolves have specialized cheek teeth. ... 6. They spend their days underground. ... 7. Aardwolves are territorial. ... 8. Aardwolves use their manes to appear bigger. 9. Aardwolves lead mainly solitary lives, though they are socially monogamous, which means they stay with the same mate their whole lives. They fiercely defend their territories, as these are what determine access to food and mates. 10. Aardwolves play a positive role in the ecosystem by limiting the number of termites throughout their natural range.” The aardwolf...

 1. How do Amur leopards differ from other leopards? Amur leopards have a paler coat than most subspecies of leopards, and large, dark, widely spaced rosettes with thick, unbroken rings. They weigh 70-105 pounds. 2. Amur leopards are probably the rarest big cat in the world. ... 3. But the Amur Leopard population in the wild seems to be stable and increasing. ... 4, Girl power. ... 5. They have spots like fingerprints. ... 6. They own both a summer and winter wardrobe. ... 7. Night cats. ... 8. They can get chilly in the mountains. ... 9. Cats that climb. 10. Why Amur leopards are so important. Amur leopards are top predators in their landscape, so they're crucial role for keeping the right balance of species in their area. That also affects the health of the forests and wider environment, which provides local wildlife and people with food, water and other resources. 11.  The Amur leopard is adapted to the cool climate by having  thick fur which grows up to 7.5 ...

 1. Aardvarks have long, sticky tongues, which can be up to 12 inches (30 centimeters) long. Each night, they are able to dig up termite mounds and ant nests and slurp up and swallow tens of thousands of insects. Aardvarks are most active at night and tend to live alone. 2. Its stout, piglike body (“aardvark” is Afrikaans for “earth pig”) may be as long as 6 ft (1.8 m), including a 2-ft (60-cm) tail. It has a long snout, rabbitlike ears, short legs, and long toes with large, flattened claws. 3. Adaptations: Terrestrial, solitary, nocturnal, large eyes with retina containing only cones. Nostrils close up when the aardvark burrows, providing protection from dust, dirt, and attacks by ants or termites. Powerful claws for digging into ground or termite nests. Acute sense of smell and hearing. 4. Aardvarks are digitigrades, meaning they walk on their toes, and not on the soles of their feet. The time it stands on its soles is when an aardvark squats. They can eat 50,000 t...