It is generally known that animals such as bears, tigers and sloths have exceptionally long claws. But the creature that holds the world record might surprise you. While two-toed and three-toed sloths have claws that grow between 7–10cm long, they aren’t the longest claws you’ll find in the animal kingdom. Grizzly bears and Siberian tigers generally have claws that are […]
Tag: snakes
I’ve caught the baby wombat”: 10 unbelievably idiotic and foolish acts committed by tourists that will have your blood boiling
Tourists, eh? What are they like? There’s clearly something about going on holiday that turns off the part of the brain that deals with common sense. Mix that with a devil may care ‘we’re on holiday, let’s do it’ attitude and a wild animal or two, and you’ve got a potent recipe for disaster, says Dixe […]
These baby iguanas must run for their lives – or they’ll be constricted to death by snakes. Will they make it?
Marine iguanas can reach an impressive age of 60 years, but their average lifespan is 12 years or less – which is not surprising, considering what they have to face straight out of the egg. Galapagos racer snakes are on high alert, knowing that this will be their best feeding opportunity all year. A baby iguana is more […]
“It can run across water at speeds of 5 feet per second. That’s pretty nippy…” 9 weirdest reptiles in the world, including a devil with two heads
Reptiles are a diverse group of animals, and some of them have truly bizarre and fascinating characteristics – here are a few of the weirdest reptiles on the planet. Weirdest reptiles in the world Green basilisk A lizard that can run on water? Meet the Green basilisk – also known as the ‘Jesus Christ lizard’ […]
“It has incredibly potent venom, causing catastrophic internal bleeding and horrifying consequences – with the body coming apart from within.”
Long, arboreal and often dazzlingly green, the boomslang looks more like a vine with eyes than a killer. Yet this member of the Colubrid snake family carries an incredibly potent venom, capable of causing catastrophic internal bleeding. It is shy and much less likely to bite than some other more aggressive venomous snakes, such as the saw-scaled […]
“An attack can be fatal, due to their venom and bacteria…” The 3 deadliest, most lethal lizards the planet
When we think of dangerous animals, lizards might not seem as though they’d be top of the list – but a few scaly species prove that reptiles can be just as lethal as big cats or venomous snakes. From venom that has been transformed into trailblazing diabetes treatment to toxins that inhibit blood clotting, lizards have some of the most […]
“Its venom disrupts the blood-clotting system, causing haemorrhage and kidney failure. Without prompt treatment bites can be fatal…”
This little desert hunter may not look especially imposing, but its bite can be deadly, and in India it is one of the “Big Four” snakes thought to be jointly responsible for around 58,000 mortalities per year. Those that encounter the saw-scaled viper would do well to heed the rasping warning sound it emits before […]
“It can live for 30 years without food & survive temperatures from zero to boiling point.” 8 indestructible animals that are the ultimate survivors
In certain situations, there are animals that seem almost immortal as they not only survive but thrive in extreme circumstances, says Sheena Harvey. The world’s most indestructible animals on Earth The animal that can survive fire The trick the echidna, an Australian egg-laying mammal, employs to stay alive despite all around them being destroyed by a wildfire was only discovered in […]