Julius Caesar arranged to have a giraffe brought to Rome in 46 B.C. The Romans thought this strange-looking animal had a camel for a mother and a leopard for a father. Of course its parents were giraffes. Giraffes live only in Africa, south of the Sahara Desert. They are found in dry plains areas where they can travel about easily. It is impossible for them to walk in mud and they cannot swim. On the plains they move freely and can run at speeds of thirty miles an hour.
(more…)
Giraffes Facts and Giraffes Pictures
Penguins Facts and Penguins Pictures
Penguins fly in the water rather than above the water. Their wings have become almost like flippers, useless for flying but fine for propelling the birds through the water at speeds up to twenty-five miles an hour. Their webbed feet are used as rudders.
Emus and Cassowaries Facts
EMUS are one of the two very large flightless birds which can still be seen in the wild in Australia. They live on inland plains. Emus have brownish-grey feathers which form a heavy coat over their bodies. Only two patches of bare blue skin on their necks and their heavy legs are not feathered. They … Continue reading
Swans Facts and Swans Pictures
Swans play a prominent part in the folklore of Europe—the dying swan is supposed to sing a final song of indescribable beauty; the seven princes turned into swans by an enchantress, finally rescued by their devoted sister, Lisa; the enchanted maidens who are swans in the famous Russian ballet Swan Lake. One of the best-known … Continue reading
Ptarmigan Facts and Ptarmigan Pictures
Ptarmigan are small grouse. Most of them live in the Arctic, on the tundra near the Arctic, and near the snowline on high mountains. Scientists are not able to agree on the number of species of ptarmigan; some say there are three; others say there are four. The questionable species is a red grouse found … Continue reading
Piccaries Facts and Piccaries Pictures
Peccaries are the native wild pigs of the Americas. They differ in several ways from the wild pigs found in the rest of the world, so scientists have classified them in their own special family. There are only two species, the collared peccary and the white-lipped peccary. Both are found in Central and South America, … Continue reading
Tayras Facts and Tayras Pictures
When night falls in the tropical forests the tayras, tree weasels of South America, wake up and begin their search for food. They often hunt in family packs or in pairs. They eat almost anything they can find, from small animals to fruit. Since they are excellent climbers they also raid birds’ nests for eggs. … Continue reading
Jabirus and woodstorks Facts
In the wet open marshlands of Central and South America it is possible to see a tall white bird searching for frogs and insects. As this bird stalks on long black legs through the tall marsh grasses, it keeps its foot-long, thick black bill partially open so it can capture its prey quickly. There are … Continue reading