- As per World Animal Foundation 2023-2024 stats, an estimated sixty-six percent of U.S. households or 86.9 million families owned a pet, this is up from 85 million in 2018;
this figure represented a significant rise from the 56% recorded in 1988.
- Moths are a group of insects that includes all members of the order Lepidoptera that are not butterflies. There are thought to be approximately 17,500 species of butterflies
in the world, compared to 160,000 species of moths. In the United States, there are nearly 11,000 species of moths. Moths have duller colors and can usually be distinguished from butterflies by their antennae, which are typically threadlike or feathery;
in contrast, butterflies have brighter colors and club-tipped antennae.
- There are around 13,000 bird species and up to 400 billion individual birds around the world.
- Out of 3,500 species of snakes, about 600 species are venomous, and only about 200 (7%) are able to kill or severely injure a person. Most snakes are not aggressive and they often go away if they sense a human in the environment. Some snakes may attack people if they feel threatened in their habitat;
a snake will not typically bite a human unless it is in danger. It is best to leave snakes alone and alarm them from a distance.
- The black mamba and the coastal taipan are the most dangerous snakes in the world.
The varieties of snakes that most often cause serious snakebites depend on the region of the world. There are over 20 species of venomous snakes in North America, the most dangerous ones are
cottonmouth, timber rattlesnake, and black diamond rattlesnake.
In Central and South America, Bothrops (including the terciopelo or fer-de-lance) and Crotalus
(rattlesnakes) are of greatest concern. In South Asia, the most dangerous species are Indian cobras, common kraits,
Russell's viper and carpet vipers. In the Middle East the species of greatest concern are carpet vipers and
elapids. In Africa, the most dangerous species include black mambas, puff adders,
and carpet vipers.
- Scientists are not sure how long giant pandas can live, they estimate that lifespan is about 15-20 years for wild pandas and about 30 years for those in zoos.
An An, a giant panda living at Hong Kong Ocean Park in Hong Kong,
turned 35 years old in August 2021, making him the oldest male panda currently living under human care; the Smithsonian National Zoo's Hsing-Hsing died at age 28 in November 1999.
- Tortoises are turtles, but not all turtles are tortoises; tortoises, which are often larger and heavier than turtles, have more rounded and domed shells where turtles have thinner, more water-dynamic shells.
While turtles have more flipper like legs to make them easier to cruise through the water, tortoises have 'elephantine' hind legs, which help them move around and carry the extra weight. Tortoises spend most of their time on
land and turtles are adapted for life spent in water.
- The oldest known land animal is Jonathan, a Seychelles giant tortoise, originally from the Seychelles but now lives in the remote South Atlantic island of St Helena. He is believed to have been 190 years old in 2022.
- The smooth newt (European newt, northern smooth newt or common newt), a species of newt, is one of the most common amphibians in the forest zone of the temperate belt,
and spending most of the rest of the year feeding on invertebrates in woodland, hedgerows, marshes and tussocky grassland. Smooth newts, which
inhabit all of Europe, except for Portugal and Spain, southern France and Italy, eat insects, worms, caterpillars, and slugs while on land, and crustaceans,
molluscs and tadpoles when in the water. They are most active during the night, especially during and just after rains, live on land during most of the year, and return to water for reproduction in spring or autumn.
A smooth newt can turn into a mature adult at 2-3 years, and can live up to an age of 14 in the wild.
- In 1386 in France, a pig was arrested, kept in prison, and then sent to court where it stood trial for murder after attacking a child who died later from his wounds. A court in Falaise found the pig guilty and then executed it by hanging!
- In 2014 there were 1,864 giant pandas alive in the wild. Counting number of pandas in the wild is not an easy task. It requires a massive effort, with teams of 40 researchers spending many
hours trekking through steep, mountainous bamboo forests looking for telltale signs, such as dung. When they find some, they carefully studying any bite marks to identify individual pandas because their bite marks are all unique.
- The rarest animals in the world:
- Approximately 4.5 million dog bites occur each year in the United States; almost 1 out of 5 bites becomes infected.
- 6,755 U.S.
postal workers were attacked by dogs in 2016, 200 more than in 2015. Cities that had the most dog attacks on postal workers in 2016 include:
- Los Angeles, CA (80)
- Houston, TX (62)
- Cleveland, OH (60)
- San Diego, CA (57)
- Louisville, KY (51)
- Detroit, MI (48)
- Denver, CO (47)
- Chicago, IL (46)
- Indianapolis, IN (44)
- Minneapolis, MN (43)
- San Antonio, TX (42)
- Portland, OR (41)
- Dallas, TX (41)
- Philadelphia, PA (40)
- Rats are very easy to breed; they can reach sexual maturity at 5 weeks of age.
- Horses and cows sleep while standing up.
- An average adult American alligator's weight and length is 360 kg (790 lb) and 4.0 m (13.1 ft), some grow to 4.4 m (14 ft) long and weigh over 450 kg (990 lb); they can live up to 100 years.
- Birds are the most widespread of all animals around the world, and there are about known 10,000 species of birds grouped into 30 categories; however, scientists recently
discovered that there are over 18,000 bird species on the Earth.
- The African grey parrot is a medium-sized, predominantly grey, black-billed parrot which weighs 400 g, with a length of 33 cm, and an average wingspan of 46–52 cm. An African grey parrot may live for 40–60 years in captivity, although their mean lifespan in the wild appears to be shorter at about 23 years.
The African gray parrot is the most talkative bird in the world, one parrot can say up to 800 words, while most species of parrots can learn only around 50 words.
- The most largest known wild cats in the world:
- The Whooping Crane is the tallest and rarest bird in North America and one of the most awe-inspiring, with its snowy white plumage, crimson cap, bugling call, and graceful courtship dance;
there were 1,400 whooping cranes in 1860 and then plummeted to an all time low of 15 birds in 1941; as of 2016 there are about 200 whooping cranes.
- Operation migration whooping crane cam.
- Crocodiles are large reptiles found in tropical regions of Africa, Asia, the Americas and Australia; one of the largest known populations of American crocodiles is found in the Dominican Republic's at a large saltwater lake called Lago Enriquillo; crocodiles can live from 30 to 75 years.
- Around 100,000 fatalities are estimated to occur as a result of venomous snake bites each year worldwide, but snakes are also making their mark on human health in contrast to the way nature intended by saving lives.
- An adult black rhinoceros stands 132–180 cm (52–71 in) high at the shoulder and is 2.8–3.8 m (9.2–12.5 ft) in length, plus a tail of about 60 cm (24 in) in length. An adult typically weighs from 800 to 1,400 kg (1,800 to 3,100 lb); however, unusually large male specimens have been reported at up to 2,199–2,896 kg (4,848–6,385 lb).
- There were about 70,000 black rhinoceros in 1960s, its population, which continues to plummet, was around 5,000 as of 2013, as the black-market price for its horns ($45,000/piece). The horn is mostly used for traditional medicine although there are no health benefits from the horn.
- The white rhinoceros or square-lipped rhinoceros is the largest and most numerous species of rhinoceros that exists; the southern white rhinoceros, with an estimated 20,400 wild-living animals at the end of 2013, and the much rarer
northern white rhinoceros.
- Adult bulls may weigh between 500 and 1,000 kilograms (1,100 and 2,200 lb). The world record for the heaviest bull was 1,740 kg (3,840 lb), a Chianina named Donetto, when he was exhibited at the Arezzo show in 1955.
- The female counterpart to a bull is a cow, while a male of the species which has been castrated is a steer/ox or bullock, or a young bull (in North America),
or a draught animal (in Australia).
- The Chianina , which is an Italian breed of cattle/cow is the largest and one of the oldest cattle breeds in the world.
- As of 2014, the record for the tallest oxen/cow is Fiorino, an Italian Chianina ox who measured 6 ft 8 in to the withers, Bellino, a Chianina ox measured 2.027 m (6 ft 7 in), and Chilli, a black and white Friesian bullock with 6ft 6ins tall.
- African elephants, the largest land animals on Earth, eat roots, grasses, fruit, and bark, and they can consume up to 300 pounds (136 kilograms) of food in a single day.
- Elephants have a long pregnancy, almost 22 months, and long lifespan, reaching 60–70 years of age.
- There were about 10 million African elephants in 1900, its population, which continues to plummet, was around 1.3 million, 0.6 million and 0.47 million as of 1979, 1989 and 2007, respectively, as
black-market prices for its tusks ($20,800/piece). Tusks are used by humans to produce ivory, which is used in artifacts and
jewelry, and formerly in other items such as piano keys.
- The ivory trade has been severely restricted by the United Nations Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora.
- The total population of Asian elephants is around 40,000–50,000.
- Cows usually give birth to one calf every two to four years; there were 1.3 billion cows in the world as of 2003.
- Python can be human's best friend
- A pair of pigeons or doves can produce up to 6 broods a year. Generally, the female lays one or two eggs. The nest is never left unattended; the male sits on the nest from mid-morning until late afternoon, then the female takes over for the night. Both care for the young, which leave the nest after 7 to 28 days.
- Longest recorded life span for Koi fish: 226 years, radiated tortoise: 256 years, Galapagos tortoise: 175 years, bowhead whale: 200 years, Patagonian tooth fish: 50 years, geoduck: 160 years, Macaw bird: 109 years, pigeon: 35 years, lion: 30 years, elephant: 69 years, mouse: 4 years, and fruit fly: 153 days.
- Armadillos always give birth to four identical pups at a time.
- Worker honey bees are all females and never slept.
- Queen bees lay 1500 eggs a day.
- Urban birds have developed a short, fast "rap style" of singing, different from their rural counterparts.
- Camel's milk, which is widely drunk in Arab countries, has 10 times more iron than cow's milk.
- Cats are the most popular pets in the world; there are over 600 million cats in homes worldwide.
- When cats are happy, they squeeze their eyes shut.
- The oldest cat ever was Creme Puff, who was born on August 3, 1967 and lived until August 6, 2005, 38 years and 3 days in total.
- The catfish has over 27,000 taste buds.
- The African cicada fly sleeps 17 years, wakes up, mates and then dies after 2 weeks.
- A cockroach can live up to 9 days without its head.
- Dalmatians are born spotless: at first pure white, their spots develop as they age.
- The world's tallest dog was Gibson, who stood at a height of 42.2 inches (107 cm) tall and weighed at 180 lbs (82 kg).
- The world's oldest dog was an Australian cattle-dog named Bluey; it lived to the human age of 29 years and 5 months!
- The world's biggest dog is Hercules, an English Mastiff with a 38 inch neck and weighs 282 lbs..
- The dog was one of the first animals domesticated by humans more than 10,000 years.
- There are approximately 68,000,000 dogs (and 73,000,000 cats) owned or treated as pets by American people.
- Dolphins don't automatically breath; they have to tell themselves to do it.
- Dolphins have sex for reasons other than reproduction, sometimes also engage in homosexual behavior for pleasure.
- Earthworms have five hearts and no lung.
- The ferrets were domesticated by humans more than 500 years; they were trained as hunters, catching rabbits and other small
rodents.
- Koalas have fingerprints that are similar (in pattern, shape and size) those of humans.
- The flea can jump 350 times its body length, which is equivalent to a human jumping the length of a football field.
- Goldfish will turn white if it is left in a dark room for a long time.
- The world’s most tallest living horses are Radar, a Belgian draught horse measured 6ft 7.5ins tall and weighs 2,400lb, and
Big Jake, who stands an official 6ft 10.75ins tall and weighs 2,600 lbs.
- A lion's roar can be heard from five miles (26,400 ft) away.
- A lion can mate 20 to 40 times a day.
- Bonobo monkeys (pygmy chimpanzee) are the only non-human animal to have been observed engaging in all of the human sexual activities: face-to-face genital sex, tongue kissing, and oral sex.
- Starfish have complex nervous systems, but lack a true centralized brain.
- Snails can sleep for 3 years without eating. They can live up to 5 to 10 years. Some have been known to live up to 15 years.
- The snake can see through its transparent eye lids when they are closed.
- About 5 million snake bites occur each year, resulting in up to 2.5 million envenoming (poisoning from snake bites), at least 100,000 deaths and around three times as many amputations and other permanent disabilities.
- Not only the fur of the tiger is striped out, but also its skin.
- United States turkey growers produced an estimated 271 million turkeys in 2008.
- The blue whale is the loudest animal on
the Earth; at 188 decibels, the noise can be detected over 800 kilometers away.
- The Philadelphia zoo, which is the first zoo in the U.S., opened its gates on July 1, 1874.
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