Kathryn Dueck
Author for A-Z Animals

For those heading to Los Angeles, there may be nothing more exciting than seeing the giant Hollywood sign grow larger in the distance. After all, celebrities and showbiz are the… Read More

By Kathryn Dueck 1 year ago

If you want a pet with a healthy dose of flair and style, look no further than the betta fish! These small but flamboyant fish own whatever space they’re in,… Read More

By Kathryn Dueck 1 year ago

When people look at pigs, they typically see dirty, sloppy animals. After all, don’t pigs like to wallow in mud? Don’t they eat whatever slop humans put in front of… Read More

By Kathryn Dueck 1 year ago

If you’ve ever had a rat infestation in your home, you’ve probably wondered how fast they populate. After all, where there’s one rat, there are dozens more! Or perhaps you… Read More

By Kathryn Dueck 1 year ago

If you’ve ever seen a round, fluffy hamster in a pet store, chances are you’ve thought about owning one. Hamsters are cute and relatively low-maintenance, making them great pets. But… Read More

By Kathryn Dueck 1 year ago

Squirrels are curious, industrious little beings that never seem to stay still. Whether they’re scurrying from branch to branch or driving some poor dog out of its mind, they always… Read More

By Kathryn Dueck 1 year ago

Fish are among the most populous and diverse creatures on our planet. From fishing boats to fish tanks, they are essential parts of our world. With such variation, however, the… Read More

By Kathryn Dueck 1 year ago

Few animals on Earth command more respect than the rhinoceros. With its horned head, bulky body, and thundering gait, it is truly the master of its world. Its ancient appearance… Read More

By Kathryn Dueck 1 year ago

Guppies are among the most popular aquarium fish for a reason. Their flamboyant colours and tail fins make a majestic addition to any indoor tank. In an outdoor environment, they… Read More

By Kathryn Dueck 1 year ago

Goldfish may be considered a common species of fish today, but once upon a time they were exotic and rare! The Chinese began breeding them 1,000 years ago, eventually producing… Read More

By Kathryn Dueck 1 year ago

Bears look deceptively friendly and touchable with their abundance of fur and their slow, ambling gait. That most famous of bears, Winnie the Pooh, is partly to blame for this… Read More

By Kathryn Dueck 1 year ago

Snakes are famous for evoking feelings of revulsion and fear in humans. However, in some cultures, snakes are revered as symbols of healing and fertility. Whatever view you take of… Read More

By Kathryn Dueck 1 year ago

There’s no doubt that dolphins have carved themselves a special place in the human heart. From the movie Flipper to playful wild dolphins, their “smiles” and exuberant demeanor are incredibly… Read More

By Kathryn Dueck 1 year ago

Key Points: There are fewer than 3,500 great white sharks remaining worldwide and they are currently decreasing in number. The International Union for the Conservation of Nature classifies great white… Read More

By Kathryn Dueck 1 year ago

Have you ever heard a wolf howl and felt a chill race up your spine? A wolf’s howl is one of the most elemental and forlorn sounds in the natural… Read More

By Kathryn Dueck 1 year ago

Several striking orange animals populate the wild. But none are as closely related to humans as the orang-utan. Humans share 97% of our DNA with this intelligent primate. This is… Read More

By Kathryn Dueck 1 year ago

As humans, we are obsessed with finding life forms similar to ours. Thankfully, we don’t have to look too far. The monkey inhabitants of our planet are often startlingly similar… Read More

By Kathryn Dueck 1 year ago

Is it safe to go back in the water? A cool swim in the ocean sounds lovely, but Jaws aficionados may not think it's worth braving the sharks. Despite their… Read More

By Kathryn Dueck 1 year ago

If you’ve ever looked at the word axolotl and wondered what it denotes and how to say it, you’re not alone. Pronounced ax-uh­-lot-ul, this amphibian looks like a curious mix… Read More

By Kathryn Dueck 1 year ago

Has anyone ever told you to stop and smell the roses? This common piece of advice urges us to take time to appreciate the beauty around us. The plants that… Read More

By Kathryn Dueck 1 year ago

If you’ve ever approached a white rhino in the wild, you’ll know how downright intimidating they can be. Their massive bodies, thick heads, and formidable horns all testify to their… Read More

By Kathryn Dueck 1 year ago

Bees naturally inspire fear in people. Their stings can be painful or even deadly for those with allergies. However, bees are also pollinators, making much of our food and survival… Read More

By Kathryn Dueck 1 year ago

As movies like Finding Nemo demonstrate, there is almost no limit to the variety and wonder of the aquatic world. Fish are among the most populous creatures on the earth… Read More

By Kathryn Dueck 1 year ago

From the beginning of human history, the sea has been a source of power and mystique. Sailors loved and feared it. Tradesmen used it to build their fortunes. Vacationers admire… Read More

By Kathryn Dueck 1 year ago

If you’ve ever watched a housecat stalk its prey, you’ll appreciate its preternatural stealth and grace. Now imagine a much larger cat crouched in the shadows, eyes glowing in a… Read More

By Kathryn Dueck 1 year ago

If you’ve ever read Moby Dick or had the privilege of seeing whales up close, you’ll have no trouble picturing their awesome majesty. These serene, ponderous mammals have inspired the… Read More

By Kathryn Dueck 1 year ago

Estimates show that there are between 22,000 and 31,000 polar bears left in the world, which does not include the 300 or so polar bears in captivity. However, a recent… Read More

By Kathryn Dueck 1 year ago

From Yann Martel's Life of Pi to Rudyard Kipling’s Jungle Book, the Bengal tiger stands tall in the human imagination. Its fierce, solitary nature, as well as its powerful body,… Read More

By Kathryn Dueck 1 year ago

Would you keep a rat as a pet? For some people, a rodent is an ideal companion. Some living in Rajasthan, India, take it even further. Here, rats are revered… Read More

By Kathryn Dueck 1 year ago

From pop culture to ancient Chinese tradition, pandas are among the most iconic and lovable animals on earth. Their bumbling walk and sleepy faces, not to mention their voracious love… Read More

By Kathryn Dueck 1 year ago

Have you ever found a spider crouching in a corner of your house and wondered how many more were lurking nearby? It’s not a pleasant thought! But the truth is,… Read More

By Kathryn Dueck 1 year ago

Humans despise mosquitoes with a passion, and no wonder! With their sharp sting and telltale whine, mosquitoes are the scourge of the summer months. They constantly disrupt any activity from… Read More

By Kathryn Dueck 1 year ago

Who once called the Ohio River the most beautiful on earth? That’s a good question, since these days it happens to be a badly polluted waterway. However, it remains important… Read More

By Kathryn Dueck 1 year ago

Key Points: Hells Canyon is nearly 2000 feet deeper than the Grand Canyon. The canyon has a rich mythology from the Nez Perce tribe. The Snake River, which runs through… Read More

By Kathryn Dueck 1 year ago

Few names evoke an air of mystery and danger like the Congo. From Joseph Conrad’s famous novella Heart of Darkness to the myriad explorers throughout history, this area of Africa… Read More

By Kathryn Dueck 1 year ago

When people picture goats, they usually imagine a pleasantly compact creature with a soft nose and floppy ears. Some goats, like the Nubian breed, are famous for their long, velvety… Read More

By Kathryn Dueck 1 year ago

Which animal is most closely related to humans? Most people would probably say the chimpanzee. And they would be only partly right! The title is actually shared by the bonobo,… Read More

By Kathryn Dueck 1 year ago