Kristen Holder
Author for A-Z Animals

The 6 Oldest Countries In Europe infographic Key Points: What roughly makes up Bulgaria, the second oldest country in Europe, existed as an autonomous area by 681 CE. It is… Read More

By Kristen Holder 1 year ago

Goldfish are a common fish discovered in pet shops, in aquariums, at fairs, and swimming in ponds around the world. Most people know someone who won one of these fish… Read More

By Kristen Holder 1 year ago

Hamsters are rodents. It's been said that species with hamster-like features, now extinct, can be traced back millions of years. Keep reading to find out what is the oldest hamster… Read More

By Kristen Holder 1 year ago

The oldest Hawaiian Islands tell a story about the power of volcanic activity. When the Pacific Plate moved, the volcanoes created by a hotspot formed a chain of islands. These… Read More

By Kristen Holder 1 year ago

Life first evolved in the oceans and continues to expand to this day. What are some of the oldest animals living in the ocean? Let’s meet the 5 oldest sea… Read More

By Kristen Holder 1 year ago

While a dog’s ability to have puppies declines with age, they never go through menopause. Their chances of pregnancy dwindle as the years go on, but dogs can get pregnant… Read More

By Kristen Holder 1 year ago

Domesticated cats (Felis catus) are some of the most popular pets on the planet. While researchers previously believed that the ancient Egyptians domesticated the first cats, studies show cats started… Read More

By Kristen Holder 1 year ago

Key Points: Sturgeon have existed for 100 million years and they’re found in both fresh and saltwater environments. Scientists are fascinated by the tuatara because they provide clues to how… Read More

By Kristen Holder 1 year ago

Ménagerie du Jardin des Plantes opened in 1650 but the zoo didn't open until 1793. The concept of non-native animals being kept for display is as old as Ancient Egypt.… Read More

By Kristen Holder 1 year ago

Due to advancements in modern medicine, the human lifespan has almost doubled in some parts of the world. While most people hope to reach 80 years old, a few people… Read More

By Kristen Holder 1 year ago

While most people adopt a sense of identity from the country in which they reside, most countries do not stand the test of time. However, some regions have consistently hosted… Read More

By Kristen Holder 1 year ago

Consuming ethanol began long ago via overripe fruit to the point that the enzymes created by the human liver are ten percent dedicated to creating energy from alcohol. Wine is… Read More

By Kristen Holder 1 year ago

Temples are visible structures for worship and they play an integral role in a variety of religions. Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists, Mormons, and many others currently use temples as their sacred… Read More

By Kristen Holder 1 year ago

Today, insects are the most diverse group of animals on the planet. It’s well known that they’re ancient, but what’s the oldest insect ever discovered? What’s the oldest insect still… Read More

By Kristen Holder 1 year ago

There are plants and animals in the world that humans have eaten regularly for millennia. As humans began learning about optimal eating for better survival, foods that required ingredients and… Read More

By Kristen Holder 1 year ago

It’s not possible to discover the exact tree that is the oldest olive tree in the world. Olive trees are hard to date because the center of the tree disappears… Read More

By Kristen Holder 1 year ago

Some animals in the ocean live longer than the oldest land animals. There are also land animals alive today that have lived longer than every human currently on the planet.… Read More

By Kristen Holder 1 year ago

Key Points: Horses were first domesticated in the Eurasian steppes around 5,500 years ago. Viking settlers brought Icelandic horses' ancestors when they settled in Iceland. These horses have been around… Read More

By Kristen Holder 1 year ago

Human lifespans seem long to us, but they’re short when compared to other species on the planet. Some trees have seen the rise of human civilization and a few animals… Read More

By Kristen Holder 1 year ago

Trees aren’t genetically programmed to die. They die because something like a fire ripped through their environment, they fall over, or they’re destroyed by lightning. Trees continually grow until they… Read More

By Kristen Holder 1 year ago

Humans have been communicating about their reality on external objects for over forty thousand years. The most ancient imagery survives in caves scattered around the globe. These pictographs show that… Read More

By Kristen Holder 1 year ago

Mapping is probably older than mathematics and writing and it’s most likely that an ancestor of Homo sapiens first started drawing primitive maps as a form of communication in their… Read More

By Kristen Holder 1 year ago

Koi fish (Cyprinus carpio) are popular ornamental fish kept around the world. They are long-lived, and Japanese varieties often live more than 50 years. We’ll discover together the oldest koi… Read More

By Kristen Holder 1 year ago

The first roads were created by migrating animals. They hammered down paths through terrain that was easy to follow by human hunter-gatherers. By the time the weather stabilized at the… Read More

By Kristen Holder 1 year ago

What are some of the oldest cheeses on Earth? Cheese is a fermented food that has existed for at least 7,500 years and remains immensely popular today. Humans probably first… Read More

By Kristen Holder 1 year ago