Hannah Ward
Author for A-Z Animals

There are more than 500 species of shark in the world today and they come in all different shapes and sizes.  They are some of the most able predators in… Read More

By Hannah Ward 2 years ago

Key Points: Sharks belong to the class Chondrichthyes of cartilaginous fish. As they have a skeleton made from cartilage rather than bone, sharks don't have a single bone in their bodies!… Read More

By Hannah Ward 2 years ago

For millions of years sharks have been swimming the seas, from the shallows to the deepest depths imaginable.  There are more than 500 species of shark alive today. However, despite… Read More

By Hannah Ward 2 years ago

Key Points: Sharks use their two nostril-like openings known as “nares” solely for detecting scents. These are lined with sensory cells called “olfactory epithelium” that can identify tiny scent particles… Read More

By Hannah Ward 2 years ago

Nile crocodiles are one of the biggest species of crocodile around and are the largest freshwater predators in Africa. These large reptiles are opportunistic predators and have incredible strength.  Nile… Read More

By Hannah Ward 2 years ago

There are more than 500 species of shark and they live in all of the seas around the world, and even in some rivers. Sharks are able and effective hunters… Read More

By Hannah Ward 2 years ago

When we think about sharks most people instantly assume they’re only found in the sea.  Well, think again as there are actually several types of shark species that lurk in… Read More

By Hannah Ward 2 years ago

Of the many types of sharks, deep sea sharks are definitely the most distinctive looking! Because deep in the darkest parts of the oceans, at unimaginable depths, live some of… Read More

By Hannah Ward 2 years ago

Ducks have been domesticated and have long been kept as a source of food for centuries. Ducks are aquatic birds and wild ducks can be found in both freshwater and… Read More

By Hannah Ward 2 years ago

Starfish are star-shaped marine invertebrates that are found in oceans all around the world, from shallow coastal waters to some of the deepest depths possible.  Starfish are incredibly unique animals… Read More

By Hannah Ward 3 years ago

Antelope are well known for their graceful appearance and impressive horns.  However, when we think of antelope, it’s easy to assume that they are a specific group of animals.  In… Read More

By Hannah Ward 3 years ago

The longest parrot in the world, the hyacinth macaw, is classed as a vulnerable species due to habitat loss and capture for the pet trade. There are around 350 species… Read More

By Hannah Ward 3 years ago

The Highland Cattle is also referred to by the Scots as the Hairy Coo, or Highland Coo. Many millions of animals in the world have hair and for some, it’s… Read More

By Hannah Ward 3 years ago

Baleen whales are some of the most unique and breathtaking animals in the world.  These huge marine mammals are some of the biggest to have ever existed and are found… Read More

By Hannah Ward 3 years ago

Key Points: Cats have even better hearing than dogs. Cats' ears are controlled by 30 muscles and they can hear high-pitched sounds up to 64 kHz and can rotate their… Read More

By Hannah Ward 3 years ago

Key Points: When including its two main stomachs, some Baird's beaked whales have up to 13 stomachs. Ruminants are animals with four stomachs that first chew their food enough to… Read More

By Hannah Ward 3 years ago

With more than 35,000 species of fish in the world today, it’s not surprising that there are some deadly ones amongst them.  However, when we think of deadly fish we… Read More

By Hannah Ward 3 years ago

Key Points: There are four recognized subspecies of moose on the continent - Eastern, Western, Alaskan, and Shiras. Moose have an average shoulder height of 5 to 6.5 feet and… Read More

By Hannah Ward 3 years ago

Elephants are huge herbivores and are the largest land mammals in the world. Easily distinguished by their grey skin, long trunk, and large ears, elephants are one of the most… Read More

By Hannah Ward 3 years ago

Sea turtles are renowned for being one of the oldest animals living today, having been around for 110 million years.  Known as marine reptiles, sea turtles are one of only… Read More

By Hannah Ward 3 years ago

Gorillas are the largest apes around and have been on Earth for approximately 7 million years.  These huge mammals are usually found in forests and mountain regions and are easily… Read More

By Hannah Ward 3 years ago

For a lot of animals speed is essential to their survival and whether they can outrun a predator depends on how fast they can run.  When we think of the… Read More

By Hannah Ward 3 years ago

Snapping turtles are one of the oldest types of turtle around, having been around for approximately 200 million years - even during the time of the dinosaurs! The species also… Read More

By Hannah Ward 3 years ago

Due to its vast size — stretching from Canada and Greenland in the north, to Mexico in the south — North America contains a vast range of habitats. From land… Read More

By Hannah Ward 3 years ago

Dragonflies are stunning insects that can be seen in a range of vibrant colors and there are more than 7,000 species of them in the world today.  Although there is… Read More

By Hannah Ward 3 years ago

The imperial woodpecker was last sighted in 1956 and although listed as critically endangered, it is most likely extinct. There are few sounds more distinctive than that of a woodpecker… Read More

By Hannah Ward 3 years ago

Although tiny, there is still a variance of size among hummingbirds. Hummingbirds - so called because of the sound that their wings make - are one of the most fascinating… Read More

By Hannah Ward 3 years ago

Key Points Blue Whales are bigger than any dinosaur to have ever lived. The smallest blue whale - the Pygmy - is still one of the largest whales at an… Read More

By Hannah Ward 3 years ago

Of all the fish in the sea, manta rays have got to be amongst the most graceful and breathtaking creatures.  With a diamond-shaped appearance and huge fins that look like… Read More

By Hannah Ward 3 years ago

Having been around for approximately 110 million years, sea turtles are one of the oldest types of animals alive today and were even around during the time of the dinosaurs.… Read More

By Hannah Ward 3 years ago

Key Points: First bred in Germany in the 1800s, the Langshan is capable of laying about 200 eggs yearly and is docile in nature. The Australorp is recognizable by its… Read More

By Hannah Ward 3 years ago

Key Points: There are more than 70 species of rats. The Coryphomys is the largest rat ever recorded but is now extinct. 40% of all mammal species are rodents. Rats are… Read More

By Hannah Ward 3 years ago

Often regarded as a lucky symbol, grasshoppers are one of the oldest types of animals in the world, having first appeared during the Triassic period 250 million years ago.  They… Read More

By Hannah Ward 3 years ago

Well known for their distinctive shape with pincers at the front and a curved tail with a stinger at the back, scorpions are easily identifiable. They are part of the arachnida… Read More

By Hannah Ward 3 years ago

Key Points: There are more than 12,000 species of ants throughout the world. The largest ant in the world is the giant Amazonian ant, which can reach 1.6 inches in… Read More

By Hannah Ward 3 years ago