Key Points: There is only one species of jaguar, though scientists originally classified them into 9 subspecies. There are four specific regional types of jaguars with geographic differences only. Jaguars… Read More
By Abby Parks 1 month ago
Abby Parks has authored a fiction novel, theatrical plays, short stories, poems, and song lyrics. She's recorded two albums of her original songs, and is a multi-instrumentalist. She has managed a website for folk music and written articles on singer-songwriters, folk bands, and other things music-oriented. She's also a radio DJ for a folk music show.
As well as having been a pet parent to rabbits, birds, dogs, and cats, Abby loves seeking sightings of animals in the wild and has witnessed some more exotic ones such as Puffins in the Farne Islands, Southern Pudu on the island of Chiloe (Chile), Penguins in the wild, and countless wild animals in the Rocky Mountains (Big Horn Sheep, Mountain Goats, Moose, Elk, Marmots, Beavers).
Key Points: There is only one species of jaguar, though scientists originally classified them into 9 subspecies. There are four specific regional types of jaguars with geographic differences only. Jaguars… Read More
By Abby Parks 1 month ago
The ostrich looks like an unusual chimera cooked up in a lab. When writing about it, the Greek philosopher Aristotle did not know whether to classify it as a bird… Read More
By Abby Parks 2 months ago
The bald eagle is a large bird of prey native to North America. It is known for its distinctive white head and tail feathers and serves as the national bird… Read More
By Abby Parks 2 months ago
Their complex and unique behaviors have made the humpback whale a favorite among whale watchers worldwide. Once on the brink of extinction, the humpback whale has almost completely recovered. It… Read More
By Abby Parks 2 months ago
The Northern Cardinal is a mid-sized songbird, easily recognized by its vibrant cardinal-red plumage, especially in males. Native to North and South America, the Northern Cardinal is also known by… Read More
By Abby Parks 2 months ago
One of the oldest animals on earth, horseshoe crabs have been roaming the ocean for hundreds of millions of years. They adapted to continents forming and reforming and survived the… Read More
By Abby Parks 2 months ago
Barn owls are stealthy nocturnal hunters with keen hearing and the ability to fly silently. Barn owls are a globally widespread bird species known for their ghostly white faces, haunting… Read More
By Abby Parks 3 months ago
The roadrunner is a large ground bird in the cuckoo family and is known for its remarkable running speed and adaptability to desert environments. These iconic birds are native to… Read More
By Abby Parks 3 months ago
Leopard sharks are medium-sized fish that live in the Pacific Ocean. They are harmless to humans and popular in aquariums due to their interesting patterns. Leopard sharks can live up… Read More
By Abby Parks 3 months ago
Longfin mako sharks are a type of predatory shark that researchers often mistake for their better-known close relative, the shortfin mako shark. Because of this, there is far less documentation… Read More
By Abby Parks 3 months ago
"The blue whale is the largest and loudest animal on Earth." The blue whale is the largest animal on Earth and likely the largest animal ever to have lived. While… Read More
By Abby Parks 3 months ago
"The emperor penguin is the largest penguin species on Earth." The emperor penguin is the largest species of penguin in the world and also one of the most unique. Instead… Read More
By Abby Parks 3 months ago
“The kookaburra is the world's largest kingfisher.” Laughing Kookaburra in flight. The kookaburra, often called the laughing kookaburra, is a large subgroup of the kingfisher bird. It is diurnal, meaning… Read More
By Abby Parks 3 months ago
The willow warbler is a small, migratory songbird known for its sweet sound. You can see it in parks, gardens, and woodland areas all over Europe and Scandinavia. This bird… Read More
By Abby Parks 3 months ago
"The heaviest great hammerhead shark ever recorded weighed a whopping 1280 pounds." Great Hammerhead Shark Facts The longest great hammerhead shark measured at 20 feet, and the heaviest weighed a… Read More
By Abby Parks 3 months ago
Humans are believed to have domesticated sheep about 7,000 years ago and cattle 10,500 years ago. Scientists believe that dogs were domesticated as early as 32,100 years ago Somewhere down… Read More
By Abby Parks 5 months ago
The chameleon may be the world's most recognizable color-changing animal, but that doesn't mean that it's the only creature of its type on the planet. There are more than 20… Read More
By Abby Parks 5 months ago
According to the Guinness Book of World Records, the smallest dog in the world living is a Chihuahua from Puerto Rico named Milly, who stands 3.8 inches tall at her… Read More
By Abby Parks 6 months ago
An emotional support animal is an animal that provides comfort and support to help people deal with life challenges. It is not a working or service dog but a pet,… Read More
By Abby Parks 6 months ago
Humans didn't discover the presence of infrared light until well into the 1800s, and it's taken us significantly longer to begin to crack what this portion of the visible light… Read More
By Abby Parks 6 months ago
Red cats are some of the most vibrant and distinctive in the world — but the distinction between red cat breeds and orange cat breeds (or even yellow cat breeds)… Read More
By Abby Parks 6 months ago
Bird attacks on humans are usually an action intended to protect territory or the young. It's rarely pure aggressive. It's not uncommon for a bird to attack because it mistakes… Read More
By Abby Parks 6 months ago
At first glance, mice and rats look very similar. They both have a face with tiny dark eyes and twitching whiskers. But, there are a lot of differences between these… Read More
By Abby Parks 7 months ago
Cottonmouth snakes, also known as water moccasins, are highly venomous. Their venom can kill a human, so it’s understandable that so many people fear them — and frequently confuse harmless… Read More
By Abby Parks 7 months ago
The tufted titmouse is a relatively small songbird native to North America. It is a species of the chickadee family and related to other titmice. Thanks to DNA research, this… Read More
By Abby Parks 7 months ago
The order Crocodilia has been has been around for over 95 million years, and all share similar behaviors and characteristics. Today it includes crocodiles, alligators, caimans, and gharials. They live… Read More
By Abby Parks 7 months ago
Search and rescue dogs are the heroes of the canine world. Sometimes called SAR for “search and rescue,” these brave, loyal dogs work with law enforcement, first responders, and rescue… Read More
By Abby Parks 7 months ago
The bald eagle is a symbol of American pride. Here we will take a look at the bald eagle population by state. Meet the Bald Eagle The American bald eagle… Read More
By Abby Parks 7 months ago
Donkey, burro, ass, jack, jenny, jennet - there are so many different terminologies associated with this sturdy pack animal. You may be wondering, "Was that donkey I saw or rode… Read More
By Abby Parks 7 months ago
Prehistoric waters held all kinds of fascinating creatures, including ancient sharks. These sharks typically lived for millions of years, but changes in habitat, lack of prey, and other evolutionary factors… Read More
By Abby Parks 8 months ago
The Russell terrier (also known as an English Russell terrier in some parts of the world) is a small, alert, and lively dog that was originally bred in the middle… Read More
By Abby Parks 11 months ago
Resting off the northwest coast of Scotland is a jewel of an island. The Isle of Skye, which the Norse deemed the “Isle of Mist," is part of the group… Read More
By Abby Parks 2 years ago
Off the northeast coast of England sits a cluster of 15-20 ancient rock islands with some unusual inhabitants. The Farne Islands are a captivating wildlife refuge for over 200,000 seabirds… Read More
By Abby Parks 2 years ago
There's a place at the northernmost tip of the Seychelles that's massively popular. It's been visited by — surprise — over one million sea birds! From nesting birds who travel… Read More
By Abby Parks 2 years ago
The rufous hummingbird is a vibrant, migratory species known for its territorial behavior and remarkable migration patterns, spanning vast distances from North America to Mexico. As one of nine species… Read More
By Abby Parks 2 years ago
Key Points: The first alligators known to us date back to the Mesozoic era 245 million years ago. Modern crocodilians came on the scene 80 million years ago during the… Read More
By Abby Parks 2 years ago
"Bronze whaler sharks often hunt in large groups." The bronze whaler shark is a large fish with a classic shark appearance. Bronze Whaler Shark Facts Also known as the copper… Read More
By Abby Parks 3 years ago
What are the smallest animals in the world? Defining smallest is important before we determine which animals take the tiny cake. After all, single-celled organisms, which can only be seen… Read More
By Abby Parks 3 years ago
Smart dogs can be loads of fun. They quickly learn tricks and lifestyle routines, making them excellent roommates. Plus, intelligent dogs are often sensitive to their humans' needs, making them… Read More
By Abby Parks 3 years ago
Key Points: Approximately 66 million years ago, during the Cretaceous period, many invertebrates and vertebrates became extinct. Known as the K-Pg extinction event, scientists believe that a 6-mile wide asteroid… Read More
By Abby Parks 3 years ago
It’s sometimes called a cat snake because of its large eyes and vertical pupils. The brown tree snake lives in the northern and eastern parts of Australia, in Papua New… Read More
By Abby Parks 3 years ago
“The Sable Ferret is the most common of the pet ferrets.” Though it requires more upkeep than a dog or a cat, the sable ferret makes a great pet. It… Read More
By Abby Parks 3 years ago
Key Points: Japanese beetles were first found in the US in 1916. They are destructive to grassroots and turf, shrubs, plants, flowers, and trees, eating over 300 types. There are… Read More
By Abby Parks 3 years ago
Birds are beautiful creatures. Birds sing for the world. The vast majority fly and even the ones that do not can be fascinating. Colorful and graceful, they make excellent home… Read More
By Abby Parks 3 years ago
“The jaguarundi has 13 unique sounds it uses to communicate with other cats." The Jaguarundi has a nickname: the Otter Cat. This is because its head is similar in shape… Read More
By Abby Parks 3 years ago
Key Points: There are approximately 6,495 recognized species of mammals on the planet. There are always new ones being discovered, with over 1,000 recognized between 2005 and 2018.40% of the… Read More
By Abby Parks 3 years ago
The most prominent feature is the zebra-like stripes covering the body. This gives it a unique look compared to other fish in the aquarium. The zebra pleco is a small… Read More
By Abby Parks 3 years ago
LaMancha goats are full-size dairy goats with a mild temperament. Sometimes called American Lamancha or simply Lamancha, these goats are distinctive for their tiny ears. They are excellent milk producers,… Read More
By Abby Parks 4 years ago
Cookiecutter sharks are squaliform sharks. Squaliform sharks have two dorsal fins. Squaliform sharks usually have five to seven gill slits on their sides. They also typically do not have anal… Read More
By Abby Parks 4 years ago
“The eastern bluebird is the only bluebird found east of the Rockies.” These beautiful and beloved little birds are considered harbingers of spring and in some places, their song can… Read More
By Abby Parks 4 years ago