Animal Facts Archives

Are Birds Mammals? Find Out In Our Definitive Guide!

Birds are not mammals; birds belong to the class Aves and are more closely related to reptiles than to mammals. Mammals belong to the class Mammalia. Birds are the only living animals to have feathers, whereas mammals are the only animals to have hair.

All living birds are directly descended from dinosaurs; a bird is far more closely related to an alligator than it is to a bat or any other mammal!

Although both birds and mammals do share a common ancestor, the ancestors of birds split from the ancestors of mammals over three hundred million years ago.

With such a vast amount of time (and evolution) separating birds and mammals, the answer to the question “Is a bird a mammal?” is definitely “no!”.

To fully understand why a bird is not a mammal, we need to take a closer look at both groups of animals…

The sand cat, Felis margarita, is the only wild cat that lives primarily in desert habitats. It is found in arid regions with sparse vegetation in North Africa, the Middle East and parts of Central Asia. Slightly smaller than a domestic cat, the sand cat has several adaptations for living in the desert, including furry paws, large ears and a thick, sand-colored coat.

Sand cats are opportunistic feeders and hunt a variety of prey animals, including venomous vipers.

Read on for the complete lowdown on this remarkable felid…

On this page we look at the shark life cycle and shark reproduction…

Water buffalo facts, pictures and in-depth information. Discover one of the world’s most important domesticated animals and its wild ancestor, the wild water buffalo.

Great horned owl facts, pictures and in-depth information: discover one of the largest, and most widespread, owls of the Americas…

Human evolution timeline chart, with details on each of the major stages of human evolution.

On this page you’ll discover how modern humans evolved from the very first primates – animals that shared Earth with the dinosaurs over 80 million years ago.

The groundhog – also known as a woodchuck – is a burrowing rodent in the squirrel family Sciuridae. It is found in grasslands and forests of the USA and Canada, and is unusual among marmots for living in lowland areas.

A groundhog named Punxsutawney Phil is central to the traditional Groundhog Day celebrations held each year on the 2^nd of February in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania.

It’s said that if Phil emerges from his burrow and is able to see his shadow, then there will be six more weeks of winter. If Phil cannot see his shadow, then spring will arrive early!

Sadly, this year (2021) Phil did see his shadow!

On this page you’ll find groundhog facts, pictures and in-depth information on the species…

The annual blue wildebeest migration in East Africa is the world’s largest land migration, and one of the most famous of all natural spectacles.

During their annual circular migration, huge herds of over a million blue wildebeest travel a distance of around 1,000 miles (1,600 km) in search of fresh grazing and water.

Challenges faced by the blue wildebeest during the journey include crossing crocodile-infested rivers and the continuous threat of predation by animals such as lions, hyenas and cheetahs.

For many people, a dog is part of the family – a companion and protector, always ready to play a game, or to keep its owners safe at night.

Dogs play an important role in the lives of many humans, not only as pets, but also as working dogs, helping to solve crimes, acting as our eyes if we can’t see, or rounding up sheep on a farm.

Dogs are known as “man’s best friend” and there’s a good reason for this; dogs improve our lives in many different ways!

On this page we’ll discover some amazing facts about dogs for kids (and adults!)

The elk is the second-largest species of deer in the world (only the moose is larger). It is found in forest, shrubland and grassland habitats in North America and eastern Asia. Bull elk are characterized by their impressive, branched antlers and loud “bugling” cries, which can be heard during the fall mating season.

Elk are thought to have evolved about 20 million years ago in the steppe regions of Beringia, a mass of land that once stretched between Siberia in northeastern Asia and Alaska in northwestern North America.

Today, the total elk population numbers around two million individuals, and is thought to be increasing. The species’ conservation rating is “Least Concern”.

Read on for more elk facts…

Are Whales Mammals?

Yes, whales are mammals whose bodies have evolved for an aquatic existence. Despite having flippers and a tail rather than arms and legs, whales possess all of the characteristics of mammals, and are related to land mammals such as hippos.

In order to prove this, we need to take a deeper dive into what makes a mammal a mammal, and how the land-living ancestors of whales eventually evolved into fully-aquatic animals…