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Newts, a fascinating group of aquatic amphibians that are often mistaken for lizards, belong to the salamander family. Despite their lizard-like appearance, they share no close relation to lizards. Newts inhabit various regions across North America, Europe, and Asia, and they display versatility in their living conditions, thriving in both . . . Read more

Jackals are members of the canine family, which means that they are related to wolves, dogs and coyotes. There are three members of the jackal family: the black-backed jackal and the side-striped jackal (both found in sub-Saharan Africa) and the golden jackal (found in northern Africa, southeastern and central Europe, . . . Read more

Ferrets are a domesticated pet and were domesticated from the European Polecat, which is related to similar mammals such as weasels, otters, badgers and wolverines. The exact reason that these animals were domesticated remains uncertain, but it is believed that they were first domesticated around 500 BC. Today, they are . . . Read more

Manta Rays are large marine animals that are best known for their triangular fins (sometimes known as wings), flat body shape and thin whip-like tail. These animals can reach more than 7 m (23 ft) in width and a weight of 1,350 kg (3,000 lb). There are two species of manta rays, the giant manta ray and the reef manta ray, and they belong to the eagle ray family. Manta rays are found in most of the world’s oceans from temperate through to tropical waters. The reef manta ray tends to inhabit reef systems and the giant manta ray migrates across the ocean in search for food. Let’s find out what these large rays eat.

The boa constrictor is a large, heavy species of snake found throughout Mexico, much of Central America and South America, along with some Caribbean islands. They are best known for their impressive size and weight and have been recorded to reach lengths of 4.3 m (14 ft) and weights of up to 45 kg (99 lbs). However, the size and weight of these animals varies considerably between subspecies and the average boa constrictor is about 2.4 m (8ft) long with a weight of around 10 kg (22 lbs). The size of these snakes is also very dependent on the availability of suitable prey. Let’s take a look at the common diet of the boa constrictor.

Llamas are a domesticated animals that are raised for their wool and sometimes for their milk and meat. They originated in South America and are closely related to the alpaca, guanaco and vicuña (these species are also found in South America). Llamas are now raised in many countries outside their traditional range. The llama has multiple compartments in their stomach and the food must pass through all of these compartments. The first of these compartments is where the food is fermented for further processing. The second and third compartments are where the nutrients are extracted from the food. Let’s take a look at the common diet of the llama.

Sheep are a domesticated animal that are probably descended from the wild mouflon that is native to Europe, Asia and the Middle East. It is believed that they were one of the first animals that were domesticated for agriculture. Sheep are commonly raised for their meat and fleece (which is sheared and turned into wool), and less commonly for their milk. There are more than 200 different breeds of sheep in existence (although estimations of thousands of breeds are also common if extinct breeds are included) and each breed is raised for their specific characteristics. The diet of a sheep may depend on the purpose that the sheep is being raised (for meat, milk or wool).

Bobcats are a member of the cat family found throughout a large portion of North America, from southern Canada through to northern Mexico. They are about double the size of a domesticated cat and have been known to reach 22 kg (48 lbs) in weight. They are best known for their distinctive markings, including black bars on their front legs, black tipped tail and spotted patterning. This appearance helps camouflage the animal and allows it to be an effective hunter. Let’s take a look at the common diet of the bobcat.

Walruses are aquatic mammals best known for their tusks, whiskers and very large size. They are related to seals and sea lions and are second only to the elephant seals in terms of size. An adult male can weigh as much as 2,000 kg (4,400 lbs) and reach up to 4 m (13.1 ft) in length. They have long been an important species to humans who have hunted them for their meat, ivory and blubber. Walruses are found in the Arctic Ocean and subarctic seas in the Northern Hemisphere. The live in the shallow waters found near to the coast and spend most of their time on the sea ice searching for their favorite food. Let’s find out what walruses eat.

Slug is the name given to any member of the gastropod family that do not have a shell, have a tiny shell, or have an internal shell. Other members of the gastropod family that have larger shells are known as snails. Slugs are found almost everywhere on Earth and there are species that can live on land, at sea and in freshwater. They are commonly long, slimy creatures with two pairs of retractable feelers/tentacles on their heads. They have a single foot which allows the slug to move with muscular contractions. Slugs are well known for the sticky trail that they leave behind. This serves many purposes, including preventing the slug from slipping, finding a mate and for hunting other slugs (in some cases). Some species of slugs are also known to be agricultural pests and are killed with baits. This might give us a clue about the diet of a slug.