Elephants are the largest land animals in the world. Male African bush elephants (Loxodonta africana, the largest of all elephant species) stand 3.2 meters (10.5 feet) tall (at the shoulder) on average and weigh around 6 metric tons. Females stand about 2.6 meters (8.5 feet) on average at the shoulder with a body mass of about 3 metric tons. So, their mass is enormous, and because of this, the elephants can’t jump, despite having powerful legs.
Cassowaries are one of the largest birds in the world. They have big, three-toed feet with sharp claws which are fearsome, since cassowaries sometimes kick and injure, and even kill humans and other animals with their powerful legs. Cassowary claws are lethal weapons!
Polar bears (scientific name: Ursus maritimus) are one of the most majestic and awe-inspiring animals on the planet. These massive predators are perfectly adapted to life in the harsh Arctic environment, with thick fur, webbed paws, and an incredible sense of smell that allows them to locate prey from great distances. In this article, we’ll take a closer look at polar bears, including some amazing facts about their size, behavior, and habitat. From the largest polar bear ever recorded to their incredible swimming ability, read on to discover 20 fascinating facts about these incredible animals.
When Earth’s magnetic field which forms the Earth’s magnetosphere is struck by violent geomagnetic storms, narrow streams of fast-moving ions can form, which pose serious threats to vital satellite systems. Through her research, Dr. Amy Keesee at the University of New Hampshire is shedding new light on how these streams originate, by picking up the energetic neutral atoms they occasionally generate.
Her team’s work has proved that these atoms can be used to build reliable temperature maps of the magnetosphere – the region around Earth dominated by the planet’s magnetic field. Such temperature maps can help us to better predict when satellite systems may be under threat.
Mount Everest is the highest mountain in the world. Its summit is 8,848.86 meters (29,031.7 feet) above sea level. Naturally, It looks amazing from space, and as a result, many astronauts take its photos during their journeys. Here are the top 5 most amazing photos of Mount Everest from space, published by NASA.
Birds come in a remarkable range of sizes, with species varying dramatically in size from the tiny bee hummingbird to the towering ostrich. This incredible diversity in bird size allows different species to adapt to various ecological niches, enhancing their chances of survival in changing environments. Here are the 15 largest birds in the world (the largest living bird species).
Crocodiles are aquatic reptiles, and among the most feared carnivores on Earth, because of their size, big powerful jaws, and aggressiveness. They are so successful predators – once they were living alongside the dinosaurs. After the Chicxulub impact, which happened around 66 million years ago, the non-avian dinosaurs were gone but crocodiles managed to survive. Here are the top 20 amazing crocodile facts about these fascinating beasts.
Insects evolved around 480 million years ago, around the same time as the earliest land plants. Today, they represent more than 90 percent of the animal life forms on Earth. They are in many different body shapes and sizes. Here are the top 10 largest insects in the world.
Alligators are very large reptiles. An alligator is also a crocodilian – they are close cousins of crocodiles. But, unlike crocodiles – which can be found on all continents except Europe and Antarctica, they are native to only the United States and China. Here are 20 amazing alligator facts.
According to biology professor Alvin Silverstein’s 1980 book Nature’s Champions, in 1883, a giant saltwater crocodile bigger than Lolong was killed in the Philippines. It measured 27 feet (8.23 meters) from the tips of its snout to the end of its tail. It was also more than 2 tons in weight. Sources say it required the help of 40 men to bring its body ashore. And, when the massive crocodile was opened up for examination, individuals were taken aback to find the segmented remains of a horse, carved into seven distinct pieces.
There’s no photo of the crocodile, because of the record’s date, but if that story is true, it was the largest crocodile ever recorded.