The animal kingdom is full of color, thanks to a combination of biological pigments, structural color (of both the iridescent and non-iridescent kind), and luminescence. While many animals are predominantly… Read More
By Deniz Martinez 2 months ago
Deniz Martinez
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Deniz Martinez is a writer at A-Z Animals where her primary focus is on biogeography, ornithology, and mammalogy. Deniz has been researching, teaching, and writing about animals for over 10 years and holds both an MS degree from American Public University earned in 2016 and an MA degree from Lindenwood University earned in 2022.
A resident of Pennsylvania, Deniz also runs Art History Animalia, a website and associated social media dedicated to investigating intersections of natural history with art & visual culture history via exploring animal iconography.
Did you know Kentucky only has one truly native hummingbird species? That's right, only the ruby-throated hummingbird (Archilochus colubris) calls Kentucky a home state. Furthermore, this is the only breeding… Read More
By Deniz Martinez 2 months ago
The American crow (Corvus brachyrhynchos) is a large, shiny black corvid species native to North America. It is one of the most common and widespread birds across its range, which… Read More
By Deniz Martinez 2 months ago
The African wild dog (Lycaon pictus) is an iconic canid species endemic to continental Africa. Unfortunately, it is also one of the world's most endangered canids, with an increasingly fragmented… Read More
By Deniz Martinez 2 months ago
There are over 11,000 living species of birds (Aves) around the world, but only a handful of these are known by short and sweet 3-letter common names in English. Read… Read More
By Deniz Martinez 2 months ago
Almost every U.S. state has designated either an official state dinosaur and/or state fossil symbol. Only five states have none, although other states have more than one. Washington, D.C. also… Read More
By Deniz Martinez 2 months ago
Only about half of the states in the United States have named an official state reptile. However, two of these states have two each, and one has three! Read on… Read More
By Deniz Martinez 3 months ago
Penguins (Spheniscidae) are a famous family of flightless aquatic birds. Thanks to a combination of their unique looks and lifestyle, plus their prevalence in pop culture, there are plenty of… Read More
By Deniz Martinez 3 months ago
Hummingbirds (Trochilidae) are a family of over 360 small iridescent birds all native to the Americas. These tiny flying jewels range as far north as Alaska and as far south… Read More
By Deniz Martinez 3 months ago
The Komodo dragon (Varanus komodoensis) is an endangered species endemic to just four small islands of Indonesia: its namesake, Komodo, as well as Rinca, Flores, and Gili Motang. It is… Read More
By Deniz Martinez 3 months ago
There are over 220 living owl species around the world, but only 10 have been recorded in Alabama. Read on for the complete list of types of owls in Alabama,… Read More
By Deniz Martinez 3 months ago
There are over 11,000 living species of birds (Aves) around the world, but only a small percentage of these are known by short and sweet 4-letter common bird names. Read… Read More
By Deniz Martinez 3 months ago
With over 900 genera of non-avian dinosaurs officially named thus far, there are dinos that start with every letter of the alphabet. This includes over three dozen dinosaurs that start… Read More
By Deniz Martinez 3 months ago
Otters are any of 13 living species in the Lutrinae subfamily of mammals. As all otters are either semi-aquatic or fully aquatic, they are excellent swimmers with long hydrodynamic bodies… Read More
By Deniz Martinez 3 months ago
The aardvark (Orycteropus afer) is a distinctive mammal native to Africa. They are widely distributed south of the Sahara from Senegal to Ethiopia to South Africa, including the Congo Basin.… Read More
By Deniz Martinez 3 months ago
Only about half of the states in the United States have an official state amphibian. However, two of these states have named two each. Additionally, a few others have either… Read More
By Deniz Martinez 3 months ago
There are over 220 living owl species around the world, but only nine of them can be found in Virginia. Read on to find out which owls have been recorded… Read More
By Deniz Martinez 4 months ago
Have you ever seen an "odd-eyed" cat? Domestic cats with two different color eyes have the feline form of heterochromia iridum. This phenomenon appears in other domesticated animals, including dogs… Read More
By Deniz Martinez 4 months ago
Turtles are any of over 350 living species of reptiles in the order Testudines. Pennsylvania is home to 12 native turtle species, along with at least one invasive species. Read… Read More
By Deniz Martinez 4 months ago
There are over 220 living owl species around the world, but only 15 of them are found in Washington state. Read on to find out which owls live in the… Read More
By Deniz Martinez 4 months ago
When it comes to colorful ducks, males (drakes) are often more vibrant than females (hens), especially during the breeding season. Here are 15 of the most colorful wild ducks from… Read More
By Deniz Martinez 4 months ago
Tapirs are any of four living species in the Tapiridae family. Three are native to Central America and South America, with a fourth native to Southeast Asia. No matter what… Read More
By Deniz Martinez 4 months ago
After their pretty in pink coloration, perhaps what people associate most with flamingos is their one-legged stance. But why exactly do flamingos spend so much time standing on one leg?… Read More
By Deniz Martinez 4 months ago
Many birds have interesting structures on top of their heads. These are classified into three main types: crests, casques, and combs. Read on to find out what each is made… Read More
By Deniz Martinez 4 months ago
South Dakota named the ring-necked pheasant (Phasianus colchicus) as its official state bird in 1943. South Dakota boasts it is "home to the best pheasant hunting in the country." However,… Read More
By Deniz Martinez 4 months ago
Ostriches (Struthio spp.) are not only the largest and heaviest of all living birds but also lay the largest eggs of any living bird (and any living animal). And out… Read More
By Deniz Martinez 5 months ago
Polar bears are not only the largest of the world's eight living bear species but also the most aquatic. Their scientific name, Ursus maritimus, translates to "sea bear," and they… Read More
By Deniz Martinez 5 months ago
The American robin (Turdus migratorius) is a songbird in the thrush family (Turdidae). It is found across North America and is among the most popular and well-known birds throughout its… Read More
By Deniz Martinez 5 months ago
Peafowl (Pavo and Afropavo spp.), aka peacocks (technically the term for just the males; females are peahen), are famous for the male's spectacular multicolored, iridescent plumage. However, naturally occurring mutations… Read More
By Deniz Martinez 5 months ago
The polar bear (Ursus maritimus) is both the largest and most aquatic of the world's eight living bear species. Unfortunately, six of these eight species currently face an extinction threat,… Read More
By Deniz Martinez 5 months ago
The bird world is full of amazing beaks with a wonderful diversity of not just form and function, but also color! Check out this collection of some of nature's most… Read More
By Deniz Martinez 5 months ago
Pennsylvania is home to three native falcon (Falco spp.) species. Additionally, two other falcon species appear in records in the state as rare vagrants. Read on to meet each of… Read More
By Deniz Martinez 5 months ago
While Maryland has many resident birds that can be seen all year, others only make their home in the state for part of the year. Some birds just spend their… Read More
By Deniz Martinez 5 months ago
The official state bird of Kentucky is the Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis). Kentucky declared the "native redbird, commonly known as the Kentucky cardinal," its official state bird twice — first… Read More
By Deniz Martinez 5 months ago
Macaws are large Neotropical parrots spread across a half dozen different genera (Anodorhynchus, Ara, Cyanopsitta, Diopsittaca, Primolius, and Orthopsittaca). There are currently 17 living species, along with their many domesticated… Read More
By Deniz Martinez 5 months ago
While Pennsylvania has many year-round resident birds, others only make their home in the state for part of the year. Some birds just spend their summer breeding season in Pennsylvania,… Read More
By Deniz Martinez 5 months ago
There are at least 17 different species of birds with primarily black plumage coupled with yellow beaks in one or both sexes. Read on to meet them all and learn… Read More
By Deniz Martinez 5 months ago
Lovebirds are any of nine living parrot species in the genus Agapornis, all native to Africa, and their many domesticated varieties. Several clues can help tell males and females apart,… Read More
By Deniz Martinez 5 months ago
The world is full of blue-feathered birds. However, all those beautiful blues seen in bird feathers are not biological pigments, but rather structural colors that are purely a trick of… Read More
By Deniz Martinez 5 months ago
While in many bird species, it is easy to tell males and females apart thanks to sexual dimorphism, Penguins (Spheniscidae) are definitely not among them. In most penguin species, both… Read More
By Deniz Martinez 6 months ago
Nearly every state of the United States has at least one official state insect symbol. Iowa and Michigan are the only two states without one. Meanwhile, many states have named… Read More
By Deniz Martinez 6 months ago
While it used to be difficult to find more than a few dinosaurs whose names started with the letter Z, there are now at least 23 of them! A big… Read More
By Deniz Martinez 6 months ago
The official state bird of Colorado is the Lark Bunting (Calamospiza melanocorys). The Colorado legislature designated the lark bunting as the state bird on April 29, 1931. This native species has… Read More
By Deniz Martinez 6 months ago
There are two species of African crowned cranes (Balearica spp.), each further divided into two subspecies: Black Crowned Crane (Balearica pavonina) Sudan Crowned Crane (B. p. ceciliae) West African Crowned… Read More
By Deniz Martinez 6 months ago
Penguins (Spheniscidae) are famous for their black and white plumage, a classic example of countershading camouflage. But where do these colors come from, and what other colors can you find… Read More
By Deniz Martinez 6 months ago
While U may not be the most popular letter of the dinosaur alphabet, there are still a good dozen dinosaurs whose names start with the 21st letter. Read on to… Read More
By Deniz Martinez 6 months ago
The emperor penguin (Aptenodytes forsteri) is the world's heaviest and tallest living penguin species. Read on to find out just how big they can get and how they compare to… Read More
By Deniz Martinez 6 months ago
The hammer-headed bat (Hypsignathus monstrosus) is the largest bat species in mainland Africa. It is also the most sexually dimorphic bat species in the world, with males and females looking… Read More
By Deniz Martinez 6 months ago
Hawaii named the Nēnē aka Hawaiian Goose (Branta sandvicensis) its official state bird in 1957. It is the world's rarest goose species and almost went extinct in the 1950s. Read… Read More
By Deniz Martinez 6 months ago
With their distinctive black and white patterned fur, giant pandas (Ailuropoda melanoleuca) are easy to tell apart from the world's other seven species of bears. However, telling male and female… Read More
By Deniz Martinez 6 months ago
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