Mammals Most of us know that mammals are vertebrate animals and could probably name several hundred. However, did you know there are some 6,400 extant species in the world, which are divided into 29 different orders. All mammals belong to the taxonomy class ‘Mammalia’ and small groups have adapted for life at sea, in the…
To earn the accolade of greatness in any field is obviously a subjective matter. Shakespeare’s take on the subject was “Some are born great, some achieve greatness, and some have greatness thrust upon them.” How about great racehorses? In no particular order, here’s a brief narrative on what can be considered five of the greatest…
Owls of the World Did you know there are well over 200 species of owl in the world? They can be found on every continent, except Antarctica. In many cultures, the owl has long been considered a symbol of wisdom and truth, as well as a signifiers of great change. In Native American culture, the…
In 2023, according to the ‘Reptile Database’ there are almost 12,000 extant species of reptile in the world. All living reptiles are grouped into one of four Orders, which are: turtles (includes tortoises and terrapins), crocodilians, squamates (lizards and snakes), and rhynchocephalians (tuatara). The latter Order contains a single species of reptile, i.e. the tuatara,…
The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) is the global authority on the status of the natural world and the measures needed for its safeguard. Its “Red List” is an easily and widely understood system that identifies wildlife whose status on the planet is of some concern. A species is listed as “critically endangered”…
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