Downy Woodpecker: Agriculture’s Hero
Say hello to the smallest woodpecker in North America. Cute, isn’t he? Downy woodpeckers are probably the most familiar woodpecker...
Elasmotherium Sibiricum: The Siberian Unicorn
Long ago, unicorns walked our planet. But it wasn’t exactly the unicorn you’re imagining. Instead of a whimsical, horse-like creature that spreads sparkles and magic, it was a mud-rolling, bulky-bodied beast. Much like a rhino. In fact, there was an entire genus...
Read NowEmperor Penguin — Adapted for the Extreme
Penguins are one of the most admired birds, and it’s easy to see why. The tuxedo-wearing, stubby-winged waddlers are equally cute as they are impressive. And… there are 18 different types of penguins to adore! Each with its own unique features, habitat,...
Read NowTitanoboa: The Snake of Your Nightmares
Remember the movie Anaconda that came out in the 90s? It instilled a new level of ophidiophobia (snake fear) in some while leaving others chomping at the bit. The thought of an aquatic, 25 ft snake slithering through the Amazon sounds almost...
Read NowHelicoprion: The Buzz Saw Shark
What’s the buzz? It’s all about helicoprion, dubbed the strangest shark in Earth’s history. But don’t fret next time you visit the beach — the freakish fish has been extinct for millions of years. Helicoprion was a member of an entire genus...
Read NowGreat Horned Owl: Master of Stealth
Although it’s North America’s most prevalent owl species, the great horned owl’s healthy population is hardly noticeable to the average person. Even if it were to fly right beside you, there’s a great chance that you won’t notice a thing. That’s because...
Read NowDaeodon: The Terminator Pig
Millions of years ago, everything was bigger — and pigs were no exception. In fact, an entire family of massive pig-like species once existed called entelodonts. The largest member of this family, daeodon, was dubbed “terminator pig,” and it’s no surprise why....
Read NowThe Shoebill Stork: Africa’s Most Wanted
There is a lot of mystique surrounding the shoebill stork. Questions are provoked by its uber-slow motions and prehistoric appearance....
Passenger Pigeons – a Shocking Extinction
What happened to the passenger pigeon? Numbering up to 5 billion individuals, it was once the most abundant bird in North America — and possibly, the world. For about 15,000 years, passenger pigeons coexisted with Native Americans in the forests that once...
Read NowAnna's Hummingbird
Despite being the most commonly-encountered hummingbird along North America's Pacific coast, Anna's is anything but ordinary. Just one glance at the dazzling green and pink hues of this bird will tell you so. As a sexually dimorphic species, Anna's hummingbirds vary in...
Read NowBaiji Dolphin: Goddess of the Yangtze
The Baiji white dolphin inhabited the Yangtze river in China not too long ago. This extinct creature’s legend is rooted in Chinese folklore. As the story goes: A beautiful young girl lived along the Yangtze river with her stepfather. This stepfather was...
Read NowThe Western Sandpiper
The western sandpiper is a small little shorebird that you can spot along the coasts of North America. Individually, they are modest in size — however, a western sandpiper flock is not easy to overlook. These communities can grow to a collective...
Read NowThe Quagga
What’s the biggest difference between a quagga and a zebra? Their rear ends! You’ll notice that while a zebra’s stripes extend from head to tail, the quagga’s stripes seem to fade mid-way. There are a few theories for this evolutionary adaptation, but...
Read NowGiant Short-Faced Bear
Recently, we discussed the colossal California grizzly, which could reach around 2,000 lbs on average. The largest of this species is estimated to have weighed a whopping 2,200 lbs, making it one of the biggest modern-day bears (along with the Alaskan polar...
Read NowThe Bluebuck
Bluebucks (also known as blue antelopes) are mythical-like creatures; some people have entirely doubted their existence. However, fossils and skeletal remains confirm that such an animal once did roam South Africa’s coastal regions. The Caledon River Valley Bushmen even believed the animal...
Read NowThe Red-Tailed Hawk
The shrill cry of this bird can be heard in just about any western movie you watch. This is the ever-so-glorious red-tailed hawk. It’s the most commonly known and observed hawk in North America. However, its range extends from Alaska to Panama....
Read NowThe California Grizzly Bear
Imagine what California would have looked like before the arrival of settlers. Think of this land — a place where Native Americans and grizzly bears lived side-by-side. Only a few hundred years ago, this was the case. Scientists estimate that in the...
Read NowThe Ruby-Crowned Kinglet
I’m sure that it only took you one glance to understand where this tiny birdie got its name. While there are 6 species of kinglets, there is only one who sports a dazzling red crown. Only males possess this feature, even then,...
Read NowThe Snowy Plover
If you’re like us and enjoy a nice beach day from time to time, you’ve likely encountered this tiny bird. It sprints so fast, you can hardly see its little legs! Dash, pause, dash, pause — each sprint interrupted by a sudden...
Read NowCaribbean Monk Seal
The Caribbean Monk Seal lived a great existence, hanging in paradise and snacking on fine seafood. This luxurious lifestyle was unfortunately brought to a halt by the arrival of too many humans choosing to live in their tropical territories, a common theme for many...
Read NowThe Elephant Bird
Have you ever wondered what the biggest bird on our planet is? Maybe you already know the answer to this question — it’s the ostrich, at almost 9 feet tall. However, this is not the biggest bird Earth has ever seen. There...
Read NowThe Mot Mot
The motmot is one of the most beautiful birds of the neotropics. But where did it get its interesting name? You could say that the bird named itself in a way. Its call consists of two “hoots” in a row, sounding almost...
Read NowThe Giant Fossa
First things first — what even is a fossa? Is it a cat? A dog… or perhaps a giant weasel? Actually, it’s none of the above. Fossas are classified as Malagasy carnivorans, also known as Eupleridae. In plain English, they’re mongoose-like mammals...
Read NowBlue-Footed Booby
There’s a lot more to these blue feet than meets the eye. Indeed, the blue-footed booby’s feet are both representative and determining of its success. So what gives them this blue hue? Simply put, it’s the bird’s seafood diet. The fish provide...
Read NowThe Saiga Antelope
Spoiler alert!! The story I’m about to share has a happy ending. Let’s take a look at the saiga antelope and its remarkable road to repopulation. It’s all about that strange and beautiful schnoz today. I’m sure you’ve seen this animal in...
Read NowWest African Black Rhinoceros
For many of us, this particular extinction hits too close to home. Only 10 years ago (2011), the West African black rhinoceros was declared officially extinct by the ICUN. Despite several conservation efforts, it was simply “too little, too late.” The beastly...
Read NowThe Sooty Grouse
With its brilliant, bright yellow neck sack and distinguishing brows, the sooty grouse dresses for originality. On the other hand, spotting this bird is not the simplest task. It’s a master of camouflage, blending seamlessly into the forest with its gray-speckled plumage....
Read NowThe Great Auk: Pinguinus Impennis
I know what you’re thinking; this looks just like a penguin! It dives for fish, lives by the sea, wears a tuxedo — but don’t let this guy fool you! The great auk was only related to penguins in theory. That is,...
Read NowThe Go-Away Bird
This vocal birdie lets you know just what it’s thinking. If you get too close for comfort, you’ll hear a whiny squawk that sounds awfully similar to, “Go awayyyy.” You can see how the lourie got its nickname. As yet a third...
Read NowSaber-Toothed Cat
I’m sure the first thing you think about when you hear “saber-toothed”, is the saber-toothed tiger. The funny thing is, not all saber-toothed creatures are in the cat family (Felidae). When we refer to an animal as saber-toothed, we’re really just talking...
Read NowThe Horned Screamer: Anhima Cornuta
With a unicorn-like horn, awkwardly large feet, and an echoing cry, the horned screamer is unlike any other bird. It can be spotted near the wetlands of South America, living in small communities of its own species. The large, forward curving horn...
Read NowBrown Pelican
If you live in the Americas, there’s a high probability that you’ve seen the brown pelican at some point. Maybe you noted its giant beak and large expandable neck and thought — this looks like it came straight out of the Jurassic...
Read NowFalklands Island Wolf
There’s a bit of mystery surrounding this extinct Falkland Islander. For one, it was the only native mammal to the islands. Which raises the question, how did it get there? On top of this, humans didn’t study the animal much upon discovery...
Read NowThe American Coot
Perhaps you’ve seen this bird and thought, that’s a strange-looking duck! With its black, robust body, white beak, and blazing red eyes, this birdie’s style is like no other. You can usually find it in the same vicinity as ducks, geese, and...
Read NowThe Pyrenean Ibex: Making History
The Pyrenean ibex is famous — practically celebrity-status. Do you know what for? It’s the first animal to ever hold de-extinction status. In other words, its existence was brought back into the world after complete extinction! I’m sure your next question is,...
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