Gabrielle Monia
Author for A-Z Animals

Much of Kansas falls within the Great Central Plain of the United States. The western two-thirds of the state is an expanse of flatlands and gentle rolling undulations of the… Read More

By Gabrielle Monia 2 years ago

Vermont’s name is derived from the French words vert, meaning green, and mont, for mountain. The Green Mountains run along the western region from north to south. The Hudson River,… Read More

By Gabrielle Monia 2 years ago

If you’ve ever been woken in the night to the screaming of cats outside, maybe you’re hearing a neighborhood cat duel, or maybe those felines are just feeling frisky. Cats… Read More

By Gabrielle Monia 2 years ago

Colorado is well known for the towering peaks of the Rocky Mountains that run through the state, but it’s a land of diverse geography. It's part of the western and… Read More

By Gabrielle Monia 2 years ago

Owls are found widespread across the Earth, living in all regions except for the Antarctic. They’re birds of the order Strigiformes, which includes over 200 species of owls. Almost all… Read More

By Gabrielle Monia 2 years ago

From the Rocky Mountains to the Great Plains and the expansive wilderness of Glacier National Park, the landscape of Montana is wild and diverse. Much of the state is sparsely… Read More

By Gabrielle Monia 2 years ago

As widespread members of the Caninae subfamily, foxes live on every continent aside from Antarctica. They live in forests, grasslands, deserts, mountains, and the arctic. As part of the genus… Read More

By Gabrielle Monia 2 years ago

The geography of Maryland is diverse, with marsh-filled coastal plains, wetlands, and farmlands. There are mountains, ridges, forests, valleys, and streams spanning the state. Garter snakes are common throughout the… Read More

By Gabrielle Monia 2 years ago

Key Points Deer mating season occurs between September to December. Rubs and scrapes are two of the most recognizable signs of deer mating season. Different deer species exhibit different mating… Read More

By Gabrielle Monia 2 years ago

Abundant forests, lush vegetation, deserts, and flowing rivers converge in the state of Oregon. This North American state is home to a rich variety of landscapes. Garter snakes have no… Read More

By Gabrielle Monia 2 years ago

The American alligator is native to the swamps, streams, rivers, and lakes of the southeastern United States. These ancient animals aren’t usually aggressive, but they’re powerful apex predators, and their… Read More

By Gabrielle Monia 2 years ago

Ground squirrels, tree squirrels, and flying squirrels make up roughly 200 species of squirrels worldwide. You can find these nut-loving rodents on every continent except Antarctica and Australia. The Indian… Read More

By Gabrielle Monia 2 years ago

Vipers are named for their tendency to give birth to live young. They're a venomous family of snakes that live scattered throughout most of the world. Armed with hollow fangs… Read More

By Gabrielle Monia 2 years ago

Here's our list of 9 snakes that actually eat other snakes! The ouroboros is an ancient symbol depicting a serpent eating its tail. It represents continual rebirth and the unity… Read More

By Gabrielle Monia 2 years ago

Rattlesnakes are the largest venomous snakes in the United States. The anaconda is a non-venomous constrictor that suffocates by coiling its heavy body tightly around prey. And its body is… Read More

By Gabrielle Monia 2 years ago

Both venomous vipers, the rattlesnake, and the puff adder, have unique features and geographical ranges. The rattlesnake is named for the distinctive-sounding rattle at the end of its tail, used… Read More

By Gabrielle Monia 2 years ago

The mongoose is a small and sleek mammal with a reputation for bold behavior. Although adept hunters, they have horizontal pupils, similar to animals like sheep and horses, to help… Read More

By Gabrielle Monia 2 years ago

Rattlesnakes and alligators are both notorious predators. Rattlesnakes fight with formidable fangs and incredible striking power. Alligators battle with their impressively strong jaws and sharp teeth. Both catch their victim… Read More

By Gabrielle Monia 2 years ago

Texas rat snakes and copperheads are native to North America and share some traits in common. As ectotherms, they rely on the surrounding environment to regulate their body temperature. They… Read More

By Gabrielle Monia 2 years ago

Ophiophagy, or “snake eating” is common in the animal world, with mammals, birds, lizards and even other snakes engaging in the dietary practice. But did you know that many species… Read More

By Gabrielle Monia 2 years ago

Rattlesnakes are notorious predators with formidable fangs and incredible striking power. They’re often hidden out of sight just before an attack, catching their victim by total surprise. Bobcats are just… Read More

By Gabrielle Monia 2 years ago

Garter snakes are named for their resemblance to the garter belt, a narrow band of fabric used to hold up stockings on the leg. Copperheads get their common name from… Read More

By Gabrielle Monia 2 years ago

Copperheads and kingsnakes are very similar in their mode of feeding. They are carnivorous. Also, in terms of appearance, Mole kingsnakes and copperheads have reddish-brown scales. However, there are a… Read More

By Gabrielle Monia 2 years ago

Key Points: Timber rattlesnakes, while generally found on the ground, have also been known to climb trees up to 80 feet tall. They are also good swimmers, able to swim… Read More

By Gabrielle Monia 2 years ago

Flounders find their place along the salty seafloor, with strange bodily adaptations and a penchant for disguise. Tilapias are native to freshwater habitats of Africa, but they have exploded into… Read More

By Gabrielle Monia 2 years ago

Small but mighty, chihuahuas are tiny dogs with a whole lot of personality. They're the smallest breed of dog in the world, and they tend to be fiercely territorial and… Read More

By Gabrielle Monia 2 years ago

Aardvarks and anteaters have a shared love of eating insects. They both accomplish their daily dining with exceptionally long snouts and very long, sticky tongues. These animals have many shared… Read More

By Gabrielle Monia 2 years ago

Sole and flounder are flatfish that share an extraordinary trait. These creatures have an asymmetry that’s unique in the animal world. They’re born like other fish, an eye on either… Read More

By Gabrielle Monia 2 years ago

As single-celled shape-shifters, amoebae can take on many sizes and forms. These organisms can grow to be much larger than you might think. For example, Syringammina fragilissima can get up… Read More

By Gabrielle Monia 2 years ago

The albatross and the seagull are impressive seabirds that share a love of the open ocean. The albatross is a legendary creature and the feature of The Rime of the… Read More

By Gabrielle Monia 2 years ago

“How much wood would a woodchuck chuck if a woodchuck could chuck wood?” The familiar rhyme clues us in to one difference between the marmot and beaver. A woodchuck, also… Read More

By Gabrielle Monia 2 years ago

Native to Australia, Budgerigars are brightly colored birds in the parrot family, commonly called parakeets. The scientific name for this species is Melopsittacus undulatus. Melopsittacus is of Greek origin and… Read More

By Gabrielle Monia 2 years ago

Covering the pangolin's body are rows of overlapping scales with an uncanny resemblance to artichoke leaves. When threatened, pangolins deploy the defense of rolling into a ball. This has earned… Read More

By Gabrielle Monia 2 years ago

Wild-eyed, bushy-tailed, cottontail rabbits get their name from their distinctive cotton-like tail. In most species, the tail is fluffy and stubby with a white underside. Hares or rabbits are the… Read More

By Gabrielle Monia 2 years ago

Winter flounder and summer flounder are both born like most other fish. They have one eye on each side of their head and a swaying tail that swishes side to… Read More

By Gabrielle Monia 2 years ago

There’s an ancient myth behind the constellation of Pisces, which features two fish swimming in opposing directions. When confronted by the god Typhon while walking along the Euphrates River, Aphrodite… Read More

By Gabrielle Monia 2 years ago

Hood-tipped beaks and curved claws called talons are two features that unite all birds of prey. These birds are also known as raptors and are carnivorous creatures that feed on… Read More

By Gabrielle Monia 2 years ago

Gardeners have been engaged in a long-time battle with aphids, who swoop in and suddenly wreak havoc on their tender tendrils and precious petals in no time. But, some creatures… Read More

By Gabrielle Monia 2 years ago

The common domestic goat is part of the genus Capra, along with all other goats. However, the mountain goat is not actually part of the same genus and is distantly… Read More

By Gabrielle Monia 2 years ago

Phāsianós, Greek for “bird of Phasis,” the pheasant was named after the Phasis river where the birds were numerous. This river flowed from Caucasus down to the land of Kolkhis… Read More

By Gabrielle Monia 2 years ago

Rare and highly elusive, both the clouded leopard and the snow leopard are solitary cats that are rarely seen. They possess striking physical features, piercing eyes, and threatening canines capable… Read More

By Gabrielle Monia 2 years ago

Golden eagles are impressive birds of prey, equally feared and revered for their majestic stature, flight speed, and formidable beak and talons. Often assumed to be closely related to bald… Read More

By Gabrielle Monia 2 years ago

Great blue herons (Ardea herodias) can be distinguished by their elegant silhouettes, beautiful blue-gray plumage, and impressive wingspans of up to 7 feet wide. They are spread throughout the Americas,… Read More

By Gabrielle Monia 2 years ago