Find animal profiles, comparisons, pet care guides, dinosaurs, FAQs, and tools.
The colossal squid and giant squid are different deep-sea animals. The giant squid is usually longer because of its extremely long feeding tentacles, while the colossal squid is heavier, bulkier, and more muscular. Giant squid belong to the genus Architeuthis, while the colossal squid is Mesonychote
Tundra animals are wildlife species adapted to cold, windy, treeless environments where winters are long, summers are short, and food can be scarce. Famous tundra animals include Arctic foxes, polar bears, caribou, musk oxen, snowy owls, lemmings, Arctic hares, ptarmigan, wolves, and migratory birds
Yes, insects are animals. Insects belong to the animal kingdom, Animalia, because they are multicellular living organisms that eat organic matter, move during at least part of their life cycle, develop from embryos, and have specialized body systems. More specifically, insects are invertebrate anima
A groundhog is a type of marmot, but not all marmots are groundhogs. “Marmot” refers to a group of large ground squirrels in the genus Marmota. The groundhog, also called the woodchuck, is one species: Marmota monax. Groundhogs usually live in lowlands, fields, forest edges, and suburban areas, wh
Dungeness crab and snow crab are different crab types with different shapes, habitats, and meat qualities. Dungeness crab is a broad-bodied Pacific coast crab with a large edible body, sweet briny flavor, and firm meat. Snow crab is a cold-water crab with long slender legs, smaller body, and delicat
A rooster is a chicken, but not every chicken is a rooster. “Chicken” is the general name for the domesticated bird species Gallus gallus domesticus. A rooster is an adult male chicken. A hen is an adult female chicken. Roosters usually have larger combs, longer tail feathers, pointed neck feather
Calico and tortie cats are not different breeds; they are different coat color patterns. A calico cat has three colors with clear white areas, usually white, orange, and black. A tortie, or tortoiseshell cat, has orange and black colors blended or mottled together with little to no white. The fastes
Stingrays and manta rays are both flat-bodied cartilaginous fish, but they are very different animals. Stingrays are usually bottom-dwelling rays with a whip-like tail that may carry a venomous spine. Manta rays are giant, open-water filter feeders with wide wing-like fins, horn-shaped cephalic fins
A fry is a baby fish. Learn what “fry” means, why young fish are called fry, and the differences between fry, larvae, alevins and fingerlings.
Animals leaving Yellowstone is usually normal seasonal movement, not a sign of a volcanic eruption. Yellowstone is not a fenced zoo; it is part of the larger Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem. Bison, elk, pronghorn, wolves, bears, and other animals may move across park boundaries for food, snow conditio
The “hot dog thing” in an animal cell is usually the mitochondrion. If there is more than one, they are called mitochondria. Mitochondria are bean-shaped or sausage-shaped organelles that help turn food molecules and oxygen into usable energy for the cell. They are often called the “powerhouses o
Fruit flies and gnats are both tiny indoor flies, but they usually come from different sources. Fruit flies are small tan flies that gather around ripe fruit, fermenting liquids, trash, drains, and sugary residue. Gnats are a broader group of tiny flies; indoors, they are often fungus gnats that liv
Squirrel poop and rat poop can look similar, but there are useful clues. Squirrel droppings are usually oval, rounded, slightly thicker, and often found in attics, near nests, or under entry points. Rat droppings are usually darker, more elongated, and may be pointed or capsule-shaped, often scatter
Gnats and fruit flies are both tiny flying insects, but they are not the same thing. “Gnat” is a broad informal name for several small flies, often fungus gnats found around damp houseplant soil. Fruit flies are usually Drosophila flies attracted to ripe, rotting, or fermenting fruit. If tiny flie
Sockeye salmon and Atlantic salmon are different salmon species from different branches of the salmon family. Sockeye salmon are Pacific salmon known for deep red flesh, strong flavor, and dramatic red spawning color. Atlantic salmon are native to the North Atlantic, often larger, milder in flavor,
A black panther is not a separate species, while a jaguar is a real big cat species. In the Americas, a “black panther” usually means a melanistic jaguar: a jaguar with extra dark pigment. In Africa or Asia, a black panther usually means a melanistic leopard. So a black panther can be a jaguar, bu
Ostriches and emus are both large flightless birds, but they are not the same animal. Ostriches are native to Africa, grow much taller and heavier, have two toes on each foot, and can run faster. Emus are native to Australia, are smaller, have three toes, shaggy brown feathers, and lay dark green eg
A liger and a tigon are both lion-tiger hybrids, but they are not the same animal. A liger has a male lion father and a female tiger mother, while a tigon has a male tiger father and a female lion mother. Ligers usually grow much larger than both parent species, while tigons are usually closer to li