Animals

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All about amphibians & reptiles

Herpetology is the study of reptiles and amphibians, and those who study them are referred to as herpetologists. A reptile 🦎 is… Reptiles are air-breathing vertebrates covered in special skin made up of scales, bony plates, or a combination of both. They include crocodiles, snakes, lizards, turtles, and tor- toises. … Because of their slow metabolism and heat-seeking behavior, reptiles are cold-blooded. ( National Geo )  An amphibian is…. Amphibians are small vertebrates that need water, or a moist environment, to...

Christmas animals: Caribou v reindeer

They may be the same species, but these two animals are very different. Many of these differences stem from their relationship with humans throughout history. Reindeer in Eurasia were domesticated over 2000 years and although some animals remain in the wild, reindeer is a blanket name that includes both the domesticated and wild populations. In Canada, we refer to them as caribou, and almost all of them are wild; the ones that are not are also referred to as reindeer....

COVID-19 impact on the animal kingdom

While the human tally of COVID-19 cases has risen, animal cases have remained novelties. As of this moment, you can count the affected species on one hand: lions, tigers, domestic cats, dogs, mink. The pets contracted the virus from their owners; the big cats, likely from an asymptomatic caregiver; and the mink, likely from fur farm workers or possibly other infected animals.Beyond that conclusion is a sea of unknowns. There’s no evidence that domesticated animals can pass the virus to humans, but there’s...