ANIMALS

How 20 Animals Got Their Names

‘Hippopotamus’ is Latin for “river-horse,” which makes sense for these semiaquatic mammals. The origins of some other animal names aren’t quite as literal.

Unlovable Sea Lampreys Might Share Our Fight-or-Flight Instinct

The alien-looking, bloodsucking fish have cells that may form the same rudimentary nervous system we have.

Rin Tin Tin and trainer Lee Duncan prepare to go before cameras in 1935.

14 of the Biggest Animal Stars in Hollywood History

Rin Tin Tin was found on a World War I battlefield in France before making his way to Hollywood, while poor Arnold the Pig was rumored to have been eaten after ‘Green Acres’ was canceled.

When it comes to eating poop, it's definitely ok to yuck your dog's yum.

How to Stop Your Dog From Eating Poop

There could be several reasons why your dog is eating poop—and several steps you can take to nip the behavior in the bud.

Red vs. Gray Fox: What's the Difference?

Here's how to identify red and gray foxes, plus some helpful information about where the foxes live and what they eat.

Bigfoot Sightings Are Probably Just Bears, Study Finds

A researcher found a significant correlation between Bigfoot sightings and black bear populations.

Crows vs. Ravens: 7 Ways To Tell the Corvid Cousins Apart

If you can’t tell crows and ravens apart, you may think you’re uncovering a minor conspiracy when you’re actually witnessing a murder.

Don't let this sweet face fool you: Arctic foxes eat anything that moves.

What Do Arctic Foxes Eat?

Adorable Arctic foxes will eat anything they can catch on the snowy tundra.

7 Tough Facts About Tardigrades

The microscopic “moss piglets” may be the hardiest creatures on Earth—and anywhere else.

Languages around the world have their own strange idioms.

20 Delightful Idioms From Around the World

Idioms like Mandarin’s ‘take your pants off to fart’ make no sense to English speakers—at least, not English speaker who haven’t read this list.

Smokey Bear with Girl Scouts in front of the U.S. Capitol.

How Smokey Bear Helped Win World War II

Smokey Bear’s first ad slogan wasn’t quite as catchy as “Only YOU can prevent forest fires.”

Why Do Birds Fly South for the Winter?

Genetics, seasonal changes, and Earth's magnetic field all play a role.

15 Wild Facts About Zebras

Some of these animals are rugged mountaineers, some have spots instead of stripes, and some of them bark like dogs. And if you want to tell the zebra species apart, look at their rumps.

Indian cabbage white butterfly (left), luna moth (right).

What’s the Difference Between Moths and Butterflies?

Both develop from caterpillars and both have impressive wings, but if you know what to look for, it's easy to tell moths and butterflies apart.

11 Facts That Could Save Your Life

We’re covering practical tips (like the scent that will alert you to an impending electrical fire) to decidedly stranger ones (how to get out of a kangaroo attack) in the latest episode of The List Show.

This Italian Island Is Giving Away Free Goats

The tiny island of Alicudi has six goats for every person.

Do you know your leopards from your jaguars?

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Animals—And How to Tell the Difference

You won't confuse a moth and a butterfly or an alligator and a crocodile again.

Why Do Some Birds Sing, While Others Caw?

Birds are a noisy bunch, and there's a lot of variation when it comes to avian vocalizations.

Copper and Tod in the 1981 Disney adaptation of ‘The Fox and the Hound.’

10 Fantastic Fictional Foxes

From Reynard to Robin Hood, these fictional foxes all left a lasting impression.

A semi-accurate rendering of a crocodile.

10 Historical First Impressions of Animals and Plants

From the “dark politicks” of cuttlefish to the “prodigious bigness” of snakes, here are 10 accounts of the first times explorers encountered new animals, foods, and more.

The Origins of 11 Funny Animal-Related Sayings

The origins are often more complicated (and fun) than you’d expect.

Dogs like this golden retriever are the result of careful breeding.

The Origins of 12 Beloved Dog Breeds

We trace the history of popular dog breeds like golden retrievers, German shepherds, French bulldogs, and more.

Why Do Cats Follow You to the Bathroom?

Cats love to lurk around tubs like feline voyeurs. What causes this behavior?

Your pooch probably won’t stare at the sun during the total solar eclipse.

Should You Keep Your Pets Indoors During a Solar Eclipse?

Humans will gaze in awe at the sun during the Great North American total solar eclipse on April 8, 2024, but for your pets, it will be just a normal day.

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