Giraffe

The giraffe's chief distinguishing characteristics are its extremely long neck and legs, its horn-like ossicones, and its distinctive coat patterns. It is classified under the family Giraffidae, along with its closest extant relative, the okapi. Its scattered range extends from Chad in the north to South Africa in the south, and from Niger in the west to Somalia in the east. Giraffes usually inhabit savannahs and woodlands. Their food source is leaves, fruits and flowers of woody plants, primarily acacia species, which they browse at heights most other herbivores cannot reach. They may be preyed on by lions, leopards, spotted hyenas and African wild dogs. Giraffes live in herds of related females and their offspring, or bachelor herds of unrelated adult males, but are gregarious and may gather in large aggregations. Males establish social hierarchies through "necking", which are combat bouts where the neck is used as a weapon. Dominant males gain mating access to females, which bear the sole responsibility for raising the young. The giraffe has intrigued various cultures, both ancient and modern, for its peculiar appearance, and has often been featured in paintings, books, and cartoons. It is classified by the International Union for Conservation of Nature as Vulnerable to extinction, and has been extirpated from many parts of its former range. Giraffes are still found in numerous national parks and game reserves but estimations as of 2016 indicate that there are approximately 97,500 members of Giraffa in the wild. More than 1,600 were kept in zoos in 2010.

Penguin

The largest living species is the emperor penguin: on average, adults are about 3 ft 7 in ((1.1 m)) tall and weigh 77 lb ((35 kg)). The smallest penguin species is the little blue penguin, also known as the fairy penguin, which stands around 16 in ((40 cm)) tall and weighs 2.2 lb ((1 kg)). Among extant penguins, larger penguins inhabit colder regions, while smaller penguins are generally found in temperate climate. Some prehistoric species attained enormous sizes, becoming as tall or as heavy as an adult human. These were not restricted to Antarctic regions. The fastest species is the Gentoo Penguin, which can reach swimming speeds up to 22 mph. Unlike most birds—which lose and replace a few feathers at a time—penguins molt all at once, spending two or three weeks land-bound as they undergo what is called the catastrophic molt. All but two species of penguins breed in large colonies of up to one thousand birds. If a female Emperor Penguin's baby dies, she will often "kidnap" an unrelated chick.

Raccoon

These nocturnal foragers use lightning-quick paws to grab crayfish, frogs, and other aquatic creatures. On land, they pluck mice and insects from their hiding places Raccoons also eat fruit and plants—including those grown in human gardens and farms. These ring-tailed animals are equally opportunistic when it comes to choosing a denning site. They may inhabit a tree hole, fallen log, or a house's attic. Females have one to seven cubs in early summer. The young raccoons often spend the first two months or so of their lives high in a tree hole. Later, mother and children move to the ground when the cubs begin to explore on their own. While most animals use either sight, sound, or smell to hunt, raccoons rely on their sense of touch to locate goodies. Their front paws are incredibly dexterous and contain roughly four times more sensory receptors than their back paws—about the same ratio of human hands to feet. This allows them to differentiate between objects without seeing them, which is crucial when feeding at night. Raccoons can heighten their sense of touch through something called dousing. To humans, this can look like the animals are washing their food, but what they're really doing is wetting their paws to stimulate the nerve endings. Like light to a human's eyes, water on a raccoon's hands gives it more sensory information to work with, allowing it to feel more than it would otherwise.

Komodo dragon

The Komodo dragon is the largest living lizard in the world. These wild dragons typically weigh about 154 pounds ((70 kilograms)), but the largest verified specimen reached a length of 10.3 feet ((3.13 meters)) and weighed 366 pounds ((166 kilograms)). Males tend to grow larger and bulkier than females. The Komodo's bite may be deadly, but not to another Komodo dragon. Those wounded while sparring with each other appear to be unaffected by the bacteria and venom. Scientists are searching for antibodies in Komodo dragon blood that may be responsible. Komodo dragons are efficient eaters, leaving behind only about 12 percent of their prey. As the dominant predators on the handful of islands they inhabit, they will eat almost anything, including carrion, deer, pigs, smaller dragons, and even large water buffalo and humans. When hunting, Komodo dragons rely on camouflage and patience, lying in wait for passing prey. When a victim ambles by, the dragon springs, using its powerful legs, sharp claws and serrated, shark-like teeth to eviscerate its prey. The dragon has venom glands, which are loaded with toxins that lower blood pressure, cause massive bleeding, prevent clotting, and induce shock. They bite down with serrated teeth and pull back with powerful neck muscles. The result: huge gaping wounds. The venom then quickens the loss of blood and sends the prey into shock. Animals that escape the jaws of a Komodo will only feel lucky briefly. Dragons can calmly follow an escapee for miles as the venom takes effect, using their keen sense of smell to hone in on the corpse. A dragon can eat a whopping 80 percent of its body weight in a single feeding. Komodo dragons live about 30 years in the wild. 

Lovebird

Social and affectionate, the name comes from the parrots' strong, monogamous ((form of relationship in which an idndividual has only one partner during their lifetime)) pair bonding and long periods which paired birds spend sitting together. Lovebirds live in small flocks and eat fruit, vegetables, grasses and seeds. They are 5 to 7 inches ((13 to 17 cm)) in lenght, up to 9 inches ((24 cm)) in wingspan with 4 inches ((9 cm)) for a single wing and 1.5 to 2 oz ((40 to 60 g)) in weight. They are among the smallest parrots, characterized by a stocky build, a short blunt tail, and a relatively large, sharp beak. Wildtype lovebirds are mostly green with a variety of colours on their upper body, depending on the species. Most lovebird species are native to the continent of Africa; the exception is the Madagascar ((grey-headed)) lovebird, which is native to the island of Madagascar. If a mate dies or gets separated from the flock, its companion exhibits erratic behavior that some have likened to depression. Birds kept as pets often don't like being alone and will exhibit similar behavior in captivity. Although they are a type of parrot, and they do have the ability to mimic human speech, Lovebirds are not among those species that most would consider talking birds. This is because they very rarely decide to speak, and if they do choose to mimic a sound, more often than not they repeat simple noises such as whistles or household sounds such as doorbells and microwaves. It is not known why some Lovebirds are more prone to mimicking speech than others, but it is widely believed that those who do learn to talk are taught from a very young age.

some cool moths

Army green moth feeds on nectar of a great variety of flowers. They have a preference for fragrant species like petunia, jasmine and honeysuckle. They are especially active in the twillight tume, hovering over the flowers after sunset. This moth lives in Africa, Asia and certain Hawaiian Island. It is a migratory species, flying to parts of estern and southern Europe during the summer, particularly Turkey.

Io moth with eye-like spots on its lower wings, this species can appear like an animal much larger than it really is, helping to ward off predators. Io ((Eye-oh)) can be found from the southeast corner of Manitoba and in the southern extremes of Ontario, Quebec, and New Brunswick in Canada, and in the US it is found from Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Colorado, New Mexico, Texas, Utah, east of those states and down to the southern end of Florida.

Rosy maple moth is the smallest of the silk moths. Males have a wingspan of 1.25 - 1.75 in ((3.2 to 4.4 cm)), females of 1.5 - 2 in ((3.8 to 5 cm)). The species can be identified by their unique, but varying, pink and yellow coloration. They have reddish-to-pink legs and antennae, yellow bodies and hindwings, and pink forewings with a triangular yellow band across the middle. These colorful North American moths feed on maples, including red, silver and sugar maple.

Dysphania militaris moth is easy to mistake for butterflies, this moth species is found in southeast Asia and is also called the false tiger moth. Its wingspan is about 3.1 - 3.8 in ((8 - 9.6 cm))

most beautiful butterflies

Glasswinged butterfly is most commonly found from Central to South America as far south as Chile with appearances as north as Mexico and Texas. This butterfly thrives in the tropical conditions of the rainforests in the Central and South American countries. The adult glasswing butterfly can be identified by its transparent wings with opaque, dark brown borders tinted with red or orange. Their bodies are a dark brown color. The butterflies are about 1.1 - 1.2 in. ((2.8 - 3 cm)) in lenght and have a wingspan of 2.2 to 2.4 in ((5.6 to 6.1 cm))

The blue emperor typically has a wingspan of about 5.5 in ((14 cm)). This butterfly inhabits a portion of north-eastern Australia and is also found in New Guinea, the Moluccas, Bismarck Archipelago and north-western Solomon Islands.

Goliath birdwing has a wingspan up to 11 inches ((28 cm)). This makes it the world's second largest butterfly, The African giant swallowtail reaches an almost equal wingspan.

Emarald swallowtail has a wingspan reaching about 3.1 - 3.9 in ((8 - 10 cm)). The dorsal sides of the wings are covered by a powder of green scales and the background vary from dark greenish to black, with broad bright emerald green metallic bands. The undersides are black with orange, white and blue spots along the edges of hindwings, that show extended tails at the end. The flight of these butterflies is swift and quite fast.

Apollo butterfly has a wingspan of 3.4 - 2.4 in ((6.2 - 8.6 cm)) in males, of 2.6 - 3.7 in ((6.5 - 9.5 cm)). This butterfly shows a great deal of individual variation in the appearance, with an evident colour polymorphism. conspicuous white butterflies are decorated with five large black eyespots on the forewing and two bright red or sometimes orange eyespots on the hindwing. These striking red eyespots can vary in size and form depending on the location of the Apollo butterfly, and the bright red colour often fades in the sun, causing the eyespots of older individuals to appear more orange. The wings are shiny, with slightly transparent edges, and some individuals are darker. The caterpillars of this species are velvety black with orange-red spots along the sides.

Cute litte mammals

1. 

Lesser mouse-deer is found widely across Southeast Asia, Burma, Brunei, Cambodia, China, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. It is the smallest known hoofed mammal, its mature size being as little as 18 inches ((45 cm)) and 4.4 lb ((2 kg)). It is threatened by predation by feral dogs.

2. 

Pallas cat is a small wild cat with a broad but fragmented distribution in the grasslands and montane steppes of Central Asia. Its body is 18 to 26 inches ((46 to 65 cm)) long and its tail 8.3 to 12.2 inches ((21 to 31 cm)). It weights 5.5 to 10 lb ((2.5 to 4.5 kg)). The combination of its stocky posture and long, dense fur makes it appear stout and plush. Its fur is ochre with dark vertical bars on the torso and forelegs. The winter coat is greyer and less patterned than the summer coat. Pallas's cats are solitary. Both males and females scent mark their territory. They spend the day in caves, rock crevices, or marmot burrows, and emerge in the late afternoon to begin hunting. They are not fast runners, and hunt primarily by ambush or stalking, using low vegetation and rocky terrain for cover. 

3. 

The stoat does not dig its own burrows, instead using the burrows and nest chambers of the rodents it kills. The skins and underfur of rodent prey are used to line the nest chamber. The nest chamber is sometimes located in seemingly unsuitable places, such as among logs piled against the walls of houses. The stoat also inhabits old and rotting stumps, under tree roots, in heaps of brushwood, haystacks, in bog hummocks, in the cracks of vacant mud buildings, in rock piles, rock clefts, and even in magpie nests. Males and females typically live apart, but close to each other. They can be found in North America, Europe, and Asia, from Greenland and the Canadian and Siberian Arctic islands south to about 35°N. Stoats in North America are found throughout Alaska and Canada south through most of the northern United States to central California, northern Arizona, northern New Mexico, Iowa, the Great Lakes region, New England, and Pennsylvania, but are absent from most of the Great Plains, and the Southeastern United States. The stoat in Europe is found as far south as 41ºN in Portugal, and inhabits most islands with the exception of Iceland, Svalbard, the Mediterranean islands and some small North Atlantic islands. In Japan, it is present in central mountains ((northern and central Japan Alps)) to northern part of Honshu and Hokkaido. Its vertical range is from sea level to 3,000 m.

More cool water animals

1. 

Nudibranchs occur in seas worldwide, ranging from the Arctic, through temperate and tropical regions, to the Southern Ocean around Antarctica. They are almost entirely restricted to salt water. Nudibranchs live at virtually all depths, from the intertidal zone to depths well over 2.300 ft ((700m)). The greatest diversity of nudibranchs is seen in warm, shallow reefs, although a new nudibranch species was discovered at a depth near 8.200 ft ((2,500m)). Some nudibranchs are poisonous while others pretend to be poisonous, which is evident by their vibrant colors. They feed on stinging cells of hydrozoids and store them in the rear of their body for protection. They can also ingest toxins from sponges and become toxic and inedible. Some nudibranchs produce their own chemicals. 

2. 

Feather stars are unstalked crinoids that live in both shallow water and the depths of the ocean. Researchers have recorded feather stars moving at up to 5 centimeters per second. Although this might not seem like an incredible speed, it is essential for their health and survivability. Their speed primarily depends on gender, native tendencies, and vicinity of predators. They consume small food particles floating around the ocean. With feather arms and tubular feet, they are able to trap any edibles using a sticky mucus that feeds into the mouth. 

3. 

Carolina anole adult males are usually 4.9-8 in ((12,5-20,3 cm)) long, with about 60-70% of which is made up of its tail, with a body length up to 3 in ((7,5 cm)). Colour varies from brown to green and can be changed like many other kinds of lizards. Male anoles are strongly territorial creatures. Some have even been witnessed fighting their own reflections in mirrored glass. The male will fight other males to defend his territory. On sighting another male, the anole will compress his body, extend the dewlap, inflate a dorsal ridge, bob his head and attempt to chase the rival away. If the rival male continues to approach, anoles will fight by biting and scratching each other. Serious injury is rare, but males often carry numerous scars on their head and face, especially during the mating season. Their territory, which is about 1 m³, usually includes two to three females.

Cool water animals

1. 

Adult axolotl at age 18-24 months ranges in length from 6 to 18 inches ((15 to 45 cm)), although a size close to 9 in ((23 cm)) is most common and greater that 12 in ((30 cm)) is rare. They can regenerate lost body parts. Tail, fragments of the bronchi or legs o young ones grows back completley.

2. 

Cuttlefish have large, W-shaped pupils, eight arms and two tentacles, with which they secure their prey. They generally range in size from 6 to 10 inches ((15 to 25 cm)), with the largest species reaching 20 inches ((50 cm)). They eat small molluscs, crabs, shrimp, fish, octopus, worms, and other cuttlefish. Their predators include dolphins, sharks, fish, seals, seabirds, and other cuttlefish. The life expectancy is about 1-2 years. They change color, pattern and the shape of the skin to communicate to other cuttlefish, to camouflage and to warn off potential predators.

3. 

Frogfish can be found in tropical and subtropical regions of the Atlantic and Pacific, as well as in the Indian Ocean and the Red Sea. Many species can change color, some are covered with other organisms such as algae or hydrozoa. In keeping with this camouflage, frogfish typically move slowly, lying in wait for they prey, and then striking extremely rapidly, in as little as 6 milliseconds. They have a stocky appearance, atypical of fish. Ranging from 1 to 15 inches ((2,5-38cm)) long. They are often brightly colored. White, yellow, red, green, black or spotted in several colors to blend in with their coral surroundings.

Beautiful Jellyfish

1. 

Portuguese man o' war can be found in the Atlantic, Indian and Pacific Oceans. It can kill fish or, rarely, humans with its venom. Despite its appearance, it's not a true jellyfish, because it's not a single multicellular organism. Man o' War floats on the surface of the water, leaving its tendrils to sweep the depths below for plankton and fish.  It is translucent, and is tinged blue, purple, pink, or mauve; may be 3.5 to 11.8 inches ((9 to 30 cm)) long and may extend as much as 5.9 inches ((15cm)) above the water. Tentacles are typically 33 ft ((10m)) in length, but can reach over 98 ft ((30m)).

2. 

Crown jellyfish is one of the most venomous jellyfish species even they are 95-99% water based. They are mostly blue and purple coloured and like cold water. They usually stay down where it's cold in the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans. 

They are able to make light through bioluminescence. Their bells light up, when they are touched. Otherwise, the bell with maximum size 19-23 inches ((50-60cm)) will look transparent.

3. 

Lion's mane jellyfish is the largest known species of jellyfish. Its range is confident to cold, boreal waters od Arctic, northern Atlantic and northern Pacific Oceans. The largest recorded specimen had a bell with a diameter od 7ft 6in ((2,3m)) and tentacles 120 ft ((37m)) long.Large individuals are often red or purple, while smaller specimens tend to be shades of tannish-orange.

4. 

Halitrephes maasi was found 4,019 ft  ((1225m)) below sea level. It reflects light with bright splashes of yellow and pink. Without light it drifts unseen in the dark.

Satanic Gecko + Rainbow Snake

This mystical species is very rare in the wild and reportedly remaining within only three protected areas of Madagascar. The satanic leaf-tailed gecko is unique in appearance and makes for a sought-after animal in the pet trade. They grow up to 6 inches ((15 cm)) including tail. They usually live in small shrubs, it's very rare to see this guys higher than 1 meter. When they sleep, they're hanging on their feets from branchs. Satanic leaf-tailed geckos are capable of living longer than 10 years.

Second animal I want to tell you about is Brazilian rainbow boa. Brazilian rainbows are a popular subspecies because of their outstanding appearance. Males reach sizes of  66 to 72 inches ((1,68 to 1,83 meters)) long. Large females can grow to 72 to 84 inches ((1,83 to 2,13 meters)) and weigh up to 9 pounds. These boas are readily available at exotic pet stores, or local reptile shows with several morphs available. When they are younger they are more prone to bite due to natural defense instincts, but as they become more used to handling tend to calm down. Like other species, the young Brazilian rainbow boas are probably preyed upon by birds of prey, small mammals or other reptiles. Their lifespan in the wild is estimated to be around 10 years, but in captivity, the species may live up to 30 years.

See you next time!