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Although a rodent’s size mostly depends on its species and occasionally on its diet, the fundamental rodent body plan is that of a little, compact, furry, four-limbed mammal with short claws and a long tail. However, there are still some rodents that are bigger than the average description, and even more shockingly, there was once a rodent species that weighed more than three horses. This article addresses this extinct rodent and also gives some random facts....

This article will explore the current title holder of the oldest living person in the world, as well as the last five people to have held this prestigious title. The World’s Oldest Person Today: Lucile Randon Lucile Randon, a 118-year-old woman from France, is the current oldest living person in the world. She was born on February 11, 1904, and lives in a nursing home in Toulon, France. At 118, she still enjoys audiobooks, listening to music, and spending time with her family....

Exoskeleton vs. Endoskeleton Both the exoskeleton and endoskeleton are bone structures that grow with the body. Endoskeletons are on the inside of an animal. Mammals have endoskeletons. An exoskeleton develops around the animal’s external frame. For invertebrates, the shell consists of proteins, minerals, and carbohydrates. The exoskeleton of mollusks is a calcium carbonate shell. With the endoskeleton, the skeleton provides support that allows the body to hold weight and promote movement....

On Saturn, temperatures vary greatly. As a gas giant, the planet features multiple layers of clouds that consist of various elements. For example, the predominant element in the upper cloud layer is called ammonia ice. In contrast, the lower layers feature water droplets and aqueous ammonia. Each material influences the planet’s temperature. In the lines below, we’ll take a look at the average highest and lowest temperatures throughout the planet’s surface....

Majestic Snow Leopards A member of the Panthera genus, the snow leopard is found in concentrated areas of Asia and Eurasia. It is actually more closely related to the tiger than to the leopard and is the national animal of Pakistan. Snow leopards like to live in the cold habitat of the Himalayas and is adapted to thrive in this environment. It has a thick, warm coat to keep out the freezing temperatures....

Where Do Cottonmouth Snakes Live? As with any creature, the cottonmouth snake’s range greatly influences the foods it eats. The cottonmouth snake resides mostly on the southeast coast of the United States. Yet, this animal can be found as far north as Virginia and as far west as parts of Texas. The snake has been sighted in areas of Illinois and Tennessee, but it is much rarer in the mountain ranges of the latter....

The smallest type of toothed whale in the world is the dwarf sperm whale. Don’t confuse this type of whale with the pygmy sperm whale, another slightly larger species of small whale. From 1878 until 1998, the two were actually considered to be the same species. However, in the 1990s, scientists discovered that they were different enough to be two separate species. In addition, there may be two different species of the dwarf sperm whale, separated by regions....

But why does your dog lean on you? What does it want? While every dog is an individual, there are a few common reasons dogs lean on their owners. For example, they may be trying to say something about their feelings or what they need. Here are some of the most common meanings for canine leaning. 1. A Sign of Affection Your dog leans on you because it sees you as a pack member....

Although there are 46 different species of snakes in the state, rattlesnakes are the only venomous ones found. The majority of California snakes can be found in its desert areas, but many of them can be found in shallow water bodies such as lakes. According to World Atlas, there are about 3,000 named lakes and reservoirs in the state, of which one might wonder which are safe for a swim and which are not....

But, at a time when we are becoming more aware of the destruction we have caused and are looking more and more to conserving the world’s habitats, how many of us actually know which animals are our rarest? Here are the 10 rarest animals in the world: Next Up… Different Types and Categories of Endangered Animals: There are many species that have been declared endangered. Find out which and more details about them....

Somehow, these petite birds have managed to carve out unique niches in their ecosystems — and their limited reach generally suggests highly specialized evolutionary development. Their small size demands fewer resources for survival and offers them more opportunities to evade predators, while their slight weights allow them greater speed and mobility in the air. And while raptors tend to have the greatest speeds, small and light species like hummingbirds are still capable of an impressive range of motion....

A visitor caught an adorable young elephant having a fit near a dirt road. While we can’t tell what caused this outburst, we’re glad someone was recording! Elephant calves are known as calves. They are around three feet tall and weigh a whopping 250 pounds when they are born. Although calves initially have poor vision, they can identify their moms through touch, smell, and sound. Young elephants start to learn how to feed and drink using their trunks around the six to the eight-month mark....

Stoat’s Appearance and Lifestyle The name ‘stoat’ comes from an old Dutch word for “bold” or “pushy,” and this perfectly sums up an animal that we would now describe as aggressive carnivores. They usually feed on smaller rodents and this typically includes voles, mice and hamsters. However, they are not picky eaters and will have a go at many other animals. This means that their diet can also include insects, birds and even lizards....

How Dangerous Are Mako Sharks? In this brief video, we see a man on top of the back of a mako shark. It is unclear whether or not this is a longfin or a shortfin mako shark, given that they are closely related but have subtle differences between them. The man does not appear to be dressed for swimming, but he kneels in the water on top of the shark and does something even more terrifying than this....

Coyotes are known for intruding on yards and snatching away unattended pets, especially puppies and smaller breed dogs. As this video shows, they could also attack or play pranks on adult dogs. Even though dogs have a keen sense of smell and can smell a coyote from a distance, the guard dog in the video doesn’t see the coyote coming. The coyote hesitates for a few seconds before pitching the dog’s hind leg and running away....

Incredible Eating Challenge! The first challenge is the head. It looks a physical impossibility for the antlers to enter inside the python’s mouth because they are at 90 degrees to the gazelle’s skull. And yet, with a few alterations of the angle of the head, it is eased inside the snake’s mouth. The footage fast forwards to a scene when the python has eaten the entire gazelle and is making its way across a shallow part of the river....

What Can Cause UTI in Dogs? There are several ways a dog can develop a urinary tract infection, but bacteria are the primary cause. E. coli is the most common bacteria to infect dogs. However, other organisms can be involved. Bacteria from feces and other debris can enter the urethra and travel to the bladder, where it grows and reproduces. Other less common and more severe causes of UTI include bladder disease, kidney disease, kidney stones, diabetes, cancer, prostate disease, and several more....

What is the Kavachi Volcano? The Solomon Islands are home to the infamous “Sharkcano,” also known as the Kavachi Volcano. The sea god “Kavachi” inspired this volcano’s name and is also known on the islands as “Rejo te Kvachi” or “Kavachi’s Oven.” Kavachi is a Pacific Ocean submarine volcano that is one of the most active on Earth. The volcano’s first officially recorded eruption occurred in 1939, and it has been continually erupting since then....

Before long, a moose with two calves appears across the grassland and walks almost straight into the waiting bear. The chase starts and sadly ends in a very short space of time as the bear catches one of the calves and easily overpowers it. The mother and the other calf, however, escape and then turn to look back as the bear devours the unfortunate calf. They soon move on as the grizzly retreats to the cover of the larger trees to eat their catch....

There’s a humongous crocodile whose upper body is all that’s sticking out of the water. The large head rests on the beach, and you can see the bone-crushing teeth. As a human, If you saw this crocodile, you’d stay far away! But maybe you’d see things differently if you were a daredevil rooster. Rooster Walks On a Crocodile: Alligators Vs. Crocodiles The video is also an excellent opportunity to examine what crocodile heads look like vs....