... - animals

Animals

Even though humans, technically, are animals - the phrase "You animal, you" has been heard - here only closer relatives of humans such as mammals are represented - the biological definition of the word refers to all members of the kingdom Animalia.   Also, this should not be considered an encyclopedia because only those with related images are represented, making this a limited selection.  Unfortunately the photographers are unknown so no credit can be given. Most images are cinemagraphs (a combination of photograph and video movie) because each seems to add important unspoken words.
 

Dogs  

 The domestic dog is a subspecies of the gray wolf,  the first domesticated animal, and the most widely kept pet animal in human history.  Cat owners may dispute this.  However, a study of fossil dogs and wolves in Belgium, Ukraine, and Russia tentatively dates domestication from 14,000 years ago to more than 31,700 years ago.
 You may not own one now but chances are you will.  In total, there is said to be around 400 million dogs in the world.

 

Polar Bears

 They may look cuddly but polar bears are carnivorous, meaning they eat meat - seals make up most of its diet. They range lies largely within the Arctic Circle so you won't see one roaming through your backyard, unless you are an eskimo.   The adult male is called a boar, (770–1,540 lbs), while the adult female is a sow of about half that size.  Although most polar bears are born on land, they spend most of their time at sea. In fact, their scientific name means "maritime bear", and derives from this fact. Polar bears hunt their preferred food of seals from the edge of sea ice, often living off fat reserves when no sea ice is present.
 Here is a fact you were dying to know: the polar bear was the mascot for the 1998 Winter Olympics in Calgary, Canada. Feel better now?

 

Cheetahs

 The cheetah, a large feline, inhabits most of Africa and parts of the Middle East. It can run faster than any other land animal— as fast as 70 to 75 mph - in short bursts covering distances up to 1,600 ft. This cat is faster than a speedy roadster, with the ability to accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h (62 mph) in three seconds. The cat is also notable for modifications in the species' paws. It is one of the few with semi-retractable claws.
 Males live in small permanent groups called coalitions, which are usually made up of brothers. Usually only one male in a coalition mates with any particular female.

 

Penquins

 Penguins are a group of aquatic, flightless birds living almost exclusively in the Southern Hemisphere, especially in Antarctica. Through time these birds have adapted for life in the water, developing countershaded, a form of camouflage, dark and white plumage, and their wings have evolved into flippers.  No, they don't dance... that was just for the movie Happy Feet.  Most penguins feed on krill (small crustaceans), fish, squid and other forms of sealife caught while swimming underwater. They spend about half of their lives on land and half in the oceans.
 Ever get that wanderlust? Penguins don't. The Galapagos Penguin is the only penguin specie that ventures north of the equator in the wild.

 

Giraffes

 The giraffe is an African mammal, the tallest living terrestrial animal - the male can reach 20 feet in height, the female giraffes a bit shorter at about 14 feet and the babies are only  6 feet tall. They are also the largest mammal to be able to acquire nutrients from plant-based food by fermenting it in a specialized stomach prior to digestion. Its species name,  Giraffa camelopardalis, refers to its camel-like appearance and the patches of color on its fur. Its chief distinguishing characteristics are its extremely long neck and legs,  their antler-like protuberances on the heads, called  ossicones, and the giraffes' distinctive coat patterns.
  Did you know that an adult giraffe’s heart is 2 feet long and weighs about 20 pounds or that  its' tongue is almost 2 feet long? I don't know why but  giraffes cannot cough.  Which is good because they wouldn't be able to find a throat lozenge (cough drop) big enough.
   

 Wildebeests

 The wildebeest, also called the gnu, is an African antelope. There are two species of Wildebeest, both native to Africa: the black, or white-tailed gnu, and the blue, or brindled gnu. Fossil records suggest these two species diverged about one million years ago, resulting in northern and southern species.  It was the Dutch who named the animal.  Due to their resemblance to wild cattle, these people called them "wild ox" or "wildebeest".

 It is no wonder these animals have many predators - including lions, hyena and cheetahs - being so noisy.  Bulls have an array of loud vocalizations, from moans to explosive snorts.  Fortunately that noise comes in handy.  When danger is spotted, the wildebeest warn each other by using groaning calls and run together creating a stampede.
 

 Deer

 Deer species therein include white-tailed,  black-tailed, elk, moose, red deer, reindeer, fallow deer, roe deer, pudú and chital. Male deer of all species (except the Chinese water deer) and female reindeer grow and shed new antlers each year.
 Antlers are not always a good thing to have.  During the mating season male deer will often use their antlers to fight for the attention of female deer and many species have been hunted over the years for their antlers.

 The word "deer" was originally broader in meaning, but became more specific over time. In Middle English, der meant a wild animal of any kind. This was as opposed to cattle, which then meant any sort of domestic livestock that was easy to collect and remove from the land. For most types of deer, the male is called a "buck" and the female is termed a "doe", but for many larger deer, the male is termed a "stag". Terms for young deer vary, with that of most smaller species being called a "fawn" and that of most larger species "calf"; young of the smallest kinds may be a kid. A castrated male deer is a "havier". A group of deer of any kind is a "herd".  Clear, isn't it.

Coyotes

 The coyote is also known as the American jackal, brush wolf, or the prairie wolf.  A species of canine it is found throughout North and Central America, ranging from Panama in the south and as far north as Alaska.

 Pet-owners beware; unlike the wolf, the coyote's range has expanded in the wake of human civilization, and coyotes readily reproduce in metropolitan areas. Urban populations of coyotes have been known to actively hunt cats, and to leap shorter fences to take small dogs. In particularly bold urban packs, coyotes have also been reported to shadow human joggers (see, a good reason not to run!) or larger dogs, and even to take small dogs while the dog is still on a leash.

 

Lions

 The lion is one of the four big cats; the other three being the tiger, the jaguar, and the leopard. With some males exceeding 550 lb in weight, it is the second-largest living cat after the tiger. Their gender is easy to determine.  The female, called a lioness, is the hunter and lacks the male's thick mane. However, both females and males share the most distinctive characteristic, the tail ends in a hairy tuft.  Like most household pets, lions spend much of their time resting and are inactive for about 20 hours per day.
 African lions are the most social of all big cats and live together in groups or “prides.” A pride consists of about 15 lions. A house may be your castle but with lions the male defends the pride’s territory while the females do most of the hunting. Despite this, the males eat first.