Fact File

The tundra is one of the most inhospitable biomes on Earth. Long winters and very short summers, low temperatures, poor penetration of sunlight, and modest precipitation levels all spell disaster for plant life. However, thousands of specialized plant species still manage to thrive. How, exactly? Read on to find out. Tundra is a northern, cold … Read more

The basic definition of dangerous is able or likely to cause harm or injury. This means that a snake living in your backyard, even if it is smaller, less venomous, or less aggressive, can be more dangerous than a large, highly venomous, or aggressive snake across the globe simply because it is more likely to … Read more

Gazing upon this magnificent creature might convince some they are looking at an extinct dinosaur species and not a living bird. Native to tropical forests of New Guinea, Indonesia, and Northern Australia, the cassowary is physically imposing. Grouped as a ratite, the cassowary’s closest relation is the emu, but other members of this group include … Read more

The animal kingdom has a number of impressive sprinters – we all know that. But what are the best of the best? How fast they can go, and why did they evolve such speed? Read on and be amazed – while some contenders are already world-famous runners, others may surprise you. When you are an … Read more

Wolves have different behaviors compared to other animals, and howling is a way they communicate with each other. They have strict pack hierarchies in place, so their voices sound differently also based on that. But why do wolves howl? Do they do it out of fear? Do they do it to let other pack members … Read more

Although very different from one another, red pandas and panda bears do have something in common – their diet. Did you know red pandas are actually carnivores? But what do red pandas eat in the wild or in captivity? What are their dietary needs? We’re answering these questions and more in today’s post, so keep … Read more

Continental history collides with geothermal and climatic factors to create the extraordinarily unique ecosystem of New Zealand. With only two native land mammal species, birds, reptiles, and invertebrates have evolved to fill the role of mammals developing peculiar adaptations along the way. New Zealand’s isolated position and late colonization left wildlife without many evolutionary pressures. … Read more

Animal intelligence is a hot topic in our modern world. Scientists have joined ordinary people in wanting to understand their ability to be aware, to choose their responses to the world around them and to feel emotions. We want to know things, not just “can they feel?”, but can they recognize themselves and others as … Read more

We are alive. We talk about living things all the time. We also use the word “life” regularly. But what do we really mean by these words “life”, “alive” and “living”? These questions are not as easy to answer as you may like. As soon as you start to look closely at the way we … Read more