When we think about getting a new pet, sometimes it’s easy to default to traditional dogs and cats. And there’s nothing wrong with that. Both can make for incredibly lovable companions (I’m a cat person myself). But what if you don’t have the room for a dog to play or a cat to roam? What if they’re just not your thing? Or what if you want to get a smaller pet for your child’s first pet?

Fortunately there are many small animals that can make great pets — some that are even surprising. Today let’s look at ten examples. I’ve left out fish and reptiles (although they can make fine pets as well). I did that because there are so many varieties commonly available that they would be worthy of a separate list altogether. Let’s focus instead on some furry little friends and two varieties of small birds that you might want to welcome into your home.

Here are ten examples of small animals that can make great pets.

1. Hamsters

Hamsters are a common first pet for children due to their small size. You can keep their cages almost anywhere, making them ideal to keep in a kid’s room.

Credit: Stephanie (via Flickr)

2. Gerbils

Gerbils are another very small option if you’re interested in a rodent as a pet.

Credit: benmckune (via Flickr)

3. Mice

I don’t particularly think of mice as pets (probably because my brother used to have to buy them as food for his pet snake — something I could never bring myself to watch). But some varieties you find in pet stores are absolutely adorable. Where I live, I’m more used to the field mouse variety.

Credit: Ruud Hein (via Flickr)

4. Rats

I didn’t even realize people kept rats as pets until a few years ago. Since then I’ve known several people who do. And while rats aren’t the pet for me, I’ve heard nothing but good things about keeping them. Apparently they’re very social little creatures, and quite intelligent.

Credit: Adria Richards (via Flickr)

5. Guinea Pigs

As far as pet rodents go, guinea pigs are more my speed. Sadly, our pet guinea pig (Gaby) passed away just last week, and we’re too upset at this point to rush out and get another. But I can tell you they make wonderful pets and can be incredibly sweet. They come in both long and short-haired varieties, so be prepared to groom them regularly if you get a long-haired guinea pig (also called a cavie).

Credit: Daniel Hall (via Flickr)

6. Chinchillas

Chinchillas are some of the cutest small animals I’ve ever had experience with. My brother’s teacher had one as a class pet when we were kids. And we were asked to keep it in our house over one summer break. They’re truly amusing little creatures to watch.

Credit: Arkangel (via Flickr)

7. Rabbits

What’s not to love about cute little bunnies? What some people don’t realize is that rabbits aren’t just outdoor pets to be kept in hutches. They can also make for wonderful indoor companions. They can make a good bit of noise with their thumping though, so be prepared for that. Then again, most animals will make some kind of noise you’ll need to get used to.

Credit: Jannes Pockele (via Flickr)

8. Ferrets

Ferrets are another somewhat common small animal people keep as pets. I don’t have personal experience with these little cuties, largely because I’ve heard they can be bad biters. If you’re a ferret owner, I’d love to hear if you’ve found that to be the case or not (so leave us a comment). As you can see in the picture below, ferrets can even be taken outside for walks on a leash.

Credit: Hans Splinter (via Flickr)

9. Parakeets

The first of two birds on our list is the parakeet. My grandmother kept parakeets when I was growing up, and my only memory of them is being bitten. They’re one of the most common birds I see when I visit pet stores in the area. And they’re always some of the most beautifully-colored birds around.

Credit: Rich Young (via Flickr)

10. Cockatiels

Cockatiels are another type of small bird that can make great pets. I was never a big fan of pet birds (due to being bit by my grandmother’s parakeet as a kid). But a friend’s cockatiel changed my mind. He’s sweet, funny to listen to and watch, and extremely social. They’re also simply gorgeous animals. If you’re looking for a bird you can teach to talk or sing, but you aren’t ready to commit to a larger parrot, a cockatiel can be a good choice.

Credit: Ruben Charles (via Flickr)

Do you own any of these small animals as pets (or have you in the past)? Leave a comment and tell us about your experiences with them. Would you get the same kind of pet again or not? Let us know why. Or did we miss your favorite small pet? If so, leave a comment and share other great examples and your stories about your favorite little critters.

Male Wild Turkey - Credit: Fotolia.com

As Thanksgiving approaches, you might be thinking about what size turkey you should buy for your family’s feast or how you’ll cook this year’s turkey. But turkeys are more than holiday meals. They’re rather interesting animals — especially wild turkeys. Today let’s take a closer look by exploring some fun facts about these beautiful birds.

Here are ten facts about turkeys you might not have known.

1. A turkey’s body has between 5000 and 6000 feathers. A female turkey’s feathers tend to be brown for concealment (so they can safely stay in the nest with their eggs) while males have more colorful plumage that lets them show off and attract mates. [source]
2. While wild turkeys thrive in the U.S. today, they were near extinction as recently as the 1930s. [source]
3. Benjamin Franklin proposed the wild turkey as the national bird of the United States (although the ultimate choice was the bald eagle). [source]
4. Turkeys are intelligent birds. Not only can they recognize other turkeys by their voices, but they can learn the geography of an area covering more than 1000 acres. [source]
5. Wild turkeys can fly up to 55 miles per hour, although only for short distances. [source]
6. Turkeys are also reasonably fast on the ground, able to run up to 25 miles per hour. [source]
7. The gobble sound a wild turkey makes can be heard from around a mile away. [source]
8. Like humans, wild turkeys are omnivores, eating both plant-based food like grass and berries as well as insects and even small reptiles. [source]
9. Only female turkeys care for their young, and that care only lasts briefly. After a few days, the chicks (with 4-17 eggs laid in a short period) learn to feed themselves. [source]
10. Unlike some animals (like deer), overpopulation is not a problem with wild turkeys. They can live in large groups without doing serious damage to the environment because of their diverse food sources. Because they’ll eat using several plant and animal sources, they don’t deplete any one of them completely as other animal populations might. [source]

A female turkey (hen) with her chicks - Credit: Fotolia.com

Where I live it’s rare to see wild turkeys, but I see some once a year when I’m lucky. They’re big, gorgeous birds that you might find coming out of the woods to feed or even crossing a street with their chicks. Do larger wild turkey populations exist where you live? What do you think of them? Did you learn anything new about turkeys from this collection of fun facts? Let us know in the comments below.

The saying goes that a change is as good as a rest and in most cases this is a good idea.

In others, however, it has the complete opposite effect.

We take huge swathes of jungle or rain forest or whatever we want, changing the landscape and the habitat forever with next to no regard for the creatures that have lived there, without bothering anybody, for centuries.

Most people have a favorite animal or one for which they have a soft spot because it looks so cute or cuddly, while some just like anything that is different or dangerous.  Surprisingly, some of these are a long way down the road to extinction as their numbers are dwindling fast, in most cases through no fault of their own.

Things really are serious for and the endangered species list seems to get longer every week.

For anyone who does not understand the full implications of what this list is telling us, it is this simple – if things continue as they are there with deforestation and over fishing, there will very soon come a day when the only way that you will be able to see certain creatures, like those listed below, will be in a book or on television, as they will no longer be with us.

1.  African Elephant

Image:  ucumari (Flickr)

Image:  DaKaTotal (Flickr)

Image:  Arno &Louise Wildlife (Fotopedia)

These majestic creatures are the largest living land animal in the world and are found almost all over the continent after which they are known.

Having large ears, which some people suggest look like a map of Africa, they use these to radiate heat to help to keep themselves cool.

The main reason for the decline in their numbers is poaching, which simply means that these beautiful creatures were killed for nothing more than their tusks – which are ivory – something that both male and females have.

Although there is now an international ban on ivory trading, the results of years of senseless killing saw the populations of these giants plummet in places.  In the 16 years between 1973 and 1989, the population of African elephants in Kenya was reduced by around 85% and in other places, the numbers have dropped from 400,000 to as little as 10,000 in around 40 years.

2.  Tiger

Image:  GavinBell (Flickr)

Image:  digitalART2 (Flickr)

Image:  AxelFoley (Flickr)

Magnificent is a fitting description for these fearsome predators, which most people would recognise from their markings.  These white and black stripes create a unique pattern that is not only excellent for camouflage in the long grass, but is also like a human finger print in so much as no two will be exactly the same.

These stunning creatures, the largest and some say the most beautiful of the big cats, have seen a massive decline in numbers.  It is thought that there are less than 5,000 tiger in the whole world with only, 6 of the 9 subspecies left, but hopefully the law that now totally prohibits the hunting of them anywhere on earth will give them at least a slim chance of survival.

3.  Giant Panda

Image:  cliff1066™ (Flickr)

Image:  Smithsonian’s National Zoo (Flickr)

Image:  Sheep”R”Us (Flickr)

These cuddly looking creatures have captured the hearts of more people than any other simply because they look a little clumsy, comical and very loveable.  However, they are in truth solitary animals that prefer to live alone almost extensively in a few mountain ranges in central China, at elevations anywhere between 5,000 and 10,000 feet.

Their diet consists mainly of bamboo shoot, but they will also eat small birds and animals should the opportunity arise.

Growing to around 4 to 6 feet long and approximately 2 to 3 feet at the shoulders, they can weigh up to 350lbs and of course have that very distinctive black and white colouring that is instantly recognisable to so many people.

4.  Whale Shark

Image:  Mike Johnston (Flickr)

Image:  Andrew Kalat (Flickr)

Image:  istolethetv (Flickr)

This is the largest living fish species in the world, which populate all of the tropical seas as they prefer the warmer waters.  They are true giants and can grow up to a colossal 41.5 feet and they tip the scales at around 21.5 tons.

Despite its huge size, this gentle giant is a filter feeder and uses its massive mouth to scoop up its food of choice, which fortunately for humans is plankton. They can, if left undisturbed, live for around 70 years, but sadly there are places in part of Asia that still find it necessary to hunt these beautiful, harmless creatures for one reason or another.

5.  Polar Bear

Image:  Jeremiah Blatz

Image:  Martha de Jong-Lantink (Fotopedia)

Image:  Martha de Jong-Lantink (Fotopedia)

This bear is the largest carnivore, in the world and lives almost exclusively in that area of frozen wilderness that is known as the Arctic Circle.  Polar bears are twice the size of the Siberian tiger, with males growing to between 8 and 10 feet in length and weighing in at anywhere from 750 to 1500lbs.

It is believed that these beautiful creatures, although land animals, do in fact spend most of their time in the water hunting for their food of choice, which is seal.

They are able to withstand the intense cold because of their thick, almost transparent fur, which covers their body and is made up of air filled guard hairs. These hairs transmit heat from the sunlight to the bear’s skin, which is black, enabling the animal to soak up as much as possible of the available sunlight.

Although there are those amongst us who would extol the virtues of these creatures, to a far greater amount of people, snakes quite simply represent the stuff of nightmares. Whether it is the way that they move or those stark, unblinking eyes, they just seem to represent the absolute definition of everything that is dangerous and should be avoided at all costs.

There are thought to be around 3,000 different species of snake in the world, covering every conceivable weight and size. They range from the recently discovered specimen that is a mere 4 inches long and as thin as a noodle, to the monster that is the green anaconda. These leviathans can grow up to 28 feet (8.5 meters) with a girth of 44 inches (111cm) and weigh upwards of 500 pounds (226 kilograms).

Of the thousands of snakes around the world, less than 15% of them are venomous, meaning that they kill their prey by means of a bite and injecting through their fangs the toxin that they produce

There are many opposing thoughts on what is the most deadly snake, as there are many characteristics to take into consideration, but with that in mind, here are 5 snakes that you would not want to come face to face with.

1.  Inland Taipan

Image:  KleinMatt66 (Flickr)

Image:  Rich Childs (Flickr)

Image:  wasabicube (Flickr)

This snake, which is also known as the Fierce Snake, is widely accepted as the most venomous land snake in the world.

These reclusive reptiles which inhabit parts of Australia, on average reach between 2 and 2.7 metres long in adulthood and are members of the elapidae family, meaning they have fixed front fangs.  Although the fangs are relatively short, they deliver a type of venom that is so toxic, should you be unfortunate enough to be bitten by one, it has the potential to kill you within 45 minutes.

The average amount of venom delivered is 44mg, but there has been up to 110 mg recorded, which is more than enough to do some serious damage to any living creature.

Furthermore, the venom is so powerful that with one single bite, this snake’s venom would kill 100 humans or a staggering 250,000 mice and is the reason that the snake is also known as the Fierce Snake, not because of its temperament or behaviour.

2.  Common Indian Krait

 Image:  flickrPrince (Flickr)

Image:  dAvid (fotopedia)

Calling the jungles of the Indian sub-continent home, the Common Indian Krait likes to be close to a water source, which makes encounters with humans almost inevitable.

Usually growing to around 2 to 2.5 feet, although they can be reluctant to bite, when they do they will hold on to make sure that they deliver a considerable amount of their deathly venom.

A vast majority of the recorded bites to humans from this snake have taken place during the night when the victim is sleeping and the bite itself causes little or no pain, so many times the victim is unsure if they have been bitten. It can be only when the victim complains of very bad abdominal cramps that they realise what has happened and this is followed by a progressive paralysis as the neurotoxic venom takes effect.

3.  King Cobra

Image: Pandiyan (Flickr)

Image:  Enygmatic-Halcyon (Flickr)

Image:  Hari Prasad Nadig (Flickr)

Known as the choice of many snake charmers who play their flutes to make the cobra dance, this in itself is odd as the snake cannot hear the music, but simply reacts to the ground vibrations and movement of the flute and charmer.

These creatures are the longest venomous snakes in the world and can reach a colossal 5.5 metres (approximately 18.5 feet) in length, which gives them the ability to be able to stand up and look a human square in the face.

These massive reptiles are the only snakes that will build a nest in which to lay its eggs, which it will guard until the young are hatched. This show of tenderness belies the fact that the venom from the King Cobra carries enough neurotoxin to kill an elephant or 20 humans.

The fact that they are just as at home in trees, on land or even in water usually means that it will cross paths with humans, but they will avoid confrontation where possible.

4.  Russell’s Viper

Image:  teachingsagittarian (Flickr)

Image: benhamin_rualthanzauva (Flickr)

Image:  teemus (Flickr)

This Russell’s Viper, a snake which on average is around 1.3 metres long (approximately 4 feet) and 15 cm (6 inches) in girth causes more deaths that any other snake in the world, predominantly because of the many areas of Asia in which it lives and the fact that it is a regular visitor to highly populated areas, making encounters with humans almost a regular occurrence.

It was named in honour of Patrick Russell, the Scottish herpetologist famous for originally describing many of India’s snake population

This specimen is what is known by some as a true viper, meaning that it lacks the heat sensing pit organ. They do, however, have long tubular fangs which are more than capable of delivering a lethal dose of their haemotoxic venom which brings about thrombosis and cardiac arrest.

5.  Black Mamba

Image:  widdowquinn (Flickr)

Image: Turkinator (Flickr)

Contrary to popular belief, this infamous creature is not black, but normally grey or olive – the black in its name refers to the colour of the inside of its mouth, which it displays when it feels threatened.

Living in eastern and southern Africa, although, like most snakes, the Black Mamba will avoid direct contact with humans if possible, they will, if cornered, go into attack mode. Usually involving spreading their cobra-like neck flap, raising their head as far off the ground as possible and hissing, if this does not deter the attacker, the snake will then strike – not just once, however, but striking and biting repeatedly, each time injecting a large dose of its venom.

Black Mamas are also amongst the fastest snakes in the world, which means that they can move across the ground at around 20 kilometres (12.5 miles) per hour, fast enough to see off many would be assailants.

Most Popular Cats

Call me strange, but I am a guy and I am a cat person.  Now, that doesn’t mean I’m a crazy cat person; I just like cats and they tend to like me.  What can I say?  I grew up around cats, and the one dog we had thought he was a cat.  The whole “cat stigma” of aloof, unpredictable creatures living your home is unfortunately the fault of ignorant owners, or as I like to call them, “morons”.  I hear this a lot, “Well I’d like to get a dog, but I don’t really have much time to pay attention to it, so I’m going to get a cat instead.”  Really—so you’re going to buy an animal, and ignore it, then later complain it’s aloof?  That’s great.  I have a broken microwave over here that I’d like you to stand next to.

It’s true, domestic cats start out a bit more feral than domestic dogs.  And because of this, if anything, cats need *more* attention than dogs.  Cats need to be socialized.  I also hear this a lot, “I hate cats, except for yours.  But yours are weird.  They follow you around and actually let you pet them.”  Yes… that’s because they’ve been saturated with attention since I brought them home.  They’re used to people, and actually like them!

A lazy persian cat

Personally, I’m a fan of mixed breeds, but being mixed they have to come from somewhere.  I was recently surprised to discover that Persians are the most popular cat breed in the United States.  As the breed’s name suggests, Persians are indeed originally from Persia.  Many breeders today have begun breeding them to have deformed flat-faces.  Yes, I said it, they’re deformed and have health problems.  If you’re an average Joe like me, seek out a traditional “doll-face” Persian with the more pronounced muzzle.  You’ll be glad you did.

A Maine Coon

One of my own personal favorite cats is the Maine Coon.  It might seem strange, but this breed is actually specifically native to the state of Maine.  The “Coon” portion of their name comes from their slight resemblance to raccoons (especially their tail).  I personally like them, because they’re HUGE– for a cat at least.  Males can grow to 15 to 25 pounds, as well as up to 40 inches in length.  The cats are perfectly for winter climates as they sport specialized coats and even occasionally polydactyl paws allowing them to traverse more easily through snow.

A toffee colored exotic shorthair

If you’re a fan of Persians, but on the fence about getting one, this might be the cat for you: the Exotic Shorthair.  It’s effectively a short hair Persian, bred to exhibit the same temperament of Persians without the hassle of grooming that long coat.  Unfortunately, it also inherited the same health problems as the Persian.  If you can find them, try to acquire an Exotic that has a more traditional “doll-face” muzzle.  Breeders don’t like them, but they’re healthier.  And speaking of nutty breeders…

Ragdoll kitten gone limp

The Ragdoll.  This type of cat gets its name from its tendency to go completely limp when you pick it up.  The breed started out with a Persian/Angora cat named Josephine who was hit by a car in the 1960’s.  Don’t worry, she survived, and gave birth to a litter of kittens.  The breeder, a woman named Ann Baker, claimed that the accident had made the kittens less sensitive to pain, and gave them the characteristic of going limp.  Baker later claimed that secret genetic experiments had been done on Josephine while she was recovering from her accident at the veterinary clinic.  Finally Ms. Baker claimed that aliens had given her the cats.  (I’m not making this up.)  So—yeah… if you want a cat made by aliens from outer space, go get yourself a ragdoll.  If you’re especially into weird cats though then you might want to save your money for…

A hairless Sphinx cat

The Sphynx cat.  Ever seen a naturally hairless cat?  Yep, that was probably a Sphynx.  Suffice to say, breeding the Sphynx was a difficult task as breeders literally had to wait until mutant hairless kittens were born somewhere in the world and mate them with each other (once they grew up).  Today, the breed is stable and healthy– although it does need sun block… and sweaters.  No joke.

Siamese Cats

If you’re looking for a more… traditional cat, then the Siamese is a safe bet.  Easily one of the most famous cat breeds in the world, the Siamese cat, as its name implies, does indeed originate from Thailand (aka Siam).  Today there are actually two types of Siamese cat.  One is the slender, elongated type we tend to see in cat shows.  The other has the more traditional body shape.  The well known pattern Siamese cats have on their fur is actually a form of albinism in which only the coldest parts of their bodies darken, such as the tips of their ears and the area of their face cooled by their sinuses.  If we’re discussing exotic foreign cats though, there’s a different one I great prefer…

Abyssinian Cat

The Abyssinian.  This is one of my absolute favorite cat breeds.  And yes, I’m biased, because I actually grew up with one.  These cats are extremely extroverted and playful, which definitely gives them an advantage when it comes to winning over non-cat people.  While the name Abyssinian would seem to refer to Ethiopia, Abbys are most frequently viewed as the quintessential Egyptian cat.  Suffice to say, they’re a great cat.

American Shorthair

Another favorite of mine is the American Shorthair, which to the layman probably just looks like your typical tabby.  But don’t be fooled; these cat’s have pedigree.  Yes—these are effectively your average American cat that just happens to have a pedigree.  They’re healthy, robust, and great hunters, which makes sense, since they’re descended from the cats who would catch mice and rats on ships voyaging to the new world.

A Cornish Rex

If you’re looking for one of the friendliest cat breeds in the world, then look no further than the Cornish Rex.  This cat features an especially unique coat made entirely of soft undercoat.  The fur is also beautifully wavy.  Because of this, Cornish Rexes are ideal indoor cats.  Couple this with their inherent love of people and you have the perfect pet.

Birman

I’m going to finish this list with a cat surrounded with legend, the Birman.  Not to be confused with the unrelated “Burmese”, the Birman is a cat of uncertain origins.  Countless legends suggest different originations.  My personal favorite is that these cats were kept as companions by the temple priests of northern Burma and were only given to outsiders as a reward for defending a temple.  The breed came to France where it was almost wiped out during World War II.  By the end of the war, only two cats remained.  Fortunately, the breed has been rebuilt and today these cats make a wonderful pet.

I’ve based this article on the Cat Fanciers’ Association’s list of most popular cat breeds for 2010.  I mention this, because the CFA does not include hybrids as legitimate breeds, which explains why cats such as Bengals and Savannah’s (another two of my absolute favorites) were not included on this list of pets.  That said, I’ve gone ahead and included a few photos of them, because—well, it’s my article.  Enjoy!

Savannah Cat

photo credit: Mangus Brath, fox kiyo, Rockerz89, SMN, jpben, cookipediachef, John Morton, *yasuhiro, AZAdam, Lisa Cee, Roberto Shabs,Wild Wade

Every now and then we all might feel like we’re alone in the world. But chances are that there’s someone, somewhere who cares about us. Sometimes we just need to step outside of our loneliness and reach out to those around us, even if that companionship comes in the form of a pet. Need to feel inspired to pick up the phone or go cuddle with your pet to keep closer ties? Check out this photostream featuring families, couples, pets, and other companions.

Photo by д§mд

Photo by prakhar

Photo by » Zitona «

Photo by Jefferson Siow

Photo by Alex E. Proimos

Photo by the longhairedgit

Photo by Kenny Møller

Photo by andybrannan

Photo by (davide)

Photo by Jeff the Trojan

Photo by pedrosimoes7

Feeling a bit down, but can’t afford to see a professional to talk it out? Well Mother Nature has her own brand of therapy, and we hope you’ll find a bit of happiness with this bunch. See if any of these furry friends puts a smile on your face and a brighter outlook on your day.

Photo by Stacy Blackman

We all enjoy spending time near the water – it is relaxing, calming and in the summer time it can be a best way to spend your vacation, lying on the sand and splashing in the water. What might give you a bit of discomfort (other than of course forgetting to use sun block) are jellyfish that can be found in every sea in the world. Actually jellyfish are also found in fresh water, but those species are tiny (less than an inch – 25 mm – in diameter), transparent (Fact: the bodies of those jellyfish are 95% water,) and do not sting.

Photo by sami73

I don’t think that we could find a person who enjoys the “touch” of a jellyfish, especially the touch of the large colored ones that can also sting you. (Fact: the tentacles have the stinging cells–the nematocyst–loaded with poison to serve as a defense mechanism and weapon for capturing prey. Each tentacle may contain thousands of these little harpoon units that spring the poison into the prey’s body.) Despite their ability to sting, people used to see them in the water while traveling to other places for vacation without even thinking that those boneless creatures could be harmful.

Photo by zmei1977

Photo by ^riza^

Photo by Jessica Rabbit’s Flickr

Photo by Dave Patrick Photography

Photo by Sam and Ian

Photo by suzums

Photo by ecstaticist

There are more than 3200 species of jellyfish in the world. But let’s just take a look at some of those that can be most dangerous for us.

The BOX JELLYFISH is a general name for the class of Cubozoa – a group of bell-shaped jellies. This class contains at least 19 different species.

Photo by tesserazoa

Photo by tesserazoa

Photo by strollers

Photo by Dmitry Chikishev

The Irukandji

The Irukandji (Carukia barnesi) are very small, but toxic, jellyfish. Their size is near that of a coin. It looks like a transparent bell with 4 long (up to 35 cm) tentacles. The Irukandji can be found in Australian waters. The first detailed description of this jellyfish was given by Dr. Jack Barnes in 1964. He captured the Irukandji jellyfish and strung himself, his son, and a life guard in order to show the effect on a human’s body. The string of this jellyfish causes symptoms know as Irukandji syndrome that can last from several hours to several days. The signs of Irukandji syndrome include severe lower back pain, muscle cramps in the arms and legs, a burning sensation of the skin and face, headaches, nausea, sweating, high blood pressure, and high heart rate.

Photo from misspegasus.wordpress.com

Photo by ultrahi

The Sea Wasp

The sea wasp (chironex fleckeri) is a lethally dangerous jelly living in northern Australia’s coastal waters. The amount of venom in one animal is considered to be enough to kill 60 adults. For the past 100 years the Sea Wasp jellies caused the death of about 100 people, and now it can be considered one of the most dangerous sea creatures. Those jellyfish can grow to the size of a basketball ball. Their tentacles are about 15 cm long and 5 mm in diameter, but when they hunt the tentacles become thinner and their length extends to about 3 meters long. Because of its colors (light-blue) it is really hard to see it in the water and that makes it even more dangerous. The string of the Sea Wasp is extremely painful with an intense burning sensation. The venom affects the nervous system, heart, and skin at the same time. A human can die from a sting of a Sea Wasp in 3-5 minutes. Despite the fact that there is an antidote, the timely treatment of the victim may be impossible. Frequently, a stung person undergoes cardiac arrest and drowns before they can get to a shore.

Photo by jkirkhart35

Photo by dumbeast

The Clinging Jellyfish

The clinging jellyfish (Gonionemus vertens) lives in the coastal area of the northern part of the Pacific Ocean (from China to California). The diameter of the bell is about 25-40 mm. The body is transparent with a cross inside – a pattern formed by colored internal organs (canals of the digestive system). There are about 60 tentacles bent near the top. They are located on the edges of the bell and their length can exceed the size of the bell. The sting of the Clinging Jellyfish is painful, but not lethal.

Photo by San Diego Shooter

Photo by Dan Hershman

The Nomura Jellyfish

The Nomura’s bell can reach 6-7 feet (2 meters) in diameter and weigh up to 450 pounds (220 kg). They are common in Chinese and Korean waters, but recently they have also invaded the coastal waters of Japan. Those giant jellies cause a threat to the Japanese fishing industry. They get into the fishing nets and poison the catch with their toxic stingers. There are also records of people dying from the Nomura sting, but such reports are rare.

Photo by nurpax

Photo by nurpax

Migration of Jellies

The migration habits of jellies are poorly understood, but nowadays the number of jellyfish is constantly growing. The reason could be global warming, the reduction in the number of predators due to over-fishing, or increased nutrients in the coastal area (as a cause of the contamination).

Photo by Dave Tamburo

Photo by Bobby Chromik ~ Lawcrow

Photo by henv

Photo by [noone]

Photo by rosswebsdale

Photo by leeroy09481

What to do if you are stung:

First of all you need to remove any pieces of the tentacles that remain on your body. Do not do that with a bare hand. Use a stick, shell, tweezers, or any object you can find nearby. Do not rinse with fresh water – use salt water instead. If possible, rinse with really hot water (the hottest you can stand, but not hot enough to burn yourself). Apply vinegar for about 30 seconds, and do not hesitate to get medical treatment!

Photo by lawtonjm

Photo by kate nev

Photo by Daniel, Daniel Kwok

Photo by Ollie T.

Photo by MauritsV

Photo by bsterling

It may be dangerous to swim near jellyfish, but some water creatures manage to take advantage of them. For example, some fish such as bigue or the amberjack hide under the bell of the jellyfish or in their tentacles for protection, and they can travel like that. As a thank you gesture, they can clean a jellyfish of any parasites.

Photo by REUTERS

Brazilian Wandering Spider (aka Phoneutria Nigriventer)

The Brazilian wandering spider (aka Phoneutria nigriventer) is considered to be one of the most dangerous spiders in the world. It lives in South America, doesn’t create a web, and never stays in one place. That’s where it gets its name from –  Phoneutria sp. It’s just 10 centimeters in length but can kill about 225 mice with its poison. It can hardly kill a wise man, but can indeed cause a major allergic reaction. Fortunately there was an antidote found for its poison. The Phoneutria spider mostly feeds on insects, smaller spiders, and sometimes birds or even lizards which are much bigger in size. It prefers to hide in fruit baskets, especially among bananas, and that’s why it earned the nickname of the “banana spider.” An interesting fact from FoxNews.com states that the venom of phoneutria can stimulate a long-time uncomfortable erection ( check http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,269455,00.html).

Photo by smccann

Photo by smccann

Photo from wikimedia.org

The Brown Recluse Spider

The brown recluse spider, or violin spider (Loxosceles recluse), is one of the few spiders in the world known to be harmful for humans. It inhabits midwestern and southeastern states of the US, especially California. It is recognized by its brown body and violin pattern on the back. The spider is rather small – from 0.6 to 2 centimeters – which makes it not exactly simple to identify. It seeks out warm, dry and dark places like attics, closets, or old tires. Unlike most spiders with 8 eyes, the brown recluse has 6 eyes in 3 pairs arranged in a semi-circle in front of the violin markings. When the brown recluse bites, there are often no evident symptoms occuring during the first 24 hours. In the meantime, poison spreads all throughout the human’s body. That’s why it’s important to hospitalize a patient as soon as possible. Brown recluse spiders are not aggressive and bite only when threatened.

Photo by graftedno1

Photo by graftedno1

Photo by graftedno1

The Black Widow Spider (Latradectus Lugubris)

This spider is known to be very harmful to humans because of its venom which exceeds the poison of rattlesnake by a multiple of 15. Black widows inhabit prairie and desert places all over the world. Females are around 2 cm in length and are more dangerous than males. The female invariably kills the male after mating, which is in fact how the black widow got its name. Black widows are usually recognized by a black body with some red dots on it. The spider is usually active from April to November with its peak period of aggression in June-July. It should be noted that black widows, much like the other venomous spiders, attack iprey only when disturbed. Its bite brings severe stomach, chest, and waste pains with convulsions and a red rash. It’s very important to deactivate the poison during the first 30 seconds after the bite by burning a match directly on the bite spot.

Photo by buckeye98

Photo by JeremyHall

Photo by Don Van Dyke

Photo by jervin07

Tarantula (Theraphosidae)

Tarantulas represent a group of hairy and very large (approximately 3-4 cm in length) spiders which belong to the family Theraphosidae. There are many color variations of tarantulas – from light-brown to dark-gray. Tarantulas live in deep and damp holes in prairies and desert places. In the dark of night tarantulas hunt their prey. The tarantula’s poison is not very dangerous to humans, and some people even keep them as pets. The worst of a tarantula bite to a human is generally severe pain in the spot of the bite, later changing into reddening and swelling. Within 5-6 hours the mild illness resulting from the bite passes.

Photo by listentoreason

Photo by o r t

Photo by listentoreason

Photo by matt knoth

Water Spider (Argyroneta Aquatica, Latin for “Silvery Net”)

Water spiders or diving bell spiders (Argyroneta aquatica) inhabit fresh ponds in Northern and Central Europe and Northern Asia. Argyroneta is one of a type of air-breathing water spiders who spend their whole life under water. It’s good at diving, with speeds of 2.3-3.5 cm per second with its length of 1.5-1.7 cm. The water spider weaves its web among water plants and stocks it with air from the surface, which looks like a diving bell. Argyroneta is not considered harmful to humans. It mostly hunts small crayfish and insect larvae, which it kills with its poison. Water spiders surround their living place with safety nets. These nets also signal them about prey’s arrival. The bite of the spider is very annoying to humans even if not dangerous.

Photo from wikimedia.org

Photo from wikimedia.org

Photo from wikimedia.org

Photo from wikimedia.org

Australian Funnel-Web Spider (Family Hexathelidae)

Australian funnel-web spiders live on the eastern coast of Australia in damp and cool places. Funnel-web spiders are known as one of three of the most dangerous spiders in the world. As far as being dangerously venomous goes, the funnel-web competes with its relatives, the Australian H. Formidabilis and Brazilian Phoneutria fera (also known as the Brazilian wandering spider). Funnel-web spiders have a dark color which varies from brown to black with a glossy covering. The fangs are so strong that they can bite through even a shoe. The venom of a funnel-web spider can kill a human within an hour. Fortunately, there is antidote for its poison. Specimens of funnel-web spiders are found in New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia, and Queensland which is how they got their name. Each of these are presented on the pictures below: Sydney funnel-web (Atrax Robustus), Victorian funnel-web spider (Hadronyche modesta) and Blue Mountains funnel web spider (Hadronyche versuta).

Sydney funnel-web spider
Photo by marcleh

Sydney funnel-web spider
Photo from wikimedia.org

Victorian funnel-web spider
Photo from wikipedia.org

Blue-mountain funnel-web spider
Photo from nsf.gov

Crab Spider (Selenopidae)

The Selenopidae family includes more than 3,000 crab spider species. They got their name from Selene, the Greek goddess of the moon. Crab spiders resemble crabs with their front pair of legs angled alongside their flattened bodies. Also, just like crabs they can move sideways and backwards. Usually crab spiders are found in northern America and sometimes in southern Europe and Asia. They do not weave webs; they usually hunt on the ground while hiding among vegetation such as flowers. Crab spiders are not known to be venomous to humans, and are sometimes mistaken for an unrelated genus, Sicarius, which are close relatives to the brown recluse and which are indeed very dangerous to humans.

Photo by myrmician

Photo by myrmician

Photo by myrmician

Photo by myrmician

Photo by M Hedin

Yellow Sac Spiders (Cheiracanthium Punctorium)

The yellow (golden) sac spiders inhabit mostly European countries. These spiders are rather small (10 mm in length), are yellowish in color, and are hardly recognized. Yellow spiders build sac-like tubes under things like stones to serve as their home. Sometimes they are found inside houses. Their bites are known  to be at least clinically dangerous and often are misdiagnosed as bites of the brown recluse spider. The bite of a yellow sac spider causes severe pain with the development of a necrotic wound (although not as intense as that from a brown recluse). Just like other spiders they are prone to bite defensively.

Photo from wikimedia.org

Photo from wikimedia.org

Photo from wikimedia.org

Photo from wikimedia.org

Photo by macroclub.ru

There are hundreds of thousands of different animal species, with sizes ranging from the gigantic to the absolutely miniscule.

Whilst it is common to see particularly large or small versions of some animals, these are a selection of odd shaped animals that you may not even know existed.

Capybara

The largest rodent in the world, for anyone who is not a fan of mice or rats, Capybaras can be considered a worst a nightmare.

Native to South America, Capybaras can grow up to 4 foot 3 inches in length, way up to 140 pounds and look, to all intents and purposes, a large, heavy rat.

Irish Wolfhound

Known as man’s best friend, dogs come in all shapes and sizes.  From tiny Chihuahuas that can be nothing more than a few inches in length to dogs that are the same size of a small horse.

Out of all of the dog breeds, it is the Irish Wolfhound that is, on average, the tallest breed and can stand at the withers (their shoulders), a staggering three feet tall.

Giant Rabbit

A popular pet for small children, there are several different rabbit species, the vast majority of which do not grow much greater than a foot in length.

However, the are some species that exceed this figure and can grow several feet in length and weigh in at well over 10 pounds, depending on the breed.

For example, the picture is of a Flemish Giant, with the typical weight being up to 18lbs.  The second picture, a British Giant, whilst slightly smaller, can still weigh an impressive 12 pounds.

Cane Toad

Often known as the Giant Neotropical Toad, Cane Toads are one of the biggest species of toads in the world and compared to other similar amphibians, such as frogs, can be somewhat intimidating.

On average, Cane Toads are around 6 inches length, but there have been detailed reports on Cane Toads in the past measuring a massive 15 inches.

Ribbon Worm

With over 1,500 species of Ribbon Worms around the world, they can be found in a range of different habitats, from oceans to fresh water areas.

Measuring on average 8 inches in length, there are many reported sightings of Ribbon Worms exceed 50 metres in length, making them the longest non-vertebrate animals in the world.

Blue Whale

The largest vertebrate animals in the world, blue whales are a fascinating sight to behold, measuring, on average, over 100 feet in length.  Add to this their substantial weight of almost 200 ton and you cannot help but be taken aback by their sheer size when physically seeing a blue whale.

Andean Condor

With a wing span of up to 10 feet, the Andean Condor are by far the largest flying birds in the world and as part of the vulture family, have somewhat of a menacing look about them.

Living for up to fifty years, they are one of the longest living birds in the world and are recognized, other than by their size, for their distinct ruffle of white feathers around their neck.

Goliath Bird Eater

Given its name due it being observed eating a hummingbird when first discovered, the Goliath Bird Eater is part of the tarantula family of spiders and is considered to be the largest of them all.

Having a leg span of up to 12 inches, they are very defensive animals and will not only put up a web barrier around their food, but will also appear to hiss if they feel threatened.